Washington Episcopal Day School 
The information on this page was last updated 4/21/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
At Washington Episcopal School, we believe that children thrive when learning is both joyful and meaningful. Our classrooms-from PK3 through Grade 8-are places where curiosity is celebrated, challenges are embraced, and students are actively engaged through hands-on, experiential learning.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Washington Episcopal School
5600 Little Falls Parkway
Bethesda, MD 20816
Website: www.w-e-s.org
Phone: 301-652-7878
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 521453297
CEO/President: Daniel Vogelman
Chairman: Jeff Tignor
Board size: 19
Founder: Isabelle Schuessler
Ruling year: 1986
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Washington Episcopal School students stride confidently into the world, delight in and contribute to it.
Mission statement
Washington Episcopal School inspires academic and personal excellence within a joyful learning environment to develop students who are kind, confident, and prepared.
Statement of faith
Donor confidence score
Show donor confidence score details
To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
Transparency grade
D
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: K-12 Schools/Academies
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 1196 of 1435 | 181 of 191 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 954 of 1435 | 139 of 191 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 815 of 1435 | 114 of 191 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 1270 of 1436 | 180 of 191 |
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 11% | 20% | 55% | 17% | 45% | 21% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 3% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 13% | 16% | 6% | 14% | 5% | 14% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 2% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 87% | 84% | 94% | 86% | 95% | 86% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 83% | 81% | 80% | 81% | 82% | 78% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 93% | 87% | 90% | 85% | 87% | 95% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 76% | 71% | 73% | 68% | 72% | 74% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 7% | 13% | 10% | 15% | 13% | 5% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 6% | 7% | 6% | 10% | 8% | 3% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 14% | 15% | 16% | 17% | 15% | 19% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.54 | 0.34 | 0.33 | 0.33 | 0.33 | 0.31 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.99 | 6.86 | 7.19 | 6.05 | 7.10 | 7.40 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.80 | 2.31 | 2.37 | 2.01 | 2.35 | 2.29 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 2.80 | 1.67 | 1.48 | 1.88 | 1.64 | 1.61 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.35 | 0.60 | 0.67 | 0.53 | 0.61 | 0.62 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 3.98 | 2.09 | 1.65 | 2.80 | 1.99 | 1.98 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 29% | 34% | 37% | 38% | 41% | 41% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 10% | 26% | 28% | 29% | 32% | 32% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 117% | 195% | 191% | 186% | 180% | 191% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $3,350,542 | $2,929,852 | $4,012,876 | $4,309,630 | $4,215,244 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $3,214,431 | $2,502,549 | $2,327,044 | $663,609 | $507,453 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $529,071 | $501,933 | $513,165 | $567,042 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $6,564,973 | $5,961,472 | $6,841,853 | $5,486,404 | $5,289,739 |
| Long-term investments | $9,911,041 | $8,813,620 | $7,123,417 | $6,104,776 | $6,472,806 |
| Fixed assets | $28,512,880 | $28,076,510 | $27,403,498 | $27,359,835 | $27,363,730 |
| Other long-term assets | $15,270 | $35,097 | $54,924 | $20,000 | $20,000 |
| Total long-term assets | $38,439,191 | $36,925,227 | $34,581,839 | $33,484,611 | $33,856,536 |
| Total assets | $45,004,164 | $42,886,699 | $41,423,692 | $38,971,015 | $39,146,275 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $1,330,844 | $1,584,822 | $1,068,937 | $1,147,998 | $1,211,085 |
| Other current liabilities | $2,595,929 | $2,433,206 | $2,569,337 | $2,196,602 | $2,080,063 |
| Total current liabilities | $3,926,773 | $4,018,028 | $3,638,274 | $3,344,600 | $3,291,148 |
| Debt | $11,499,444 | $11,798,721 | $12,102,072 | $12,372,232 | $12,398,207 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $18,786 | $39,604 | $89,059 | $98,349 | $327,294 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $11,518,230 | $11,838,325 | $12,191,131 | $12,470,581 | $12,725,501 |
| Total liabilities | $15,445,003 | $15,856,353 | $15,829,405 | $15,815,181 | $16,016,649 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $26,367,705 | $25,549,389 | $24,277,406 | $21,807,476 | $21,344,266 |
| With donor restrictions | $3,191,456 | $1,480,957 | $1,316,881 | $1,348,358 | $1,785,360 |
| Net assets | $29,559,161 | $27,030,346 | $25,594,287 | $23,155,834 | $23,129,626 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $2,754,904 | $898,322 | $2,262,005 | $752,290 | $1,733,269 |
| Program service revenue | $13,787,541 | $13,310,392 | $12,972,754 | $12,327,445 | $10,069,039 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $489,229 | $1,155,286 | $661,666 | $1,391,329 | $437,501 |
| Other revenue | $307,455 | $282,800 | $288,951 | $275,801 | $493,153 |
| Total other revenue | $14,584,225 | $14,748,478 | $13,923,371 | $13,994,575 | $10,999,693 |
| Total revenue | $17,339,129 | $15,646,800 | $16,185,376 | $14,746,865 | $12,732,962 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $12,320,637 | $11,349,614 | $11,066,245 | $10,596,229 | $9,409,803 |
| Management and general | $2,288,375 | $2,310,681 | $2,276,752 | $1,956,716 | $2,354,813 |
| Fundraising | $538,859 | $490,886 | $393,424 | $342,075 | $363,402 |
| Total expenses | $15,147,871 | $14,151,181 | $13,736,421 | $12,895,020 | $12,128,018 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $2,191,258 | $1,495,619 | $2,448,955 | $1,851,845 | $604,944 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $2,191,258 | $1,495,619 | $2,448,955 | $1,851,845 | $604,944 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Daniel Vogelman | Trustee/Head of School | $548,480 |
| Wendy Tasin | Chief Financial and Operations Officer | $227,084 |
| Mehdi Elkassem | Science Teacher/Asst Summer Camp Dir | $172,062 |
| William Isola | Athletic & Summer Camp Director/Dean of Students | $148,050 |
| David Schuessler | Facilities Manager | $145,210 |
| Kristin Cuddihy | Admissions Director | $144,204 |
| Kim Bair | Admission Director | $131,106 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2025
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 4/21/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Washington Episcopal School was founded in 1986 by a group of visionary parents and Isabelle S. Schuessler, former Head of St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School. With the support of Board Chair Robert E. Freer and founding members like Dorothy McSweeny, WES opened its doors that fall to 90 students in the basement of Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Bethesda. Just one year later, the school moved to its current, conveniently located campus near Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia.
Over the years, WES steadily grew, adding Grades 7 and 8 in 1995 and launching its hallmark international study trips to Utah, Italy, France, and Spain. A successful capital campaign and the purchase of neighboring land in 2004-2005 paved the way for expanded facilities, including new classrooms, art studios, science labs, and athletic spaces.
Leadership transitions brought continued innovation. Stuart Work (2001-2011) enhanced academic programs, added a ceramics and science center, and introduced Spanish and international exchanges. Kirk Duncan (2011-2014) led major campus upgrades, including the East Campus development and installation of a turf field. After Interim Head Nancy Wright, Danny Vogelman was appointed Head of School in 2015, bringing decades of leadership experience and a strong vision for WES's future.