The Potomac School Profile – Henry Charles Consulting

Inside the School

The Potomac School

Located on a 90-acre wooded campus in McLean, VA, The Potomac School is a co-educational day school that serves students from Kindergarten through 12th Grade. With state-of-the-art athletics facilities and rigorous, growth-oriented academics, Potomac seeks to prepare students to lead lives of achievement, generosity, and purpose.

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School Facts

At a Glance

Location: McLean, VA
School Type: Independent Day School
Grades Served: Kindergarten through Grade 12
Gender: Co-Educational
Enrollment: Approximately 1,070 students
Religious Affiliation: N/A
Tuition: Approximately $47,000-$55,000 depending on grade level (2026-27)

School Overview

Academics

Lower School (K-3)

Potomac’s Lower School curriculum emphasizes life skills, outdoor exploration, and Social Emotional Learning alongside academics.
Areas of study include:

Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
Art
Music
Physical Education & Health
Technology
Life Skills
Library

Middle School (4-6)

Middle School students at Potomac take a combination of courses with their homeroom teacher and with partner classroom teachers. Social Emotional Learning continues to be emphasized, and students learn to become independent thinkers while also advocating for themselves and their peers.
In addition to building on the subjects established in Lower School, Middle School students begin Potomac’s World Languages program by taking courses in Spanish.

Intermediate School (7-8)

The Intermediate School curriculum at Potomac aims to provide students with a strong foundation for Upper School, both in terms of academics and social-emotional skills.
Intermediate School students delve deeper into the subjects established in Lower and Middle School, while also having the opportunity to expand their language horizons through taking French, Latin, Spanish, or Chinese.

Upper School (9-12)

In Upper School, students have the opportunity to take elective courses beyond the core curriculum, exploring fields such as Engineering, Journalism, and Communications.
Upper School students can also deepen their learning in their area of interest through one of four concentration programs. These programs include:

Economics, Finance, Entrepreneurship & Business (EFEB)
Visual & Performing Arts Concentration (VPAC)
Science & Engineering Research Center (SERC)
Global Perspectives & Citizenship Program (GPAC)

Signature Programs

Global Learning

Upper School students have the opportunity to spend a school year abroad in Spain, France, or Italy in order to sharpen their language skills and fully engage with different cultures.
As a member of Global Online Academy (GOA), Potomac offers seniors and second semester juniors the opportunity to take one GOA online course for one semester, expanding the course offerings available to students into subject areas such as Abnormal Psychology or Cybersecurity.

Auxiliary Programs

After the school day has ended, Potomac students have the ability to continue learning through various enrichment classes offered by the school’s Education That Continues (ETC) Program.
Potomac students can also participate in the school’s After-School Music Program, which offers private music lessons to students of all ages and skill levels across a variety of instruments.

Student Support

Learning Support

In conversation with Potomac’s Lower or Middle School Student Support Team, Lower or Middle School students with documented learning differences can access a limited number of accommodations. After a student is approved for accommodations, the Director of Learning Support for Grades K-6 will also develop an Individual Academic Plan (IAP) to ensure that the student has the support they need to succeed.
Intermediate School students who are seeking accommodations follow a similar process to their Lower and Middle School peers by meeting with their designated support team. In addition, all Intermediate School students have access to academic support through the school’s Learning Specialist according to student need.
At Potomac, all Upper School students have access to academic resources and support through the school’s Upper School Learning Resource Center, Writing Center, Math and Science Collaboration Center, and Language Center. The accommodations process for Upper School students with documented learning differences follows the same framework as the rest of the school.

Health & Wellness

Potomac’s Health Services Team includes certified athletic trainers, counselors, and two full-time registered nurses who are available to all students to provide social, emotional, physical, and behavioral support.
The Counseling Department at Potomac works with students who have everyday issues and concerns and provides developmentally focused and culturally competent services and programs.

College Counseling

Potomac’s college counseling program is student-centered, focused on helping students discover their passions and strive to reach their personal goals. Throughout the school year, Potomac’s college counselors meet with students and parents, invite college admissions professionals to campus from over 100 colleges and universities, and network with college admissions professionals.
In addition, Potomac’s college counselors support student-athletes who wish to pursue sports at the collegiate level throughout the recruiting process.

Student Life

Student Clubs & Groups

Lower School students are able to join a variety of Committees—a precursor to clubs—which offer leadership opportunities in areas such as Service Learning, Art, and Technology.
In Middle School, students are able to join clubs run by faculty and staff during the lunch and recess period. Past clubs have included a range of topics such as Writing, Robotics, and Ultimate Frisbee.
In addition to participating in student-run clubs, Intermediate and Upper School students have the opportunity to join a variety of Affinity and Alliance Groups.
Upper School students can also participate in Lunchtime Conversations, a panel discussion series hosted by student clubs that focuses on the intersection between topics of interest and current events.

Service Learning

Service learning at Potomac is integrated into the K-12 curriculum in order to empower students to show leadership, work towards social change, and embody a generosity of spirit.
All Potomac students participate in service learning experiences in four key areas:

Hunger, Homelessness, and Poverty
Literacy
The Elderly
The Environment

Athletics

Intermediate and Upper School students at Potomac are able to compete on a variety of seasonal sports teams at varying levels depending on age and experience.

Fall Sports:

Field Hockey
Cross Country
Football
Golf
Soccer
Tennis
Volleyball

Winter Sports:

Basketball
Squash
Swimming
Indoor Track
Wrestling

Spring Sports:

Baseball
Lacrosse
Softball
Tennis
Track & Field

Best-Fit Considerations

Student Fit

The Potomac School may be a strong fit for students who are:

Independent, curious learners who value discussion-based academics
Seeking a community that collaborates across grade levels

Family Considerations

Families should consider whether Potomac’s cross-grade community culture, rigorous academics, and athletics program fit their needs.

HCC Visit Insights

From our perspective, The Potomac School stands out due to its emphasis on not only providing a rigorous academic environment, but also teaching students how to think critically and live purposefully. With 90 acres of ponds, streams, and woods and world-class arts and athletics facilities, Potomac’s campus is designed to enrich the educational experience of every student. As always, the right match depends on a student’s needs, goals, and readiness for the school environment.

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