The best tutors in Washington, DC

Each jurisdiction in the metro has its own state test: DC public and public charter schools give DC CAPE, Maryland schools give the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP), and Virginia schools give the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, which include end-of-course tests in high school. All three cover English language arts/reading and math in the tested grades. Tutoring centers that follow grade-level standards cover the same skills, and some Virginia providers (for example Magellan Tutoring) list SOL prep by name. Ask a provider how it aligns sessions with your child's school curriculum.

TJ is a regional public high school run by Fairfax County Public Schools, and FCPS manages its admissions for students from several Northern Virginia school divisions. The process has changed in recent years, so check FCPS's TJ admissions pages for current eligibility, application parts and deadlines. Math-enrichment programs and tutors can build problem-solving, math and writing skills, but no provider can guarantee admission. Be cautious of any claim to 'teach to' a specific admissions test without checking that it matches FCPS's current process.

Montgomery County Public Schools offers application and criteria-based programs at the elementary, middle and high school levels. MCPS sets selection criteria and timelines and has revised them over time, so use MCPS's official program pages for current eligibility and application steps. Enrichment centers in Rockville, North Bethesda, Gaithersburg and Germantown (for example AoPS Academy and the Russian School of Mathematics) offer advanced math. That can support a strong student, but it is not an admissions requirement.

Many DC-area independent schools ask applicants for an admissions test such as the ISEE or SSAT. Check each school's current requirement, since some accept either test and some have changed their policies. In this directory, PrepMatters (Bethesda), Advantage Testing of Washington, DC (Wisconsin Avenue NW), Applerouth (in-home and online) and Educational Connections (online, SSAT/HSPT) list private-school admissions test prep on their own sites.

C2 Education has ten centers across Bethesda, Potomac, Rockville, Silver Spring, Germantown, McLean, Vienna, Fairfax, Herndon and Alexandria. PrepMatters (Bethesda) and Advantage Testing (Upper Northwest DC) offer one-on-one prep at their offices, and Sylvan and Huntington centers list test prep. Applerouth and Magellan Tutoring come to your home, and Educational Connections works online.