Holton-Arms School

Holton-Arms is an independent college-preparatory school for girls in grades 3–12, located in Bethesda, Maryland. It is dedicated to “education not only of the mind, but of the soul and spirit.” The School’s motto is Inveniam viam aut faciam or “I will find a way or make one.”

The School prides itself on providing a diverse environment where girls are encouraged to excel. Students have opportunities to explore and discover their own aptitudes in academics—especially in science, math and technology (classes include robotics, engineering, and forensic science)—in athletics and in the fine and performing arts. The School also places a strong emphasis on community service, puts women first, and promotes risk taking among the student body, faculty and staff.

In 1901, 19 years before women won the right to vote, Jessie Moon Holton and Carolyn Hough Arms founded Holton-Arms from a vendor's push cart. Their progressive vision of educating young women to develop their own sense of personal integrity and responsibility and of giving them the means to make wise and ethical choices remains stronger than ever.

From 1906 to 1963, Holton-Arms School was located at 2125 S Street, NW in the Sheridan-Kalorama neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

Originally housed in Washington, D.C., Holton-Arms moved to Bethesda in 1963. Located on 57 acres (230,000 m²) of rolling woodlands just off River Road, the campus encompasses seven buildings that house a new science wing and lecture hall, two libraries, a performing arts center with a 400-seat theater and new black box theater, art and ceramic studios and photo lab, three dance studios, a double gymnasium, an indoor competition-size pool, and a weight and training room. Outside, seven tennis courts, three athletic fields including a new synthetic turf field, and an eight lane all weather track round off the sports facilities.

Currently under the leadership of Susanna Jones, appointed to be Head of School in 2007, the school has three divisions, Lower School (grades 3–6), Middle School (7–8), and Upper School (9–12). Tuition is $27,200 for grades 3–6 and $28,500 for grades 7–12, with 20 percent of the student body receiving financial aid. There are 655 students enrolled and 94 faculty, resulting in a student/faculty ratio of 7 to 1. Holton-Arms has a 39.6 percent student of color enrollment.

The current musical being performed at Holton-Arms is Kiss Me Kate. It is being performed along with Holton's brother school, Landon. In fall sports news, varsity tennis has won the ISL championship and JV field hockey has gotten 2nd place in the ISL tournament. Track got 5th place at the ISL meet. Dancing is also a sport at Holton-Arms, but does not have a JV or Varsity team. Soccer, both JV and varisty, have not yet had thier tournaments.

Notable alumnae

• Brooke Astor, philanthropist
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, heiress & actress, played Elaine on Seinfeld
• Susan Ford, Former President Gerald Ford's daughter
• Lisa F. Jackson, award-winning documentary producer [1]of The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo
• Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, former first lady (did not graduate but attended the middle school)
• Anne Kornblut Washington Post White House Correspondent
• Christine Lagarde, Minister of Finance of France
• Aerin and Jane Lauder, Estée Lauder executives and socialites
• Patricia Richardson, actress, played Jill on Home Improvement
• Margaret Warner, award-winning senior correspondent, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
• Elinor Wylie Poet
• Rachael Yamagata, singer-songwriter
• Azita Youssefi, musician/artist

External links

• Holton-Arms School website