The Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington (AISGW), an organization supporting independent private schools in Washington, D.C., and its environs, was founded in 1951. Since then, it has grown to a community of 78 schools educating close to 30,000 students from early childhood through high school in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. AISGW member schools are non-profit, governed by lay boards of directors, independently financed, and have non-discrimination admissions and employment policies. They serve many different types of students using many different educational strategies, providing families with a wide range of educational options and helping to make greater Washington one of the most vibrant educational landscapes in the nation. AISGW member schools have been a vital part of the region for decades. AISGW schools have provided an excellent educational program to thousands of young people in our region. AISGW member schools represent distinctive educational options for families committed to living and working in the Greater Washington area. Many parents have reported that it was the availability of AISGW schools that was a major factor in the decision to remain in the region. Members of broad AISGW community – parents, faculty, staff, students, and trustees of our schools – regularly contribute both time and financial resources to area service organizations, cultural and educational institutions, and businesses. Our parents play vital roles in the life of our region as doctors, nurses, social workers, public servants, artists, musicians, journalists, entrepreneurs, developers, architects, lawyers, paralegals, law enforcement professionals, professors, school teachers, and business executives, to name just some of their occupations. Many of our alumni live in the Greater Washington area, working in such fields as business, education, government, journalism, law, medicine, music, and technology.