How the State Oversees Private Schools in Maryland

Maryland families choose among independent college-preparatory schools, parish schools, Montessori and Waldorf programs, Jewish day schools, church preschools and specialized special education schools. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is the state agency responsible for nonpublic schools. It does not set tuition, choose curricula or run admissions. Each school decides those things for itself, which is why two schools a few miles apart can differ sharply in cost, schedule and teaching style.

This page explains how the system fits together, where schools cluster, and what to check before you apply. Once you know your county, open its page to see individual schools with addresses and phone numbers.

What state approval does and does not tell you

Nonpublic schools operate under the Education Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland and regulations in Title 13A of the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). In practice, schools generally fall into two groups. Some are approved by MSDE after showing they meet state requirements. Others are church-exempt: a religious body operates the school, files with the state, and is not put through the approval process.

Neither label is a quality rating. Approval confirms that a school met baseline requirements. It says nothing about class size, teaching approach or results. Ask any school you are considering which category it falls into, and ask for the answer in writing.

Special education works on a separate track. MSDE approves nonpublic special education schools that a county school system may use when a student's IEP calls for a more specialized setting. Specialized programs, such as Forbush School At Hunt Valley in Cockeysville, are built around students with identified needs. If you hope to have a school system pay for a placement, ask whether the school holds that approval before you tour.

Approval is also different from accreditation. Accreditation comes from private or church-based bodies, such as regional accrediting associations or a diocesan school office, and each has its own review cycle. A school's website should name its accreditor. If it does not, ask.

Where Private Schools Cluster in Maryland: Metro Corridors and Rural Counties

Private schools follow population and income. The densest concentrations sit along the Baltimore–Washington corridor. The rest of the state has fewer, smaller and more often church-affiliated options.

Baltimore area

Baltimore County holds the largest share of our listings, spread across Owings Mills, Towson, Pikesville, Lutherville and Cockeysville. Examples include Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School on Old Court Road in Pikesville (410-486-1900), Baltimore Junior Academy on West Cold Spring Lane (410-542-6758) and A Small World on Painters Mill Road in Owings Mills (410-356-9290). One practical tip: the City of Baltimore is independent of any county, and a "Baltimore" mailing address can describe a place inside the city or in the county. Check the actual location before you plan a commute.

Washington suburbs and the central corridor

Montgomery County is the second-largest cluster. It includes Bullis School at 10601 Falls Road in Potomac (301-299-8500), Alef Bet Montessori School on Old Georgetown Road in Rockville, Apple Montessori School in Bethesda and Acorn Hill Waldorf Kindergarten & Nursery in Silver Spring. Early-childhood and alternative-method programs are especially common here, and popular ones often fill their openings months before the school year starts.

Next door, Prince George's County includes DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville (240-764-2200) and Bowie Montessori Children's House (301-262-3566). Farther east, Anne Arundel County has Aleph Bet Jewish Day School in Annapolis (410-263-9044). Howard County lists programs such as Childrens Manor School in Columbia and Saint John's Parish Day School in Ellicott City.

Western Maryland, Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore

Outside the metro belt, choices narrow. Washington County has Broadfording Christian Academy on Broadfording Church Road in Hagerstown (301-797-8886). In St. Mary's County, Friendship School sits in Mechanicsville. On the Lower Shore, Faith Baptist Church-Salisbury lists a program on Dagsboro Road in Wicomico County. In these areas, expect longer drives and fewer secular options. Many private schools also do not run bus routes the way public systems do, so confirm transportation directly with the school.

Questions to Ask Before You Tour a Maryland Private School

A tour shows you the building. These questions show you how the school actually operates. Bring them in writing and note the answers side by side for each school you visit.

Call ahead rather than walking in. Admissions directors often tour by appointment only, and summer hours can be limited. Our listings give the phone number published for each school. Confirm the address before you drive, since small programs sometimes share space with a church or community building.

Verify before you pay. Get the approval status in writing, compare the tuition schedule on the school's own website with what the office tells you, and contact MSDE's nonpublic school office if the answers do not match. A school that is confident in its standing will not mind the questions.

Maryland Rules, Costs and Deadlines Families Should Know

Maryland requires children to attend school from age 5 until they turn 18. Enrolling in a private school meets that requirement. Each private school sets its own kindergarten age cutoff, which may differ from the date your county's public schools use, so ask early.

Tuition varies widely, and the state does not cap it. Many schools publish a tuition schedule and run their own financial aid, often through a third-party application service that asks for tax documents. State help exists through BOOST, which stands for Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today. It is a state-funded scholarship program for income-eligible students. It works only at participating nonpublic schools, funding is limited, and applications run through a window set each year. Check MSDE's current announcements rather than assuming a school accepts it.

Health rules also apply. Maryland requires proof of required immunizations for students entering school, and private schools collect that paperwork. Many also ask for a health form completed by your child's doctor. Ask the school which forms it wants, and give your pediatrician some lead time.

Timing matters most. Many schools take applications in the fall or winter for the following September, and mid-year openings are rare at popular schools. Start your search about a year ahead. For preschools, ask whether the program is a licensed child care center or operates under nonpublic school status, because the oversight differs. When you move between counties, request your child's records in writing from the old school and keep your own copy of the immunization certificate.

Private schools in Maryland are licensed and regulated by the state's department of education, which sets minimum standards for safety, curriculum, and accreditation while allowing institutions significant freedom in operations and admissions. Maryland may also offer education savings account or voucher programs that provide public funding assistance to eligible families attending private schools.

Private Schools locations are available in 172 cities across Maryland. They are spread across 23 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration of private schools include Baltimore, Rockville, Silver Spring, reflecting larger population centers where demand for diverse educational options tends to support a wider range of private school institutions.

Families in Maryland exploring private school options should contact each school's admissions office to request a prospectus, schedule a tour, and learn about financial aid availability, as tuition and assistance programs vary significantly from one institution to the next.

Private Schools by Counties

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Families in Maryland comparing private school options should check each school's accreditation status through the state department of education and request standardized test score data, graduation rates, and college placement outcomes. Many private schools in Maryland hold open house events in the fall that are open to prospective families without an appointment.

Browse Private Schools by county across Maryland to find the nearest location.

Choosing Between Maryland's Metro and Rural School Markets

Where you live shapes your options more than almost any other factor. In Baltimore County and Montgomery County, families can usually compare several schools within a short drive, so the deciding questions tend to be teaching method, class size and cost. A parent in Silver Spring might weigh Waldorf against Montessori. A parent in Towson might compare a church preschool such as Good Shepherd Preschool on Carrollton Avenue with a larger school that has its own lower division.

The middle ring behaves differently. Carroll Christian Schools in Westminster (410-876-3838), St Margaret School in Bel Air (410-879-1113) and Frederick Country Day Montessori School on Wheyfield Drive in Frederick (301-694-7000) each draw students from several surrounding towns. Commute length becomes part of the decision. In Western Maryland, Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore, the question is often whether a school exists at your child's grade level within a workable drive.

Whatever your region, shortlist three schools, visit each on a school day, and compare written tuition schedules. Keep a folder with immunization records, prior report cards and any evaluations, because most admissions offices ask for them.

The Maryland State Department of Education oversees nonpublic schools under the Education Article of the Annotated Code and COMAR Title 13A. Schools generally either hold MSDE approval after meeting state requirements, or operate as church-exempt schools that file with the state without going through approval. Neither label says anything about academic quality. Special education schools that county systems use for public placements need their own MSDE approval. Before enrolling, ask the school which category applies and request the answer in writing. If the answer seems unclear, contact MSDE's nonpublic school office and ask them to confirm the school's status.

Yes, in limited form. The BOOST program, short for Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today, provides state-funded scholarships to income-eligible students attending participating nonpublic schools. Not every school takes part, and funding is limited, so an application does not guarantee an award. Families apply during a window set by MSDE each year, and the rules and deadlines can change with the state budget. Beyond BOOST, most schools run their own financial aid, often with a separate application and tax documents. Ask each school's admissions office whether it participates in BOOST and what its own aid deadline is, since those dates often differ.

Maryland requires children to attend school from age 5 until they turn 18. Enrolling in a private school satisfies that requirement, as do public school and approved home instruction. Kindergarten entry dates are a different matter. Public school systems apply their own birthday cutoff, while each private school sets its own policy, and some are more flexible about younger or older starters. Ask about the cutoff early, because it can decide whether your child is placed in preschool, pre-kindergarten or kindergarten. Also ask how the school handles children who turn five close to the start of the school year, and whether it offers a transitional class.

Start with the county pages in this directory and scan school names, which often signal the approach. Montessori programs include Alef Bet Montessori School in Rockville, Apple Montessori School in Bethesda, Bowie Montessori Children's House and Frederick Country Day Montessori School. Acorn Hill Waldorf Kindergarten & Nursery in Silver Spring follows the Waldorf approach. Jewish day schools include Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School in Pikesville and Aleph Bet Jewish Day School in Annapolis, while DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville is a Catholic option. The word Montessori is not legally protected, so ask what training the teachers hold and which organisation, if any, accredits the school.

Not always. A preschool may be licensed as child care through the MSDE Office of Child Care, or it may operate under nonpublic school status, or it may be the lower division of a larger school. Programs such as Good Shepherd Preschool in Towson, Havenwood Church Preschool Center in Lutherville and Epworth Preschool & Kindergarten in Gaithersburg often operate in church buildings, and the rules that apply depend on how each program is set up. Ask for the license or approval documentation, the staff-to-child ratio and the daily hours. A reputable director will show you the paperwork without hesitation.

Rural counties have fewer and smaller schools, and most are faith-based. Washington County has Broadfording Christian Academy in Hagerstown, St. Mary's County has Friendship School in Mechanicsville, and Wicomico County has Faith Baptist Church-Salisbury. Families there often drive longer distances, and many private schools do not run bus routes, so ask about carpools or transportation arrangements. Grade coverage can also be narrow, which may mean changing schools for middle or high school. Ask each school where its graduates typically go next, and compare that with the public school options in your county before you decide.