Let’s start with the titans. Sidwell Friends is the gold standard, famously educating presidential offspring from Chelsea Clinton to Sasha and Malia Obama. Its Quaker ethos means classes are discussion-based, and the emphasis is on “that of God in everyone”—which translates to a remarkably empathetic student body.
Then there’s St. Albans, the all-boys powerhouse on the National Cathedral grounds. The boys wear blazers, debate like senators, and have an on-campus observatory that will make any aspiring astronomer swoon. Fun fact: The school’s chapel was designed by the same firm that built the Lincoln Memorial.
For girls, National Cathedral School (NCS) sits right across the lawn. It’s a sister school to St. Albans, but with its own gritty, academic flair. The Cathedral itself, a Gothic marvel, serves as the school’s spiritual—and architectural—backdrop.
