Edited by Nik Higgins · Co-founder & CEO
Washington Dc is home to 13 international schools, offering families a range of curricula and price points to choose from.
Compare 10 international schools in Washington dc, United states. Filter by curriculum, fees (average USD 27,996), location, and more to find the right international school now.
Washington International School is a not-for-profit independent day school for ages 3 to 18 across two DC campuses. It offers the IB program from the Primary Years (PYP) through the Diploma (DP) for grades 11–12, with externally graded exams. In the early years, language immersion runs in French or Spanish; Grades 1–5 follow a dual-language program of English with either English/French or English/Spanish, while Mandarin begins in Grade 6. The school earns LabelFrancÉducation accreditation for high-quality French bilingual education and supports continued study through French or Spanish as Additional Languages. The Primary School includes a library with books in English, French, and Spanish, and the Lasseron Design Lab. The Tregaron Campus houses Middle and Upper Schools; Le Centre Brown, a science-centric facility, is under construction to LEED Gold standards and expected to open in 2025. WIS offers after-school programs and clubs such as Model UN, Amnesty International, and Pride Alliance.
Washington Waldorf School, located in Bethesda, Maryland, provides an education based on the Waldorf Steiner curriculum for students from eighteen months through twelfth grade. The curriculum integrates arts and physical movement into daily academic lessons; for example, students learn mathematical patterns through rhythmic movement and geometry through precise form drawing. In the lower school, a class teacher typically stays with the same group of students for multiple years to provide continuity. The high school features a four-year lab science sequence and specialized blocks in humanities. A distinctive feature of the school is the "Handwork" and "Practical Arts" program, where all students learn skills such as knitting, sewing, and woodworking to support cognitive and fine motor development. Facilities include specialized spaces for orchestra, a woodworking shop, and outdoor gardening areas. Students study both Spanish and German beginning in the early grades. The school operates as a co-educational day school.
British International School of Washington BISW is a private international school in DC serving ages 2 to 18 and part of Nord Anglia Education. Opened in 1998, BISW blends a British educational heritage with an international focus. The school offers a curriculum across 2–18: Early Years Foundation Stage; the English National Curriculum supported by the International Primary Curriculum; the International Middle Years Curriculum; IGCSE in Upper Secondary (Years 10–11); and the IB Diploma Programme in Upper Secondary (Years 12–13). English and Mathematics are taught in line with the English National Curriculum. The campus is a single building housing facilities for the sciences, arts, music, dance, computer science and design technology, plus a learning hub, library, and counseling space. BISW uses Seesaw in Primary and ManageBac in Secondary to track progress. Juilliard and MIT collaborations enrich arts and STEAM, alongside Nord Anglia's Global Campus programs. Preparing students for a global career.
Rochambeau is a bilingual French–English day school in Bethesda, serving preschoolers aged 2 through 12th grade. It operates on two campuses, Maplewood (ages 2–5) and Forest Road (6–12), and is the only school in the Washington, DC area accredited by the French Ministry of Education within the AEFE network. The curriculum blends the French national program with English instruction, offering the French Baccalauréat International (BFI) or the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB DP) after grade 12, with the Maryland High School Diploma awarded after grade 11. Beginning in ninth grade, families may choose the French track or the IB pathway. World languages include Spanish and German, with Latin as an elective, and a French Immersion program starts in early childhood. Facilities include Maplewood's 11.2-acre campus, 37 classrooms, four playgrounds, a turf field, music/science/cooking spaces, a library, and two gyms, plus a health center. Rochambeau celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2026 together.
Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School is a public, two-campus Chinese-English immersion school in Washington, DC, serving ages 3 through 11. The school delivers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) within an immersive bilingual model. PK3–PK4 receive 100% Mandarin instruction; K–1 blend Mandarin (about 75%) and English (25%), with English Language Arts taught for 180 days; Grades 2–5 use a 50/50 Mandarin–English model with instruction delivered on alternating days. The program fosters globally minded learners through inquiry-based learning and the IB learner profile. The Elementary Campus is located at 220 Taylor Street NE, DC 20017, with the Early Years Campus nearby; together they occupy a three-acre LEED-certified site featuring Founders Forest, a one-acre outdoor nature center, supporting environmental learning. REEF provides on-site before- and after-school care. The school emphasizes a values-based community, welcoming families seeking a rigorous, multilingual science and humanities education within a public charter framework for families.
Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School operates across two DC campuses, Brookland and East End, serving students from PK3 through fifth grade (ages 3 to 11). The school delivers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme in a dual-immersion framework, with English plus a target language (Spanish or French) for content-area instruction. From Pre-K, 90% of instruction is in the target language; kindergarten to fifth grade use roughly half English and half the target language, with native-speaking teachers leading lessons. The campus facilities include a kitchen that prepares three meals daily from local ingredients, a garden program, a library, a music and art room, and outdoor spaces. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association and participates in Label FrancEducation and Learn24. Support services include MTSS and English Learner supports, with targeted 1:1 or small-group instruction as needed. The program emphasizes inquiry-based learning, intercultural understanding, and student voice.
Maryland International Day School is a private K-8 school in Fort Washington, Prince George's County, offering a full Spanish-immersion program and an IB-inspired curriculum (PYP) alongside a bespoke curriculum. From age 3 through 14, students engage in daily Spanish immersion to build bilingual fluency, with early learning using inquiry-based approaches and Core Knowledge literacy and math foundations. In Lower School (Grades 1-4), instruction blends dual-language learning with Core Knowledge academics and projects that foster global awareness. In Middle School (Grades 5-8), students pursue advanced bilingual coursework and leadership development, emphasizing critical thinking and real-world application. Experiential Learning includes field trips across the Washington, DC area and international study-abroad experiences to immerse students in Spanish-speaking cultures. The school cultivates cultural literacy, community engagement, and a confident global outlook through language-centered education and real-world experiences. Prospective families will find qualified teachers, small class sizes, and a welcoming, culturally rich learning environment for success.
Rochambeau is a bilingual French–English day school in Bethesda, serving preschoolers aged 2 through 12th grade. It operates on two campuses, Maplewood (ages 2–5) and Forest Road (6–12), and is the only school in the Washington, DC area accredited by the French Ministry of Education within the AEFE network. The curriculum blends the French national program with English instruction, offering the French Baccalauréat International (BFI) or the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB DP) after grade 12, with the Maryland High School Diploma awarded after grade 11. Beginning in ninth grade, families may choose the French track or the IB pathway. World languages include Spanish and German, with Latin as an elective, and a French Immersion program starts in early childhood. Facilities include Maplewood's 11.2-acre campus, 37 classrooms, four playgrounds, a turf field, music/science/cooking spaces, a library, and two gyms, plus a health center. Rochambeau celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2026 together.
German International School Washington D.C. is an independent bilingual school serving students aged 2 to 18 in Washington, DC. Founded in 1961, GISW provides a dual German‑American program that blends a German curriculum with English lessons to U.S. standards and lab science. Preschool serves ages 2 through 4, with morning groups and optional afternoon care. Elementary School combines German curricula with English instruction and hands‑on science, while Grades 5–12 lead to both a U.S. High School Diploma and German International Abitur, opening doors to universities worldwide. The STEM/MINT program deepens mathematics, informatics, natural sciences, and technology through problem solving and research. GISW is part of the network of German Schools Abroad (over 130 schools). A bus service spans Maryland, Virginia, DC.; SageDining operates the cafeteria with labeling; Bookstore and Health Room serve community. Kindergarten emphasizes play-based learning, time outdoors. The FastTrack language program supports learners, and NEWBEES help families settle.
Washington International School is a not-for-profit independent day school for ages 3 to 18 across two DC campuses. It offers the IB program from the Primary Years (PYP) through the Diploma (DP) for grades 11–12, with externally graded exams. In the early years, language immersion runs in French or Spanish; Grades 1–5 follow a dual-language program of English with either English/French or English/Spanish, while Mandarin begins in Grade 6. The school earns LabelFrancÉducation accreditation for high-quality French bilingual education and supports continued study through French or Spanish as Additional Languages. The Primary School includes a library with books in English, French, and Spanish, and the Lasseron Design Lab. The Tregaron Campus houses Middle and Upper Schools; Le Centre Brown, a science-centric facility, is under construction to LEED Gold standards and expected to open in 2025. WIS offers after-school programs and clubs such as Model UN, Amnesty International, and Pride Alliance.
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