Washington Episcopal School
Tel:
(301) 652-7878
Centrally located in downtown Bethesda, MD, and serving families from Maryland, Washington DC, and northern Virginia, Washington Episcopal School (WES) challenges Early Childhood, Elementary School, and Middle School students to embrace academic rigor in an appropriately balanced and supportive environment. We are a diverse, inclusive community that respects individual differences, develops every child`s unique talents, and fosters learning inside and outside the classroom. Here, children stand out without burning out.
Quick Stats (2021)
- Grades: Nursery/Preschool-8
- Students: 279 students
- Yearly Tuition: $37,900
- Acceptance rate: 65%
- Average class size: 14 students
- Application Deadline: Feb. 1 / rolling
Upcoming Events
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Washington Episcopal School places among the top 20% of private schools in Maryland for:
- Category Attribute
- Acceptance Rate Lowest average acceptance rates
- Student Body Largest student body
School Overview
School Membership(s)School Assoc. | National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES) National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Association of Independent Maryland And DC Schools (JAIMS) AIMSMDDC (Assoc. of independent Maryland and DC Schools) |
Religious Affiliation | Episcopal |
Grades Offered | Grades Nursery/Preschool-8 |
ADD/ADHD Support | Yes |
Year Founded | 1986 |
Student Body
Total Students | 279 students |
Student Body Type | Co-ed |
% Students of Color | 35% State avg.: 32% |
Students by Grade |
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Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers | 55 teachers |
Student : Teacher Ratio | 5:1 National avg.: 13:1 |
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree | 66% |
Average Class Size | 14 students |
List of Courses Offered | Link to List of Courses |
Matriculation DataMatric. Data | Link to Matriculation Data |
Classroom Dress Code | Formal |
Finances and Admission
Admission Deadline | Feb. 1 / rolling |
Yearly Tuition Cost | $37,900 |
Tuition Notes | Tuition varies by grade. Please refer to school website for up-to-date information. |
% on Financial Aid | 35% |
Acceptance Rate | 65% National avg.: 85% |
Admissions Director | Kim Bair |
Admissions Associate | Nick Lellenberg |
Sports
Total Sports Offered | 5 sports |
Sports | Basketball, Cross Country, Lacrosse, Soccer, Track and FieldBasketball, Cross Country, Lacrosse, Soccer, Track and Field |
Extracurriculars
Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric. | 12 extracurriculars |
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric. | Club or Organization: Art Club, Ballet, Book Club, Chess Club, Computer Club, Cooking, Foreign Language clubs, Karate, Robotics, Science Club, Study Hall Recreational Athletic Programs: Sports clubs |
School Notes
- WES's extraordinary teachers work each day to create an atmosphere of high, positive expectations, good will, and an appreciation for discovery and learning. They not only teach, they coach, sponsor, chaperone, and counsel. Faculty members and directors meet regularly to incorporate best practices and share innovations, and they are supported by the WES Professional Development Program, ensuring that each teacher has access to the academic and technological training and tools they need. Students challenge themselves academically, physically, and spiritualy, and broaden their world view. Life at WES is a constant adventure.
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- School Location Miles Grades Students
- Washington Grades: PK-8 | 338 students
3.7 miles
1640 Kalmia Road NW
Washington, DC 20012
(202) 577-2000 3.7 PK-8
338 - Silver Spring Grades: NS-12 | 283 students
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13500 Layhill Road
Silver Spring, MD 20906
(301) 576-2800 8.4 NS-12
283 - Chevy Chase Grades: NS-3 | 92 students
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6050 Wisconsin Avenue
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(301) 654-2626 0.8 NS-3
92 - Washington Grades: K-12 | 650 students
3.2 miles
3000 Cathedral Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 939-8814 3.2 K-12
650 - Mc Lean Grades: K-12 | 1054 students
3.4 miles
1301 Potomac School Rd
Mc Lean, VA 22101
(703) 749-6313 3.4 K-12
1054
School Reviews
5 Our son joined WES last year as a fifth grader, and the transition couldn't have been smoother. He loved going to school (!) and quickly found his rhythm, worked hard, and developed a cohort of friends. We have been so impressed we bumped up his younger sister to the transition and she just started 4th this fall. They're juggling of home-schooling and the transition to a hybrid system has been second-to-none. WES is a terrific community, with terrific leadership providing an outstanding learning environment for the kids! - Posted by Parent - Andrew |
5 WES is a great school with a nurturing environment and diverse & inclusive community! Our daughter who is currently attending kindergarten loves her school and has continued to excel academically as well as being empathetic and kind to others! The small classroom size also allows a more-on-one attention from the teacher and students also get to know each other better. The school leadership works tirelessly to create an engaging school faculty and parent community. - Posted by Parent - Hayat Abdo |
5 I am a parent of a 4th grader at Washington Episcopal School and am very proud. This school has been a great transition for my son, especially coming from a smaller school (100 students). The school's attention to the whole child (academic, social and emotional) is what is most attractive about it. I am also very pleased with the diversity of the school and it's emphasis on making all families feel apart of the community. I am looking forward to many more years! - Posted by Parent - Proud WES parent |
5 When we were searching for a school, we were looking for an Early Childhood Program that was developmentally appropriate: an active learning environment with a social-emotional focus and the right balance of play and structure. We have found this and much more at Washington Episcopal School. Our daughter is now in her 3rd year at WES. She started in Nursery at age 3 and is now in Kindergarten. Her teachers have been so nurturing, knowing exactly how to bring out the best in her. We have been delighted to see our daughter thrive in this wonderful school community, growing into a kind, confident and social 5 year-old. Actually, as first-time parents, we feel like our daughter's teachers have also been ours, as they have been an invaluable resource to our entire family. We couldn't imagine a better school fit. - Posted by Parent - P. Griffin |
5 My son attends preschool at WES and we could not be any happier. Having been transferred from abroad, we first registered for the summer camp and were so delighted with the warm, diverse and welcoming environment which really made a difference in our son's adjustment to the new city. The curriculum, teachers and staff are all wonderful and my son has developed new enthusiasm for school. Although we were concerned about his English skills, teachers have been amazing and he now feels comfortable with the language and is even taking on French at WES as well! It is just great to see our son happy and eager to learn. We definitely recommend WES to all parents in search of a great school! - Posted by Parent - Elisa |
5 WES as a second home to our son. How does it feel when your son gets up an hour earlier in the morning and ready to go to school? That is a story of our son in 1st grade at WES. We believe that our son found WES as a worm and cozy place. Beyond the outstanding job his teachers is doing in shaping our son academically his comfort with the school atmosphere made us to have faith in WES. WES is the future of our son! - Posted by Parent - Solomon Aregga |
5 My daughter has attended WES for four years, beginning in Nursery. The school's motto, "Be Kind," has permeated her experience as a student at the school and mine as a parent. The school embraces diversity, is dynamic and thoughtful in its curriculum, and truly recognizes and values each child as an individual. It is a warm and inclusive community, and a school that knows how to imbue its students with the tools and confidence they need to imagine and achieve their academic and life dreams. - Posted by Parent - Sarah |
5 Our oldest child started at Washington Episcopal School 4 years ago and we could not be more pleased with our experience there, both for our children and as a family. WES` balanced approach to academics, social development and play for children in the Early Childhood Program (pre-school through 1st Grade) has provided our sons with a supportive environment within which to develop a true love of learning. The WES community is friendly, down to earth, diverse and engaged; it`s been a pleasure getting to know other families through school-wide community events. Our second child started at WES in pre-school this year and we are excited to watch him join the school community and grow as a student under the care of his teachers. We highly recommend that anyone seeking a private school education for his or her child consider WES! - Posted by Parent - Jess |
5 My 5th grade daughter has been at WES since kindergarten. While pursuing schools with social cachet names, I thankfully listened to a consultant who emphasized that the structured and individualized classroom approach would fit my daughter and its unassuming, down-to-earth community would fit me (a single mom). She was so right! My daughter loves school and is thriving in accelerated math, on the trumpet, with team projects, in robotics and more; she loves, loves to read and is working with teachers on keeping assignments organized and on track. We are a bilingual family and incredibly more than a third of her class is bilingual. WES is a great match for families from abroad - open and embracing. As a working mom, I love that the staff and administrators all know both me and my daughter - every conversation I have is a meaningful one. And best of all is the WES motto: BE KIND. It has been a constant guide and really means something at WES! - Posted by Parent - Andrea |
5 My son is a Nursery student at WES. I drop him off each morning and regularly head to work knowing we`ve made a great decision about sending him there. The faculty is incredible and works hard to foster a sense of community. It`s very common to have teachers in other grades greet him by name each morning. That does wonders for a three or four year-old`s confidence and ability to take on the day. The school goes to great lengths to accommodate working parents and to make the entire family feel connected and involved with the school. We absolutely love WES! - Posted by Parent - Caryn Alagno |
5 My two children transferred from public school to WES, one in 7th grade and the other in 4th grade. WES is an amazing school, with fantastic teachers; a rich, dynamic curriculum; and excellent sports and extracurricular activities. I wish our kids had started at WES much earlier, as they would really have benefited from the learning that takes place from nursery to 3rd grade. - Posted by Parent - Lynn |
5 This fall will be our 7th year at Washington Episcopal School. We started in Transition (pre-K) having looked at a variety of private school options in the greater Washington area. What drew us to WES, and what has held true, is that the kids are happy. For us, the line in the WES Mission Statement that "...learning should be joyful, because academic excellence and happy children belong together" sums up the WES experience. My children have been challenged academically, but in a way that enriches their learning. We have been fortunate to have so many kind, excellent WES teachers in our children's lives, from the first grade teacher who took the time to proof a story my daughter wrote outside school to the teacher who help transform my child's reading. - Posted by Parent - emily |
5 We have been at WES for 4 years and couldn't be happier with the quality of education our two daughters are receiving. We started out in Nursery and Transition (pre-K) and have seen first hand how the curriculum prepares our children to be accomplished students, strong learners, kind community members and respectful individuals. The small class sizes have been amazing for their educational development and they have now taken years of both French and Arabic even though they are only in 1st and 2nd grade! I highly recommend this school! - Posted by Parent - natal |
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