Relocating to the Washington, DC Area
Every year, we work with families moving to the Washington, DC area from other parts of the United States and around the world. Over the years, we have supported families from across the U.S., as well as from the United Kingdom, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, mainland China, Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand, the UAE, and many other places as they navigate their children’s school search and admissions process in the Washington metropolitan area.
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For families new to the region, working with a local private school education consultant can be especially helpful. The Washington, DC area has a diverse independent school landscape across DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. As private school admissions consultants, we help families understand their options, identify schools that may be a strong fit, and navigate the admissions process from beginning to end—even when the family is still living hundreds or thousands of miles away.
We also understand that relocating with children involves much more than choosing a school. Families are often learning about new neighborhoods, extracurricular opportunities, summer programs, healthcare providers, and parent communities—all while managing the many other details that come with a move. Our goal is to make that transition a little easier.
Helping Families Understand the Independent School Landscape
Our founder, Ying Zhu, is regularly invited to speak at global and international organizations in Washington, DC, Beijing, and Hong Kong about the DMV independent school landscape and educational options for relocating families. Lloyd Paradiso, PEG’s Chief Strategy Officer for Boarding School Admission Consulting, is a frequent speaker at educational conferences and brings decades of experience and extensive relationships across the independent school and international education communities. Theodra Washington, PEG’s Senior Admissions Advisor for K–12 Consulting, brings deep insight into independent school admissions, having served for five years as Associate Director of Lower and Middle School Admission at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC.
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PEG also hosts several free educational webinars each year for parents who would like to better understand the independent school landscape. We invite Heads of School, admissions directors, and other school leaders to join these conversations so families can learn directly from educators about different school models, educational approaches, admissions processes, and school communities.
Support Beyond the Admissions Process
For families relocating to the Washington, DC area who work with PEG for admission consulting, our support goes beyond school applications. In addition to the services included in our admission consulting program, we are happy to share local resources and recommendations to help your family settle into the area. This additional support is included as part of our admission consulting services, and we remain a resource for your family for up to one year after your move.
Depending on your family's needs, we can help with:
School Locations & Neighborhood Considerations - guidance on independent school locations, transportation and school bus options, and commute considerations to help families explore school options and determine where to live across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia.
Arts, music, and sports - local programs based on your child’s interests, age, and experience.
Summer camps - recommendations for academic, sports, arts, STEM, and general summer programs.
Academic enrichment - recommendations for local math, reading, writing, and other academic programs.
Language learning - resources for a wide range of language programs and weekend schools, including French, Spanish, German, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Arabic, and more.
Nursery, infant, and preschool programs - resources for younger siblings who may not yet be applying to independent schools.
After-school programs and childcare - resources for after-school care, enrichment programs, babysitting or nanny resources, and school-break programs.
Children’s health and developmental resources - local pediatricians, dentists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and other child-focused providers.
Family and parent communities - connections to local parent networks, libraries, community centers, family activities, and other resources to help your family settle into the area.
Helping Your Family Feel at Home
Many of the families we have worked with arrived in the Washington area knowing very little about the local school landscape or community. We are always happy to share what we know—not only about schools, but also about the many resources that can help children and parents feel connected and at home in a new community.
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If your family is planning a move to Washington, DC, Maryland, Northern Virginia, or another region of the United States and you are beginning to explore school options for your child, we invite you to schedule a consultation with our team. We would be happy to learn more about your family, your upcoming move, and what you are looking for in your child’s next school.