Our fall overview of open house dates and how to handle preschool, grade school, and college visits!
Researching and touring schools or universities may be transformative experiences for both parents and students. Meeting the administrations of possible schools, getting firsthand knowledge, and using on-site optics are all crucial stages in selecting the best school, one of the most significant decisions in life. In addition to a thorough list of regional schools, universities, and learning centers that offer open houses, campus tours, online seminars, and programs for students of all ages, this directory offers advice on how to conduct a successful school search.
If you’re considering school visitations this fall, or in the near future, here are several tips and considerations when planning.
1. Map out all of the schools and make a list. Make a list of all the possible schools, conduct some research on them, and then select a few before the application process starts. When your selection has been narrowed down to the best candidates, it’s time to begin organizing your campus visits. Plan ahead and map out each school you are seriously considering because you should ideally visit them all.
2. Order is important. Make an effort to visit your top school or schools last. You’ll start to have a clearer understanding of your preferences as you visit additional campuses. By the end of the process, you will have a better idea of what to look for and what questions to ask about the campus you wish to tour.
3. Timing matters. Plan your visit while school is, hopefully, in session. Observing student life will give you an authentic view of the school and will (hopefully) help you envision yourself as a student there.
4. Make extra time to explore on your own. Make sure you take extra time to explore areas of campus that were not covered in your trip because the official campus tour will showcase the school’s best characteristics. This is the ideal time to sit in on a class or lecture, observe students, or visit any departments that interest you.
5. Talk to current students and staff. Your tour guide may be a biased source because it is their responsibility to present the best possible image of their school. Your guide’s knowledge is important, but you might wish to speak with existing students to get a more honest impression. If the tour didn’t cover anything, ask the students: What is life like for students? Is meeting people and forming friendships easy? On campus, is there a lot of diversity? Are you having trouble adjusting?
6. Document every visit. If you plan to visit several schools, make sure to document each visit. Take pictures, jot down some notes, or record a voice memo to highlight your favorite—or least favorite—aspects of each school. Going on several tours within a short period of time can be chaotic, so this will help you separate and compare each visit.
7. Keep an open mind. Your priorities during your initial school search may completely shift once you start touring, so remain open minded. Walk onto every campus with a positive attitude and save your judgments until the end of the tour.
8. Shadow Days. Shadow days provide prospective students with a firsthand experience of a school’s daily life—academics, social dynamics, and campus culture—helping them make informed decisions, ease transition anxiety, and determine if the environment is the right fit for their personal and educational goals.
Regional educational institutions, learning centers, and schools that advertise in the What’s Up? Media family of publications are listed below. For program availability, visitation instructions, and open house dates, please think about giving them a call directly. The listing of schools is alphabetical.
Annapolis Area Christian School
Lower School Annapolis Campus – 710 Ridgely Avenue, Annapolis; 410-846-3504; aacsonline.org; October 2 and November 14, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Lower School Severn Campus – 61 Gambrills Road, Severn; October 8 and November 5, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Middle School – 109 Burns Crossing Road, Severn; October 16 and November 20, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Upper School – 109 Burns Crossing Road, Severn; October 27 and November 17, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. K-12 Evening Information Nights – 109 Burns Crossing Road, Severn; Inside the Kerr Center; September 18, and April 23, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Anne Arundel Community College
101 College Parkway, Arnold; 410-777-2222; aacc.edu; October 8, 5 to 7 p.m.
Archbishop Spalding High School
8080 New Cut Road, Severn; 410-969-9105; archbishopspalding.org; October 26, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., sign-ups are available online.
Benedictine School
14299 Benedictine Lane, Ridgely; 410-634-2112; benschool.org; Contact school directly for guidance on visitations, tours, etc.
Boys’ Latin School of Maryland
822 West Lake Avenue, Baltimore; 410-377-5192; boyslatinmd.org; September 28, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Calvert Hall College High School
8102 La Salle Road, Baltimore; 410-825-4266; calverthall.com; November 8, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Chesapeake College/Eastern Shore Higher Education Center
1000 College Circle, Wye Mills; 410-822-5400; chesapeake.edu; Contact school directly for guidance on visitations, tours, etc.
Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers
15 S Hanson St, Easton; 410-822-8061; cacckids.org; Contact school directly for guidance on visitations, tours, etc.
Divine Mercy Academy
8513 St. Jane Drive, Pasadena; 410-705-0778; divinemercy.md; November 5, 6:30 p.m.; February 4, 10 a.m.
Elizabeth Seton High School
5715 Emerson St, Bladensburg; 301-864-4532; setonhs.org; Open House –November 2, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Prospective parent night – October 8, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Holy Trinity: An Episcopal School
Primary – 13106 Annapolis Road, Bowie; 301-262-5355; The Daisy Lane School & High School Prep – 11902 Daisy Lane, Glenn Dale; 301-464-3215; htrinity.org; October 16, November 11, February 5, April 9, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Indian Creek School
1130 Anne Chambers Way, Crownsville; 410-923-3660; indiancreekschool.org; Lower School – November 13, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Middle School – November 20, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Upper School – November 6, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Johns Hopkins Peabody Preparatory
1 East Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore; 667-208-6500; peabody.jhu.edu; Contact school directly for guidance on visitations, tours, etc.
Kent School
6788 Wilkins Lane, Chestertown; 410-778-4100; kentschool.org; Grades K-8; October 21, 1:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Key School
534 Hillsmere Drive; 410-263-9231; keyschool.org; 2.5 years to Kindergarten: November 9, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Grades 1–4: October 8, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Grades 5–8: October 22, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Grades 9–12: October 24, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and October 29, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Lighthouse Christian Academy
931 Love Point Rd, Stevensville; 410-643-3034; lcacademy.org; November 5, December 17, January 14, February 11, March 11, April 15, Times TBD.
McDonogh School
8600 McDonogh Road, Owings Mills; 410-363-0600; mcdonogh.org; All open houses run from 9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Lower School – September 16 and 25, October 3, 7, 16, and 21, November 4, 11, and 18, December 3. Middle School – September 17 and 24, October 1, 8, 15, and 22, November 5, 7, 14 and 19, December 2. Upper School – September 18, 26 and 30, October 9, 14, 17 and 23, November 6, 10, 13 and 20, December 4.
Monsignor Slade Catholic School
120 Dorsey Road, Glen Burnie; 410-766-7130; msladeschool.com; Contact school directly for guidance on visitations, tours, etc.
Montessori International Children’s House
1641 N. Winchester Road, Annapolis; 410-757-7789; montessoriinternational.org; Tours are held on Wednesday mornings by appointment only.
Naval Academy Primary School
74 Greenbury Point Road, Annapolis; 410-757-3090; napschool.org; November 9, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Oldfields School
1500 Glencoe Road, Sparks; 410-472-4800; oldfieldsschool.org; Contact school directly for guidance on visitations, tours, etc. In-person tours will last 1 hour, with online virtual 15-minute tours available online.
Peak Academic Solutions
806 Parkwood Ave, Annapolis; 410-934-7567; peakacademicsolutions.com; Contact directly for online tutoring and academic coaching.
Radcliffe Creek School
201 Talbot Boulevard, Chestertown; 410-778-8150; radcliffecreekschool.org; Contact school to schedule an in-person tour. A virtual tour is available on the school website.
Rockbridge Academy
680 Evergreen Road, Crownsville; 410-923-1171; rockbridge.org; All Grades – October 6, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten – October 17, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Preview Night (open to all prospective families) – November 7, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
St. Andrews Day School
4 B Wallace Manor Road, Edgewater; 410-266-0952; school.standrewsum.org; November 13, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
St. Anne’s School of Annapolis
3112 Arundel on the Bay Road, Annapolis; 410-263-8650; stannesschool.org; November 11, 9 a.m.
St. John the Evangelist Catholic School
669 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park; 410-647-2283; stjohnspschool.org; October 7 with advance registration being required. Please contact lfish@stjohnsp.org for in person tours. A seven minute online virtual tour is offered on the school website.
St. Margaret’s Day School
1605 Pleasant Plains Road, Annapolis; 410-757-2333; stmargaretsdayschool.org; October 14, 9:30 a.m.
St. Martin’s in the Field Episcopal School
375 A Benfield Road, Severna Park; 410-647-7055; stmartinsmd.org; October 15, January 14, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
St. Martin’s Lutheran School
1120 Spa Road, Annapolis; 410-263-4723; stmartinsonline.org; January 23, February 20, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. March 13, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
St. Mary’s Annapolis
109 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis; 410-263-2869; stmarysannapolis.org; Elementary (Pre-K through Grade 8) – October 24, 9 a.m. High School – October 25, 9 a.m. Athletic Open House (Pascal Field) – October 28, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sts. Peter and Paul High School
High School – 1212 S. Washington Street, Easton; 410-822-2275; hs.ssppeaston.org; October 26, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Elementary School – 900 High Street, Easton – Contact school directly for guidance on visitations, tours, etc.
St. Vincent Pallotti High School
113 St. Mary’s Place, Laurel; 301-725-3288; pallottihs.org; Lady Panther Pink Out Admissions Event – October 20, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Open House – November 2, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Arts, Sciences & Learning Center Open House – December 2, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Salisbury University
1101 Camden Ave, Salisbury; 410-543-6161; salisbury.edu; Contact school directly for guidance on individual tours. Group tours of up to 80 students can be booked online and are offered Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Virtual 360 degree and student-guided tours are offered online on the school website.
School of the Incarnation
2601 Symphony Ln, Gambrills; 410-519-2285; schooloftheincarnation.org; November 11, January 24, 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tours are provided, with no appointment needed, every Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Severn School
Lower School – Chesapeake Campus: 1185 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard, Arnold; 410-862-3684; severnschool.com; October 1, 9 a.m. Middle and Upper School – Teel Campus: 201 Water Street, Severna Park; October 23, 7 p.m.
The Calverton School
300 Calverton School Rd, Huntingtown; 410-535-0216; calvertonschool.org; Contact school directly for guidance on visitations, tours, etc.
The Children’s Center
2500 Mitchellville Road, Bowie; 301-249-7702; thechildrenscentre.com; Contact directly to schedule an in-person tour.
The Country School
716 Goldsborough Street, Easton; 410-822-1935; countryschool.org; October 14, 6 p.m.
The Gunston School
911 Gunston Road, Centreville; 410-758-0620; gunston.org; October 19, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m., to 2:30 p.m., November 9, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The Summit School
664 E. Central Avenue, Davidsonville; 410-798-0005; thesummitschool.org; October 9, November 18, December 15, February 6, 9 to 10:30 a.m.
University of Maryland College Park
7999 Regents Dr, College Park; 301-314-8385; umd.edu; October 2025, Time and Specific Date TBD.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
30665 Student Services Center, Princess Anne; 410-651-7747; wwwcp.umes.edu; Contact school directly for guidance on visitations, tours, etc. Tours can be taken in a large group setting or a more exclusive student-family setting.
Washington College
300 Washington Avenue, Chestertown; 410-778-2800; washcoll.edu; Open House – November 8, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Fall Fridays – September 26, October 3 and 24, November 14, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Wye River Upper School
316 S. Commerce Street, Centreville; 410-758-2922; wyeriverupperschool.org; Open House – October 22, January 22 and March 26, 8:30 a.m. Virtual Open House – November 6, December 4, 12 p.m. Community Open House – November 5, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
