Excellent
#15 of 378 private schools in MD
Top 4% of private schools
Norwood School
Elementary School
8821 RIVER RD, Bethesda, MD 20817
Enrollment
428
Student-Teacher
5.7:1
Score
8.5
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
428
Student-Teacher
5.7:1
Score
8.5
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Data vintage
2021-22
Data vintage2021-22
How this school compares
Maryland private schools
#15 of 378
In Bethesda
#3 of 15
public schools
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Norwood School
Elementary School in Bethesda · grades Pre-K – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Our Lady of Mercy School
0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
German International School Washington Dc
0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Norwood School
Norwood School is a private elementary school in Bethesda, MD. Norwood School serves approximately 428 students, and covers grades Pre-K-8th, and has a 5.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Norwood School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10 and ranks #15 of 378 private schools in MD.
- This school 8.5 · Excellent
- MD avg 6.3
What Parents Should Know
At 5.7:1 students to teachers, Norwood School sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.
Norwood School is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.
Compare to Public Schools
BetaHow Norwood School compares to 14 public schools serving similar grades in Bethesda, MD
Student Demographics
Nearby Elementary Schools
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Norwood School (this school) | 8.5 |
| Seven Locks Elementary | 9.7 |
| Carderock Springs Elementary | 9.6 |
| Burning Tree Elementary | 9.1 |
| Thomas W. Pyle Middle | 9.2 |
| Wyngate Elementary | 8.9 |
| North Bethesda Middle | 8.6 |
| Bannockburn Elementary | 8.8 |
| Ashburton Elementary | 8.2 |
| Bradley Hills Elementary | 9.0 |
| Woodlin Elementary | 8.1 |
| Wood Acres Elementary | 9.3 |
| Bethesda Elementary | 9.0 |
| Westland Middle | 8.6 |
| Westbrook Elementary | 9.4 |
Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.
Score Breakdown
PreliminaryWhat This Rating Measures
This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in MD.
Data Unavailable
View data sources
Score basis: Private school model
Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data
Components scored: 4 of 5
Ranking pool: Private schools in MD
Test Scores
Test score data not yet available for this school.
Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)
Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)
Location
8821 RIVER RD, Bethesda, MD 20817
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Norwood School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Seven Locks Elementary (rated 9.7/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Carderock Springs Elementary (rated 9.6/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Bells Mill Elementary (rated 9.3/10, 2.1 miles away, in nearby Potomac), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Bethesda, see our Bethesda schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 3.0 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| OUR LADY OF MERCY SCHOOL Potomac | 0.5 mi | 7.8 |
| GERMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL WASHINGTON DC Potomac | 0.6 mi | 7.2 |
| CONNELLY SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD Potomac | 0.6 mi | 6.9 |
| Seven Locks Elementary Bethesda | 1.1 mi | 9.7 |
| Carderock Springs Elementary Bethesda | 1.3 mi | 9.6 |
| MATER DEI SCHOOL Bethesda | 1.2 mi | 5.8 |
| THE HEIGHTS SCHOOL Potomac | 1.9 mi | 5.6 |
| Cabin John Middle Potomac | 2.0 mi | 9.0 |
| HOLTON-ARMS SCHOOL Bethesda | 1.7 mi | 7.4 |
| THE PRIMARY DAY SCHOOL Bethesda | 1.8 mi | 8.9 |
| Bells Mill Elementary Potomac | 2.1 mi | 9.3 |
| APPLE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Bethesda | 2.0 mi | — |
| BULLIS SCHOOL Potomac | 2.2 mi | 7.1 |
| Burning Tree Elementary Bethesda | 2.0 mi | 9.1 |
| MC LEAN SCHOOL OF MARYLAND Potomac | 2.6 mi | 8.1 |
| THE WOODS ACADEMY Bethesda | 2.1 mi | 7.6 |
| ST BARTHOLOMEWS SCHOOL Bethesda | 2.3 mi | 7.6 |
| Potomac Elementary Potomac | 2.4 mi | 8.9 |
| Winston Churchill High Potomac | 2.9 mi | 8.0 |
| Herbert Hoover Middle Potomac | 3.0 mi | 9.1 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 20817 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$240,104
Median Home Value
$1,142,300
Median Rent
$3,155/mo
Population
37,738
College Educated
85.3%
Homeownership
82.3%
Avg Commute
30.2 min
Poverty Rate
4.2%
Median Age
45.5
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Candlewood Elementary Rockville, MD | 8.5 |
| Churchville Elementary Churchville, MD | 8.5 |
| Fountaindale Elementary Hagerstown, MD | 8.5 |
| Kingsville Elementary Kingsville, MD | 8.5 |
| Longfields Elementary Forestville, MD | 8.5 |
| Middletown Elementary Middletown, MD | 8.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Norwood School
What grades does Norwood School serve?
Norwood School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Norwood School?
Norwood School has an enrollment of approximately 428 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Norwood School?
The student-teacher ratio at Norwood School is 5.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.
How does Norwood School rank in MD?
Norwood School ranks #15 of 378 private schools in MD.
What is Norwood School's MySchoolScout rating?
Norwood School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
Is Norwood School a private school?
Yes, Norwood School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.
Is Norwood School a religious school?
No, Norwood School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.
Neighborhood Context
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Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 428
- Gender Split
- 53% M / 47% F
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 5.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 75
- Type
- private
- Coed Status
- coed
- Affiliation
- Nonsectarian
- School Day
- 7.5 hours
- Days Per Year
- 173 days
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Montgomery County
- Phone
- (301) 365-2595
Resources & Links
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