1. Holton-Arms School
City: Bethesda, MD
Category: Education
Telephone: (301) 365-5300
Address: 7303 River Road
Description: The 106-year-old Holton-Arms is an all-girls’ college prep school that has a long-held reputation for its excellent liberal arts instruction. Subjects like computer science and African American history add a contemporary edge to the traditional curriculum. The Bethesda-based day school, with 659 students in grades 3 through 12, excels in athletics, fine and performing arts, and other extracurricular programs. Along with their traditional academic requirements for graduation, students must complete 50 hours of community service and pass a swimming competency test. Seniors participate in off-site senior projects and independent study options. After-school programs are available for all ages. The school holds a coed summer camp for ages 3 through 13 at its 58-acre wooded campus.
2. Landon School
City: Bethesda, MD
Category: Education
Telephone: (301) 320-3200
Address: 6101 Wilson Lane
Description: An independent, nonsectarian college prep school for boys, Landon is structured around rigorous academics and a variety of out-of-classroom opportunities in music, drama, and art. Founded in 1929, the day school has 675 students in grades 3 through 12. The average class size is 15. The rigorous curriculum includes many advanced placement courses. Volunteer work and community service are valued traditions here, as is an honor code among middle- and upper-school students. Off-campus learning opportunities include a semester spent on a working farm in Vermont and a summer language program in Spain and several French-speaking nations. The lush 72-acre campus is in Bethesda, not far from the National Institutes of Health.