An Opportunity for The Diener School
The Diener School was founded in 2007 with only 5 students enrolled and today, we have 75 students and 40 staff members. In response to the increasing interest in our unique program and our proven track record of successful outcomes, we are planning to carefully phase an expansion of enrollment opportunities to accommodate up to 120 students over the next ten years.
Accordingly, under the guidance of our dedicated Board of Trustees, we have sought to identify a new location that will best serve the unique needs of our students and provide the types of spaces that will support leading-edge programming that stimulates, challenges, and supports each child in a holistic and enriched learning environment.

A Proposed New Home
We are very pleased to have found a site for our proposed new home at 9312 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda, Maryland, located on the west side of Old Georgetown Road a few blocks south of I-495. The project site consists of parts of two parcels, occupies approximately 2.5 acres of land, and is located in the R-60 zone.
It is currently occupied by an office building housing the American Podiatric Medical Association and associated surface parking. Diener proposes to renovate the existing office building and design to meet the unique needs of our population, with emphasis on the Diener model. We also propose to make certain changes to the surface parking to create outdoor play areas, and hopefully, in the future, construct a modest addition to provide the space necessary to support our unique educational program.

The Planning and Approval Process
Diener plans to file applications for approval of a Conditional Use to permit a private educational institution on the site and a preliminary plan of subdivision to create a single lot from the existing parts of two parcels. The project is expected to leave the front façade of the building largely unchanged, with reduced parking in front of the building and improvements to the sidewalk and landscaping along the property’s Old Georgetown Road frontage. The existing trees along the property boundaries are planned to remain in place to the maximum extent possible, with supplemental landscaping as needed for effective visual screening.
The Diener School looks forward to the myriad opportunities this new location will bring, not only to our students and their families but for the Diener community to become contributing and engaged members of the thriving neighborhood.
Community Comments and Responses
WE INVITE YOUR FEEDBACK!
If you have any questions or comments about the proposed new campus or require any additional information, please contact us at future@thedienerschool.org.