NDP at a Glance

Where Girls Become Women Who Transform the World

Notre Dame Preparatory School educates and empowers girls to become women who transform the world. As a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school for girls in grades 6 through 12, Notre Dame Prep inspires students to pursue academic excellence, spiritual growth and the practice of justice. Infused with the spirit of the School Sisters of Notre Dame and rooted in the teachings of the Catholic Church, the NDP community strives to answer God’s call “…to act justly, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with God.” (Micah 6:8)

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  • Our Mission

    Inspired by the School Sisters of Notre Dame and Catholic teachings, Notre Dame Preparatory School empowers girls in grades 6–12 to pursue academic excellence, spiritual growth, and the practice of justice.

  • Our Campus

    Located in Towson, Maryland, off Providence Road; NDP moved from North Charles Street to its 65-acre Towson campus in 1960.

  • Our Students

    Approximately 820; at present 22% of our students are persons of color. Students come from 80+ different ZIP codes, ranging from Annapolis to Southern Pennsylvania.

  • Our Faculty

    We have approximately 100 full-time faculty members, with more than two-thirds holding at least one master’s degree or working toward a graduate degree. Also, 27% are NDP alumnae.

  • Small Class Sizes

    We boast a 9:1 student-to-teacher ratio with an average class size of 16 students. This ensures a personalized and close-knit learning environment for all of our students.

  • College Prep Curriculum

    Our Upper Level offers 190+ courses, including 26 AP classes, dual-enrollment options, arts electives, and STEAM, Humanities, and global language certificates, while our Middle Level features hands-on learning, STEAM, and honors-level courses.

  • Technology

    Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) in Middle Level; Upper Level 1-to-1 Laptop Program

  • College Placement

    100% of students continue education after high school; the Class of 2025 earned $39+ million in merit aid.

  • Athletics

    Approximately half of NDP's student body participates in interscholastic sports with 14 sports offered in the Upper Level and nine sports in Middle Level. Notre Dame Prep is also a member of the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM).

  • Student Activities

    Notre Dame Prep fosters community and engagement through 60+ student-led clubs and organizations in the Upper Level, 12+ clubs in the Middle Level, and cherished traditions such as Tree Trim and Gym Meet.

  • Accolades & Awards

    National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence (2020); Niche.com Best Catholic High School and A+ School; Baltimore's Child  Readers' Choice Award for Best Independent School Girls, Best Arts Program, Best STEM Program, and Best Sports Program; AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award, Baltimore Style Readers’ Choice; and The Daily Record's Reader Rankings.
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  • The main entrance to Notre Dame Prep's original Charles Street campus covered in snow during the 1950s.

    The History of NDP

    Since its founding in 1873, Notre Dame Preparatory School has provided a stellar college preparatory education to young girls in the tradition of the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND). The essence of the school’s mission—academic excellence, spiritual growth, and the practice of justice—has remained the same since the school’s establishment and provides the foundation allowing NDP to offer a solid liberal arts-based curriculum while responding to the educational needs of the times.
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Foundation Documents

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  • Belief Statements

    • We believe that health in mind, body, and spirit is witness to the sacred dignity of all persons. 
    • We believe that education grounded in the Gospel fosters wisdom and spiritual growth. 
    • We believe that single-sex education develops confident women who are independent thinkers. 
    • We believe that a challenging and nurturing educational program best serves the needs of adolescents. 
    • We believe that tradition must be balanced by openness to change. 
    • We believe that demonstrating genuine personal integrity is at the foundation of the authentic self. 
    • We believe that direct experience of leadership develops courage and fortitude. 
    • We believe that commitment to experiences beyond the classroom is a critical part of self-discovery. 
    • We believe that respecting the dignity of all people creates a welcoming, trusting and compassionate community. 
    • We believe that intentional stewardship affirms the reality that we belong to a global community linked to all creation. 
    • We believe that our solidarity with the world calls us to serve persons who are marginalized. 
    • We believe that courageous pursuit of systemic change, wherever needed, will transform the world. 

  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Commitments

    Notre Dame Prep’s formal Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Commitments were spearheaded by NDP’s Anti-Racism Task Force called STRIVE (Sustaining Transformation: Racial Inclusion, Value, and Equity) and approved by NDP’s Board of Trustees. These commitments are an expression of NDP's Catholic identity and serve as a touchstone for all our work promoting justice and equality.

    As a Catholic, independent school, Notre Dame Preparatory School is rooted in the Gospel and Catholic Social Teaching. The life and spirit of the School Sisters of Notre Dame permeate all aspects of NDP and its community. This spiritual heritage calls us and requires our action to nurture in all ways a community of one mind and one heart. 

        • Notre Dame Preparatory School’s mission, vision, and values guide our way forward and strengthen our commitment to the message of love, respect, justice, and equality for all.  
        • Notre Dame Preparatory School recognizes that racism is a sin and is committed to working towards ending all systemic racial injustice within the school community and extending to the greater community. 
        • Notre Dame Preparatory School embraces a diverse and inclusive community and is committed to creating an environment that honors and respects the dignity and gifts of each individual and fosters equity through its community life, programming and activities, and outreach to the broader community. 
        • Notre Dame Preparatory School is committed to educating and empowering young women to work actively to eliminate the root causes of injustice and thereby transform our world for the better. 

  • Graduate Profile

    Academic Excellence - A graduate from Notre Dame Preparatory School:

        • Has a broad foundation of knowledge able to support a lifetime of learning 
        • Understands her learning process and has developed effective study skills and habits 
        • Thinks critically and creatively to solve problems 
        • Has both the confidence to lead and the humility to collaborate 
        • As a self-directed learner, sets goals, evaluates information, and realizes objectives 
        • Approaches new situations with an open mind and critical eye 
        • Effectively uses innovative technologies 
        • Speaks and writes effectively 
        • Develops a deep appreciation for the arts
        • Remains curious and chooses to pursue an intellectual life

    Spiritual Growth     - A graduate from Notre Dame Preparatory School:

        • Prayerfully develops a personal relationship with God and a deep appreciation for the gift of faith 
        • Explores her God-given talents as she seeks to discover and follow her passion 
        • Understands the teachings of the Catholic Church 
        • Recognizes that genuine success requires harmony in mind, body, and spirit 
        • Makes healthy decisions based on ethical principles and demonstrates moral integrity through her behavior 
        • Creates and nurtures quality relationships 
        • Values the dignity and uniqueness of all persons 
        • Seeks to discover the positive contribution she can make to the world 

    Practice of Justice     - A graduate from Notre Dame Preparatory School: 

        • Is personally accountable for her actions 
        • Ethically uses information 
        • Intentionally educates herself about local and global issues 
        • Demonstrates a strong sense of teamwork and fair play 
        • Reverences our earth and its resources 
        • Defends the dignity of all persons through empathy, compassion, and respect 
        • Engages in acts of direct service and supports charitable causes 
        • Advocates for persons who are marginalized and works to create systemic change

Accreditations & Memberships

Notre Dame Preparatory School is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the State of Maryland and is a member of the Association of Independent Maryland Schools (AIMS), the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA), the International Coalition of Girls' Schools (ICGS), the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), the Council for the Advancement of Support of Education (CASE), Independent School Management (ISM), and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Accolades & Awards

Notre Dame Preparatory School

A Catholic, independent college preparatory school for girls in grades 6–12, sponsored by the School Sisters of Notre Dame