Best Maryland Private Schools Belonging to Membership Associations (2025)

For the 2025 school year, there are 545 private schools belonging to membership associations in Maryland.

The most popular school membership associations are National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) (18% of schools), Other school association(s) (16% of schools) and National Association for the Education of Young Children (13% of schools).

Landon School Photo - We believe requiring a boy to engage in an array of experiences introduces him to passions and abilities he didn't know he had, which is essential to his emotional, social, physical, and intellectual growth.

St. Stephens Classical Christian Academy Photo - At SSCCA, students are actively involved in the learning process. The use of songs and recitation makes learning facts fun.

Fusion Academy Columbia Photo - Each Fusion campus has a state-of-the-art music studio with professional-grade tools. Students can explore instruments, vocals, songwriting, DJ performing arts, and more.

Park School of Baltimore Photo - The Park School of Baltimore is an independent, gender-inclusive, non-sectarian progressive Pre-K through Grade 12 school located on a 100-acre campus just minutes from Baltimore city.

Norwood School Photo - Located in Bethesda, MD, Norwood School develops students in grades PK-8 into confident lifelong learners who have the academic, character, and leadership skills to succeed in high school and beyond.

Glenelg Country School Photo - Upon entering our beautiful 90-acre campus, you first see our Upper School building which also connects to our Athletic Center.

Seneca Academy Photo - Small School. Big Impact.Our combination of intentionally small class sizes, inquiry-based, International Baccalaureate curriculum, and affordability makes us a unique high-value learning investment for forward-thinking families

Roland Park Country School Photo - What makes RPCS such an empowering school? The unique relationships created between students from K-12. From our kindergarten and 1st graders being paired and performing with our Upper School singing and dancing groups, to Upper School STEM classes hosting probability carnivals for Lower School, or Middle School students speaking to Lower School, we treasure and nurture these bonds.

Goddard School Of Waldorf Photo - Welcome to The Goddard School in Waldorf which is not just a daycare! We serve the Charles County communities of La Plata, St. Charles, White Plains, Accokeek and other nearby areas. We offer programs from Infants to Private Kindergarten and even Before and After school for school-agers.

Rockbridge Academy Photo - A joyful, supportive, Christ-centered community where your child can flourish!

Bullis School Photo - At Bullis, students thrive in their pursuit of self-discovery, broaden their horizons, and ultimately transform our world.

St. John's Episcopal School Photo - Welcome to St. Johns Episcopal School. Our rigorous, academic program, featuring small class size, coupled with our strong belief in faith-based character education and community service, truly is the model for a balanced and transformational education. Each day, your child will enter an environment with teachers who work collaboratively to inspire and challenge them.

Fusion Academy Rockville Photo - Classes at Fusion are one-to-one: one student and one teacher per classroom. Students have different teachers for different subjects, and teachers act as mentors in the one-to-one setting.

Top Ranked Maryland Private Schools by Membership Association (2025)

Membership Association

# Schools

# Students

% Minority

AdvancED, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Council on Accreditation and School Improvement

166

89%

Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) or (School of Tomorrow)

377

65%

Agudath Israel of America

100

AIMSMDDC (Assoc. of independent Maryland and DC Schools)

15,282

34%

Alternative School Network

35%

American Association of Christian Schools (AACS)

3,486

41%

American Montessori Society (AMS)

3,432

38%

Association Montessori International (AMI)

1,107

36%

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI)

154

27%

Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)

12,572

45%

Association of Christian Teachers and Schools (ACTS)

768

59%

Association of Classical and Christian Schools (ACCS)

2,187

41%

Association of Independent Maryland And DC Schools (JAIMS)

12,380

30%

Association of LD Schools (ALDS)

Association of Waldorf Schools of North America

481

23%

Bilingual School Association

189

60%

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit or Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)

584

17%

Christian Schools International (CSI)

1,664

46%

Cognia

8,910

36%

Council of Bilingual Education

129

70%

Educational Records Bureau

1,658

12%

European Council for International Schools

110

Evangelical Lutheran Education Association (ELEA)

339

61%

Friends Council on Education (FCE)

1,468

46%

General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church (GCSDAC)

1,087

77%

Institute for Independent Education

602

52%

International Baccalaureate (IB) World School

1,853

20%

International Boys Schools Coalition

1,035

24%

International Coalition of Girls Schools

809

25%

International Montessori Council (IMC)

319

44%

Jesuit Secondary Education Association (JSEA)

1,786

41%

Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA)

565

13%

Mercy Secondary Education Association (MSEA)

444

23%

Mid Atlantic Christian Schools Association (MACSA)

599

54%

Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools

22,766

41%

MSA-CESS Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools

1,207

40%

National Association for the Education of Young Children

5,779

41%

National Association of College Admissions Counselors

1,123

15%

National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES)

5,242

35%

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)

27,335

35%

National Association of Laboratory Schools

196

63%

National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools (NAPCIS)

180

National Association of Private Schools

205

19%

National Association of Private Special Education Centers

2,549

50%

National Catholic Education Association

1,681

26%

National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)

33,978

35%

National Christian School Association (NCSA)

115

National Coalition of Boys Schools

625

15%

National Coalition of Girls

4,567

27%

National Council for Private School Accreditation

1,298

57%

National Honor Society (NHS)

736

27%

National Independent Private Schools Association

1,334

45%

National Junior Honor Society (NJHS)

237

64%

National Lutheran Schools Accreditation

776

15%

National Middle School Association

1,129

15%

National Society of Hebrew Day Schools (NSHDS)

1,761

Network for Mercy Education

513

33%

Northwest Association of Accredited Schools

889

30%

Not Available (School did not report any membership associatons).

61%

Orton Gillingham Academy of Practioners and Educators

135

22%

Other associations(s) for exceptional children

2,346

56%

Other Montessori association(s)

1,027

26%

Other religious school association(s)

7,786

23%

Other school association(s)

12,384

35%

Other special emphasis association(s)

1,294

69%

Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools

143

Solomon Schechter Day Schools (SSDS)

309

Southern Association Of Colleges And Schools (SACS)

9,005

24%

Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools (SBACS)

419

74%

State or regional independent school association

13,287

32%

The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)

3,988

38%

Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS)

Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America

481

23%

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Xaverian Brothers School Sponsorship

1,989

46%

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