Business Details
Your Trusted Partner for Catholic Education in Bethesda
Woods Academy is an inclusive Catholic community dedicated to preparing boys and girls to lead lives of significance. Our educational philosophy integrates academic excellence, spiritual enrichment, and character development, serving students from age 3 through Grade 8. Rooted in the Montessori approach for early education, we cultivate critical thinking, creativity, and analytical skills through a rigorous curriculum. Our co-educational environment fosters mutual respect and lifelong relationships, while small class sizes ensure personalized attention. We emphasize faith-based values, physical well-being, and community service, nurturing students' intellectual, spiritual, and physical growth.Our graduates consistently gain admission to top-tier high schools, with over half receiving merit-based scholarships. The six-acre campus near Washington, DC, offers state-of-the-art facilities for arts, athletics, and technology. We welcome families of all faiths, promoting diversity and cultural awareness as essential components of learning. Our dedicated faculty and engaged parent community create a supportive ecosystem for holistic development. For over five decades, we have remained committed to shaping compassionate, confident leaders prepared for a global future.
Services
Montessori Program
Lower School Curriculum
Middle School Curriculum
Spiritual Enrichment
Character Development
Extracurricular Activities
Athletics Programs
Arts Education
World Language Instruction
Guidance Counseling
Highlights and features
- We offer Montessori education for ages 3-5, building foundational skills for lifelong learning.
- Our graduates achieve 100% acceptance to first-choice high schools with merit scholarships.
- We provide faith-based character development integrated with academic and physical education.
- Our six-acre campus features innovative facilities for arts, technology, and athletics.
- We maintain small class sizes ensuring personalized attention and student growth.
Services
Montessori Program
Our Montessori program for ages 3-5 fosters independence through hands-on learning and guided discovery. Students develop critical thinking and social skills in a child-centered environment. This foundation prepares them for seamless transition to our elementary curriculum.
Lower School Curriculum
Grades 1-4 focus on academic enthusiasm through structured yet creative learning experiences. We emphasize literacy, mathematics, technology, and global awareness while nurturing community involvement. Small classes ensure individualized attention and skill development.
Middle School Curriculum
Grades 5-8 balance structure with autonomy, addressing developmental needs through challenging academics and leadership opportunities. The program cultivates analytical thinking, personal responsibility, and preparation for high school success through specialized instruction.
Spiritual Enrichment
Daily chapel services, Mass participation, and religious education form our spiritual foundation. Students engage in prayer partnerships and service projects, integrating Catholic values with character growth while respecting diverse faith traditions within our community.
Character Development
Our program teaches empathy, conflict resolution, and ethical decision-making through classroom lessons and community service. We emphasize honesty, respect, and compassion, preparing students to become socially responsible leaders in a multicultural world.
People
Dr. Jessica Palladino
Head of School
Dr. Palladino leads with a vision for academic excellence and community engagement. She emphasizes teacher expertise and parent involvement in creating a nurturing educational environment.
Mr. Paris Person
Grade 4 Teacher
Mr. Person inspires students through dedicated teaching, fostering growth and confidence in young learners through personalized classroom experiences.
Joanne Manrique
Parent
As an engaged parent, Joanne highlights the school's ability to nurture both academic skills and personal development through its holistic educational approach.
Questions
What grades does The Woods Academy serve?
We serve students from age 3 through Grade 8, offering Montessori preschool, lower school, and middle school programs.
Is The Woods Academy a religious school?
We are a Catholic school following the Archdiocese of Washington’s religion curriculum, welcoming students of all faiths.
What is the student-teacher ratio?
Our small class sizes ensure personalized attention, though specific ratio numbers are not explicitly stated in the text.
Do you offer extracurricular activities?
Yes, we provide athletics, arts programs, world language instruction, and after-school enrichment opportunities.
What is the school’s academic track record?
100% of our graduates gain admission to first-choice high schools, with over $200,000 in merit scholarships awarded annually.
Is financial aid available?
The text mentions merit scholarships but does not specify financial aid programs or application processes.
Reviews (5)
Paul Hugo
Sep 02, 2019
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I have a daughter who is a graduate, a son who attended their Montessori program and a daughter who will be in second grade next year. I cannot say how happy I am that we chose the Woods. The faculty is second to none.
Megan Irving Tyler
Aug 22, 2019
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I attended the Woods Academy for ten years and absolutely loved it. The faculty and staff became a second family and provided me with an excellent academic and spiritual foundation. I made life-long friends and will always remember the time I spent there fondly. The Woods community will always have a special place in my heart.
Mxm McCormick
Aug 31, 2018
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Woods is truly a gem, a treasure in Bethesda. Excellent teachers, wonderful community, great children.
Lana Bussard
Jan 18, 2018
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This is wonderful school for children of all ages. They teach more than just traditional skills, they teach kids how to think outside the box, Arming them with problem-solving skills at a young age. Caring staff and tightknit community.
Chris Stewart
Mar 16, 2016
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It's the best private school for the money in the DC area. Graduates enjoy such a diverse range of successful outcomes. Come check it out!
