Edmund Burke School

Posted: March 31, 2026

I think Burke is a great school and i have been helped throughout my years of being here. The community is very supportive and welcoming, as well as being diverse LGBTQ wise and neurodivergent wise. Kids are given many different opportunities for learning what they are good at and encouraged to speak up and share their point of view.

Posted: March 31, 2026

Posted: March 31, 2026

Posted: March 31, 2026

Posted: March 31, 2026

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Posted: March 31, 2026

Posted: March 31, 2026

Posted: September 28, 2025

Burke is a phenomenal school. The teachers all seem happy to be there and are given the freedom to develop lesson plans that work for each class. I have no doubt that my child is ready for college based on their experience at Burke. It's a warm and welcoming community with academic rigor, but kids are not as stressed out as some other schools. Kids are taught to be independent thinkers and to self advocate.

The only reason I did not give a full five stars on accomodations is that the school is not a good fit if your child needs a lot of accomodations. The learning specialist is great. Extended test time or using an ipad is no problem, but if your child has more severe needs, it may not work for your family.

Posted: September 28, 2025

Posted: September 28, 2025

Posted: September 28, 2025

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Posted: September 28, 2025

Posted: September 26, 2025

Both of our children attend Edmund Burke. Among the many private schools in this area, Burke is quietly the most impressive of the bunch. The teaching is phenomenal. In their time at Burke, our two kids, who are extremely different from each other, have both developed into kind, curious, motivated adolescents. Sometimes we are astonished by their engagement in their studies, how well they write, and, equally important, how open hearted and confident they are. Our kids started at Burke in 6th grade. Both the high school and the middle school are excellent. You can go to Burke in high school and have a superlative experience. I suspect, though, that the middle school might be the secret ingredient in Burke's warm, inclusive culture. The middle school IS small. By 8th grade, some kids are definitely eager for a bigger pool. The beauty of the small size is that all of the kids learn how to work with each other, and by working with each other, they find common ground with kids they might never have expected to like. Isn't that what we all want for all of us now? We have friends who sent their kids to Burke for middle school in or at the tail end of the pandemic, intending to transfer them back to public for high school. Some did transfer back, others stayed. All of the kids are fine, and I'm pretty sure that all of the parents credit Burke's middle school with the fact that their kids came through those years with both their love of school and their souls intact.

Posted: September 26, 2025

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Posted: September 26, 2025

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Posted: September 4, 2025

Posted: September 4, 2025

Posted: September 4, 2025

Posted: September 4, 2025

Posted: September 4, 2025

Posted: September 4, 2025

Posted: September 4, 2025

Posted: September 4, 2025

Burke is an amazing school and has created a warm and supportive community of staff, teachers, parents and students. I have 2 children who have attended Burke. They are very different and have different needs and interests. They were both able to find spaces to explore their interests and were supported by their teachers and administrators. I would recommend Edmund Burke to anyone who asked.

Posted: November 6, 2024

The school enviornment is unsupportive and very clique-y. Do not recomend unless you're prone to being popular and happen to play soccer. If you already accepted..good luck.

Posted: November 6, 2024

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Posted: April 20, 2019

Burke does not have a special ed program, but enrolls a handful of students with autism and other similar disorders. A significant portion of the student body (and faculty) have ADHD. the small class sizes and close teacher student relationships help to support students with ADHD, but more still could be done, as many adhd students still struggle academically.

Posted: April 20, 2019

Bullying is taken very seriously at Burke, and sometimes the school can even be oversensitive about student issues. Students really hold each other accountable at Burke, and during my time at Burke, there were never significant incidents of hazing or bullying.

Posted: April 20, 2019

Burke changed my life. It gave me the confidence and support I needed as a young person to succeed in life, and I would highly recommend the school to prospective families. Just make sure to apply for scholarship, because that price tag keeps going up.

Posted: April 20, 2019

Burke assigns about 2 hours of homework a night for the average 10th or 11th grade student. Homework is generally useful and important for keeping up in class.

Posted: April 20, 2019

The teachers make this school tick. At Burke, most teachers are engaging (some are extremely engaging), and all of the teachers care deeply about the livelihood of all of their students.

Posted: April 20, 2019

Burke is very community oriented, and in my experience, students are held to a high moral standard and are extraordinarily thoughtful, well-rounded, bright, and respectful.

Posted: April 20, 2019

The leadership team/administration at Burke is excellent, and things run smoothly.

Posted: March 19, 2018

Ok, really loved this school! Let's start with the bad stuff: Small issues here and there, pricetag is way too high, some classes aren't all that much better than public school. The middle school is a bit of a joke, way too small and disorganized. Save your money for the high school program. The High School is a good environment, but still a bit on the small side. If you aren't liked people will shun you. The school attracts a lot of people who don't fit anywhere else, which can end beautifully or as a beautiful mess. Some kids are awesome, some are druggies who can't get along with others. Lastly, the school does not have good basketball or soccer teams. No football. Now for the good and the great: Great school all around, good sense of community and pretty diverse. Music and art programs are stellar! The band program is run by the esteemed John Howard. Kids are from all over the city, and they bring their uniqueness with them. The staff are easily the best part of the school, supportive and brilliant in every way! College admissions program is especially good.
All in all, a terrific school with some definite downsides. Is it worth the investment and the commute? That's for you to decide.

Posted: March 19, 2018

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Posted: September 15, 2016

Posted: September 15, 2016

Posted: September 15, 2016

Posted: September 15, 2016

I am a parent with two children at Burke. I am a DC native who went to top private schools; I got a great education but never felt that my schools created a warm community. Burke is different. The school combines strong academics with a huge emphasis on social development and kindness.

There are some really bright, creative kids at the school and the teachers are incredible. One of our children is very gifted academically - so we tried other private schools and the gifted track of the MCPS system, but Burke is the only place where he has felt socially, not just academically comfortable. Our other child is an all around good kid and is also happy there, which I think says a lot about the quality of the community that's created at Burke. I love the other parents and the new principal has really infused the place with wonderful energy. Can't recommend it highly enough, especially if you have a really bright kid who could use a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Posted: April 19, 2016

Posted: April 19, 2016

Posted: April 19, 2016

Posted: April 19, 2016

Burke is a wonderfully excepting community. The teachers are great and they actually want to help the students succeed. 10/10 Would attend again.

Posted: May 3, 2014

We love Burke! The parents and teachers and classes are great. The location is perfect, and the kids...smart and upbeat.

Posted: October 15, 2013

Burke has a great balance of academics and steering students towards more critical thinking (along with strong arts and fun sports teams)

Posted: July 2, 2013

My daughter adores Burke! She is happy just being herself, is excited about what goes on in her classes, loves her teachers (well, almost all of them - she is a teenager,) and is becoming an independent, self-motivated, knowledgeable and civic-minded young lady. We love the urban location, the vibrant and inclusive community, the AMAZING arts program and the high academic standards. What a great school!

Posted: July 2, 2013

The Edmund Burke School is, in my opinion, the perfect atmosphere for students to learn and grow as individuals. For me, a former student, Burke was the place that gave me a feeling of comfort that few places ever could. I truly grew into my own as person with the aid of the instructors and my fellow students. The sense of community is palpable when you step into the building and nothing can replace that. I mention all of this and will move to the most important aspect, the education. Burke prepared me for college in a way that can only be appreciated now that I am in college. Thanks to the progressive type of education you receive at Burke, the transition to a college workload is made easily and seamlessly. In short, Burke is a place that I consider almost a second home that shaped my life in more ways than I can express in a short written statement.

Posted: July 2, 2013

I am a Graphic Design teacher @ Burke and the parent of two alums. My son graduated in 2007 and my daughter in 2011. Burke is a unique place. Students there vary widely in the breadth of their abilities. But a consistent aspect of the students there, is how multifaceted each student is. An example is a 2013 graduate who not only was able to take multiple AP classes, be a talented photographer, able to play pretty much any musical instrument, plus sing in the Spring Musical. Ah, an outlier you say. Nope. While all students may not have that many abilities, there are many that do. Almost all have at least two strengths in very different areas, whether it is Athletics, Academics, Arts, or Social Service. Academics are tough at Burke. Arts are college level. Commitment to community is extraordinary. Athletics are inclusive. Student - Teacher relationships are collegial which is VERY helpful in the transition to college. Students are taught how to think critically, and write very well. My daughter says that Burke taught her how she herself learns. My only complaint is that the students know my dog's name better than mine.

Posted: December 22, 2012

A great place for high academic standards AND development of a student's personal/individual potential. A wonderful balance between intellectual discipline and exploratory freedom.

Posted: June 12, 2012

Burke allows a student to be him/her self. They allow ones strengths to flourish while developing any weaknesses. Burke does not generalize , they work individually with the person you are or strive to become. Burke builds confidence and self assurance in all students.

Posted: January 7, 2012

this school is so small that friend options are very limeted. If you are not liked, you are teased by everyone

Posted: March 8, 2011

Burke is a terrific school that looks at each student as an individual. We have two students who graduated from Burke who were very different from each other academically, socially, and temperamentally. Each thrived because each was given what she needed to succeed. Both were well prepared for college and graduate school and continue to visit their teachers when they are in DC

Posted: February 1, 2011

I have been a parent at the Edmund Burke School for several years and believe that it is a special place that provides a uniquely strong and supportive education to middle and high school kids. What you find when you visit Burke is a school that approaches students as individuals who can achieve great things when provided an education that is challenging, creative, caring and fun. You'll also find a very strong and welcoming community made up of talented and involved teachers, staff, parents, students and alums. You'll also see that Burke's respect for the individual both welcomes and challenges every student from many different walks of life to learn how to advocate for themselves, actively pursue their interests, reach to do their best, and to act to help others inside and outside the 4 walls of the school.

Posted: January 29, 2011

Having had kids attend Burke over the past 10 years, we've found it to be an excellent school for middle and high school kids of all types and learning styles because it: * approaches students as individuals who can achieve great things when provided an education that is challenging, creative, caring and fun. * has a very strong and welcoming community made up of talented and involved teachers, staff, parents, students and alums. * promotes a respect for the individual that both welcomes and challenges every student from many different walks of life to learn how to advocate for themselves, actively pursue their interests, reach to do their best, and act to help others inside and outside the 4 walls of the school. To see the breadth and depth of the Burke learning/community experience take a look at www.burkeword.com

Posted: January 22, 2011

Visit Burke and see yourself: the students are articulate, poised, creative, clever, courteous, accomplished and happy! My daughter LOVES this school, and despite not being the most academically inclined child, has pushed herself to make the honor roll because she is inspired by her teachers and peers. It's challenging (check out all the AP classes and where the graduates go to college) yet nurturing and focused on developing children's characters as well as their minds. Truly a great school!