Georgetown Day School

At a Glance

Georgetown Day School is an independent private school serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in Northwest DC. Located in the Tenleytown neighborhood of Ward 3, GDS holds a distinctive place in Washington's educational history as the city's first racially integrated school, founded in 1945. Today, it remains committed to progressive education that values diversity, critical thinking, and student voice across all grade levels.

The PK–12 configuration means families can potentially keep their children at GDS from early childhood through high school graduation, providing continuity of community and educational philosophy. As a private independent school, GDS operates outside the DC Public Schools system and maintains its own admissions process, curriculum design, and school calendar.

What Parents Should Know

Georgetown Day School requires families to complete a private school application process, which typically includes submitting records, recommendations, and participating in age-appropriate assessments or interviews. As with most DC private schools, tuition applies to all grades, though many independent schools offer financial aid programs. Families should reach out directly to the school well in advance of their desired enrollment year to understand current application deadlines and requirements.

The full PK–12 structure means students can remain at GDS throughout their entire school career, but families should understand how the campus and experience might differ across divisions. Many PK–12 schools organize students into lower, middle, and upper school groupings, each with distinct learning environments. Parents should ask about transition points between these divisions and whether younger and older students share facilities or remain in separate buildings.

Located in Tenleytown along Davenport Street NW, the school sits in a residential area near American University and accessible by Metro via the Tenleytown-AU station on the Red Line. Ward 3 families may find the location particularly convenient, though families travel from across the District and beyond to attend private schools. Parking availability and commute logistics are worth investigating during the school visit process.

Founded specifically to welcome students across racial and religious lines during an era of segregation, GDS's historical mission around integration and social justice continues to inform its institutional identity. Families drawn to schools with explicit progressive values and a stated commitment to diversity should explore how these founding principles manifest in today's curriculum and school culture.

Programs and Approach

As an independent private school, Georgetown Day School designs its own curriculum and educational approach without the constraints of district-wide mandates. Private schools in DC vary widely in their educational philosophies, from traditional to progressive, so parents should investigate GDS's specific teaching methods, assessment practices, and graduation requirements through direct conversation with the admissions office.

The PK–12 span allows the school to develop a coherent educational progression from early childhood through college preparation. Families should inquire about how the early childhood program prepares students for elementary years, what middle school offerings look like, and how the high school supports college counseling and post-graduate planning.

Private school admission is handled independently by each school rather than through the My School DC lottery system used for DCPS and public charter schools. Families interested in GDS should visit the school's website to learn about information sessions, tours, application timelines, and what the school seeks in prospective families. Most DC independent schools have rolling admissions or specific application windows, and competitive schools may have waitlists.

Visiting and Contact

Georgetown Day School is located at 4200 Davenport St NW in the Tenleytown neighborhood. Families considering GDS should visit https://www.gds.org for information about scheduling tours, attending open houses, and accessing current details about the application process and school programs.