Seneca Academy

Preserving the Wonder of Childhood

  • About
    • Letter from Head of School
    • Mission, Vision, and Philosophy
    • Strategic Plan
    • History
    • Virtual Tour
    • Calendar
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Board of Trustees
    • Employment
    • Head of School Appointment
  • Admissions
    • What Our Village Says
    • Preschool Admissions
    • Preschool Tuition & Fees
    • Elementary Admissions (K-5)
    • Elementary Tuition & Fees
    • Tours and Open Houses
  • Preschool
    • International Baccalaureate Program
    • Curriculum
    • Before and After School
    • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Parent’s Day Out for 2-Year-Olds
    • Infant/Toddler Playgroup
    • Summer at Seneca Academy
  • Elementary (K-5)
    • International Baccalaureate Program
    • Curriculum
    • Before and After School
    • Tuition & Financial Aid
  • Parent Resources
    • Seneca Academy Parenting Series
    • Infant/Toddler Playgroup
    • Seneca Parent Portal
    • Back to School 2024-2025
  • Giving
    • A Starry Night: Seneca Academy’s Annual Gala
    • Donate to the Annual Fund
    • Corporate Matching Inquiry
  • Contact Us
    • Tours and Open Houses

A Brief History

Seneca Academy building

Seneca Academy has recently celebrated 40 years of history as an educational institution. From our inception as a small preschool in founder Jodi Thurmond’s basement, to the thriving International Baccalaureate World School we have become, Seneca Academy is a mainstay in the Darnestown community.

  • The Circle School was founded in January 1983 by Jodi Thurmond and her partner Marty Long to provide a program of academic excellence and developmentally appropriate curriculum for their own children.
  • Kindergarten was added in 1985.
  • Seneca Academy, the elementary component of the school, has been in existence since 1998.
  • In September 2009, the Board of Trustees approved a consolidation of The Circle School and Seneca Academy names. Our entire program, from preschool to fifth grade, is now known as Seneca Academy.
  • In September 2012, Seneca Academy was authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization as a World School offering the IB Primary Years Program.
  • Thanks to the commitment of our families and faculty, Seneca Academy remains open for in-person learning since the fall of 2020 and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Seneca Academy is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education and is a member of the Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools (AIMS) and the Washington Small Schools Association (WSSA).
See What We’re Up to Now

Seneca Academy is an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP) World School that fosters children’s natural curiosity and ignites a love of learning through a collaborative, inquiry-based program in a dynamic and welcoming community.

15601 Germantown Road, Darnestown, MD 20874
Phone: (301) 869-3728 • Fax (301) 869-3348

International Baccalaureate Organization logo
National Association of Independent Schools logo
Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools logo
Fully authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization as a Primary Years Program World School
A proud member of the National Association for Independent Schools
Accredited by and a proud member of the Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools
Site Design by Bethany Ruth | Content © 2025 Seneca Academy
Thank you!

You have successfully submitted your Parent’s Day Out application for the 2020-2021 school year! Once again, we appreciate you being a part of the Seneca Academy village.

 

Thank you so much for your sponsorship of Seneca Academy’s 2020 auction and gala, “Around the World.” Because of you and other generous supporters, we are able to continue serving the children and families in our school as well as the community at large. We appreciate your gift to help us preserve the wonder of childhood for years to come!

 

Thank you so much for your donation to Seneca Academy’s 2020 auction and gala, “Around the World.” Because of you and other generous supporters, we are able to continue serving the children and families in our school as well as the community at large. We appreciate your gift to help us preserve the wonder of childhood for years to come!