School Climate

A student’s day depends on the little things—a smile in the hallway, a complimentary remark about an academic insight, a pat on the back when a basketball swishes, or applause for a jazz solo. It doesn’t take much to make someone feel good—and that happens at McLean every day.

We have developed a school climate that is positive, kind, thoughtful, and patient. We purposefully work on interpersonal relationships, foster friendships, and teach problem solving skills and self-advocacy. We introduced Mindfulness into the mix well before it became trendy.

With small classes and plenty of extracurricular activities, students discover leadership qualities, academic interests, athletic skills, and artistic talents they would not be able to develop in a larger school. We also encourage awareness of others beyond the classroom. Students learn and grow, for example, through community service initiatives that benefit local charities and international relief efforts.

Climate Committees in Lower School and Middle School are part of McLean’s “prosocial climate.” Each committee has eight to ten student representatives, generally volunteers, who assess the climate in their divisions and serve as the voice of the student body, sharing concerns, opinions, and suggestions with the administration.

Mindfulness, trips to Italy and Spain, Spirit Week, McLean Gardens, Spanish Exchange Students, concerts, clubs, sports, and school gatherings help build a strong sense of community and add extra dimensions to the McLean experience. The attitudes formed at McLean enrich our students at every stage of their development and well beyond graduation.

K-12 College Preparatory School Supporting Bright Students’ Individual Strengths and Challenges.

McLean School is an independent, co-educational, K-12 day school serving Maryland, Washington, and Virginia. McLean has for over sixty years been helping students realize their full potential by providing a comprehensive college preparatory program that emphasizes small classes and differentiated instruction. We embrace both traditional learners and ones with mild to moderate learning challenges – dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, and challenges related to anxiety and executive functioning. Many of our students excel in some areas while benefiting from support in others.