Templeton Academy in Washington | Military Town Advisor

Posted: February 2, 2026

Templeton Academy ignited my child's learning. The local public high school of thousands of students was overwhelming for her and she was failing her classes. She and her education came alive under the expert teaching and supportive environment at Templeton. Now she is headed to the district competition for National History Day. The experiential, project-based learning approach that Templeton uses is providing my student with an outstanding education that she is excited about. The routine field work trips around DC are exposing her to the larger world and preparing her to be an engaged citizen.

Posted: December 3, 2025

My child started middle school at Templeton this year, and it's precisely what you would want for middle school. It's small, so your child is seen, gets the attention they need, and the work can be tailored to them. The teachers and staff know the kids - and they really seem to like them too. This is a place where every kid can find themselves and be themselves. It is academically rigorous, and project-based learning helps students apply what they learn to the real world. The students receive support while gaining the growing independence they need. Templeton's motto is "Stay Curious," and they live by it. Everything about this school is centered on creating curious learners who feel supported and confident.

Posted: December 3, 2025

TADC has truly been an incredible find. The small classrooms / individual attention, highly educated / experienced staff and faculty, and thoughtful learning systems contribute to an academically and culturally rich environment. The hands on and community based learning brings subjects to life and gives students practical application experience. Communication between the school / students / families is robust, meaning we as parents always feel informed and integrated.

Posted: April 8, 2025

We absolutely love Templeton Academy and its wonderful community. My son joined in the 8th grade, and over the past three-plus years, he has grown and evolved in countless ways. The school's small size creates a safe and nurturing environment where students can build meaningful connections with their teachers and fully engage with the curriculum. Despite its intimate setting, the school provides ample opportunities for personal growth, particularly in public speaking, through quarterly exhibition nights. Additionally, regular offsite classes and adventures into the city enrich the learning experience and broaden students' horizons. Templeton Academy has truly been a blessing for our family, and we are so grateful to be part of this incredible community.

Posted: April 4, 2025

My son has been attending Templeton since 8th grade. We moved him out of public as he didn't feel he was learning anything and the social atmosphere at the public school was not great. We found Templeton through an education consultant. Templeton was great in working with us through the application process as we decided to move him in the summer before 8th grade started, so we could not get all the recommendations from the public school teachers or testing completed. They allowed us to substitute other appropriate documentation which was very helpful. He has flourished academically and socially at the school due to the small class size and much more accepting/appropriate social environment. Academically, we really like the project based work model which encourages the students to 1) learn how to project manage day by day to tackle larger goals, 2)use multiple skill sets in the same project, and 3) incorporate knowldedge from several classes to create a unified project. As parents, We believe this sets our student up for success at it more accurately reflects what students will have to do in college and as adults. The teachers have real interactions with students on a daily basis, which helps the students grow intellectually. On the social side, what I like about Templeton is that all students are treated with respect by staff and each other. Any incidents in the community have been addressed quickly and clearly so as to ensure a good learning environment is maintained. I have seen myself that the kids are in an environment that allows them to learn and flourish and does not focus on appearance, gender, or fitting in. In my opinion that is vital to bringing out a students full academic potential (it is hard to focus on academics if a student is concerned about Instagram all day). I highly recommend this school.

Posted: April 4, 2025

5 stars for Templeton Academy! After a challenging time at DCPS, Templeton has been a godsend. My middle school child, now a freshman, went from dreading school to absolutely loving it.

Templeton's teachers truly see and appreciate my child, fostering a thriving environment. This schools approach, focused on deep learning, integrated subjects, and real world connections, feels incredibly relevant. They excel at supporting adolescence, social and emotional development, with respectful interactions and a culture of inclusivity. When challenges arise, Templeton prioritizes understanding group causes and empowering students with self advocacy and conflict, resolution skills. For example, example, a situation involving an appropriate online content became a valuable lesson on boundaries and consent.

The experiential learning is exceptional. Fieldwork, especially frequent Smithsonian visits, brings learning to life. Even Geometry incorporates exploring DC architecture. Plus, the students get a lot of exercise walking!

The middle school curriculum provides a solid foundation with a more consistent class structure throughout the year. There are computer free times, but my child also learned to use technology like Canva, sound editing, and CAD to complete assignments.

High school classes are truly inspiring. Classes like "History of Theater," "Learning about War through Literature," and Physics, combine traditional separate subjects into engaging and thought-provoking experiences.

Templeton's responsiveness to parent feedback and commitment to evidence based education are commendable. They effectively explain their methods, addressing my concerns as a parent, accustomed to a more traditional system. While their college preparation path may differ from traditional schools, they focus on developing well-rounded, intrinsically, motivated individuals, which aligns with the evolving needs of higher education and the modern workforce.

For my family, the active fieldwork and my child's personal preferences mitigate any limitations (no organized sports or musical theater.) The school day is a bit long (9-4:30) but this includes a period for group work, and teacher interaction, ensuring accountability in the age of AI.

Above all, the counselor, administrators, and teachers are outstanding-- dedicated, supportive, and invested in student well-being. Templeton Academy has been an invaluable gift to my child, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Posted: July 12, 2024

From the time I've spent at Templeton Academy, I've experienced academic growth, personal growth, and a very supportive community. The school's small environment is good for anyone who feels or has felt overwhelmed in a larger educational setting, and the location encourages independence and using the surrounding city as an extension of the campuses. Creativity is something that is encouraged and allowed to flourish, as well as a sense of discipline when it's needed. Would recommend for your kids.

Posted: December 13, 2021

My daughter is an eighth grader at Templeton DC. Now she loves going to school each morning. The project-based curriculum is an engaging way to learn, with students going deep on particular topics and bringing in a variety of academic subjects and skills. Field trips happen once or twice a week and are directly integrated into the projects. Each term is capped off with an evening of student presentations about their projects, allowing each student to shine. The atmosphere is warm and supportive, both by the teachers and by the other students. Clubs are built into the day, with middle school students and high school students attending the same clubs, and the high school students being engaged with and mentors to the middle-schoolers. There is an intentional focus, built into the weekly schedule and evaluation process, on learning about self-advocacy and self-reflection, skills that everyone (especially teenagers) need. Also, the downtown location cant be beat, giving easy access to all the city offers and independence to the students. We look forward to sticking with Templeton for high school.

Posted: February 5, 2021

I love everything about Templeton Academy! They are very supportive of my son's challenges and provide it when needed. The teachers are team players with the parents as well. The project based curriculum is awesome! It gives the students the chance to learn to work as a team and also use critical thinking skills. The class schedule is unique as well where the student will take 2 courses per semester for 10 weeks and still get all their required credits. Even though school is virtual right now, my son has met some friends. Oh and the class sizes are nice and small. Another thing I love about Templeton is how they praise the accomplishments of their students. My son is featured on their social media pages for winning 2 scholarships for being a philanthropist. I highly recommended Templeton Academy for a middle and high school choice. You won't be disappointed!

Posted: February 5, 2021

Posted: December 1, 2020

My daughter joined Templeton Academy after not doing well with remote learning during the pandemic in the public schools. With her ADHD and wanting to be around other kids, she struggled with being engaged during online lessons. This has been a breath of fresh air - I am thrilled that she is finally learning. And she also likes her school! It's a bit like college and she loves it.
Classes have more of a practical bend to them - integrating life skills with academic learning. Most assignments are project-based - which is more of a real-life skill. The field trips enable better learning, and the school has been able to combine virtual with in-person learning in a safe and effective way.
Teachers are very responsive and have been engaged. For example, they noticed that my daughter has leadership skills and started giving her those opportunities.
Leadership is very responsive to me - I have been emailing about various issues or asking questions and I was getting responses almost immediately. Her advisor knew the names of her friends - that's the level of individual attention that she gets!
Character is key - we espouse the same values that the school teaches, so it's easy for us to fit in. Love is Love, Black Lives Matter, and so on.
From a learning differences perspective, my ADHD kid has an easier time with block classes that are more in-depth and longer. I hear her talk in her classes, a lot. And she is thinking and debating a lot as well.
As to bullying - she hasn't had any episodes of that. She made friends. A bit of a challenge is the fact that lots of kids come from different places all over the DC Metro area so it's logistically tougher to hang out. It is also impossible during the pandemic. But she managed to make friends. Lots of kids there are quiet and very talented - not necessarily a breeding ground for bullying.

Posted: December 1, 2020