The Woods Academy

The Woods Academy is a Catholic day school in Bethesda, Maryland, enrolling roughly 250 students in pre-K through eighth grade. The school sits in the Washington, D.C. suburbs and describes itself as an inclusive Catholic community. Its mission to prepare boys and girls to lead lives of significance drives hiring and curriculum decisions alike.

Teaching at The Woods Academy differs from larger independent schools in one key way: faculty leave campus each day. Day school schedules mean traditional work hours and evenings at home—a rhythm that suits educators managing families or other commitments. Class sizes stay small, and teachers across grade levels know one another's students, creating natural opportunities for collaboration on student progress.

The school operates French and Spanish programs uncommon at this grade level. Language teachers work with classroom teachers to weave language learning into core subjects, not isolate it. That integration appeals to educators interested in multilingual literacy development in younger students.

The Woods Academy hires year-round for elementary classroom teachers, middle school subject specialists, language instructors, and support staff. Spring and summer bring the heaviest recruiting cycle ahead of the fall term. Because enrollment sits under 300, individual faculty voices carry real weight in program direction and school culture.

For Catholic educators seeking a day school model—with manageable community size and genuine influence over curriculum—The Woods Academy offers a concrete fit. Families in Bethesda value the Catholic identity and the ability to pick students up at day's end. Teachers find themselves known by name, not just by role.