Best Swimming Lessons for Kids Near DC

Swimming lessons teach kids one of the most important life skills—one that will keep them safe in pools, lakes, and other bodies of water. Lucky, there are plenty of swim schools in the DC area that offer swimming lessons for kids, from beginner swimmers as young as 3 months old to experienced swimmers looking for a competitive edge.

Dive into our list of 12 great schools that offer swimming lessons for kids in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Then find more kids' classes and programs—including baby swimming classes in DC—in our Guide to Classes for Kids Near DC. You can also check our directory of classes to find the perfect class for your child. 

 
Big Blue Swim School offers lots of flexibility on lesson times. Photo courtesy of the school

Best Swimming Lessons for Kids Near DC

1. Big Blue Swim School — Dulles, Chantilly, Fairfax, & Falls Church, VA

This nationwide has four locations in Northern Virginia, with a fifth on the way in Springfield and another set to open in Germantown, Maryland. The pools are shallow throughout and kept at 90 degrees to keep little swimmers comfortable and safe. The continuous weekly lessons offer great flexibility for families to start and stop whenever they please and to pick the lesson times that work best for them.

2. AquaMobile Swim

Are you lucky enough to have your own backyard pool? AquaMobile will send an experienced, certified instructor to your home to give your kids private swimming lessons. AquaMobile offers a variety of lessons for ages 6 months and up.

3. British Swim School — Various locations

This global swim school has been teaching kids and adults to swim for over 40 years, with a strong emphasis on water safety skills. It has 10 DC-area locations in Maryland and Virginia, offering classes for ages 3 months and up. One signature feature of its swimming program is “Survival Week,” where kids are encouraged to come to lessons fully clothed and practice swimming.

4. Brookland Swim Academy — Washington, DC

Does your child feel anxious around water? This swim school in northeast Washington specializes in teaching students of all ages with extreme cases of aqua-phobia. There are classes year-round for infants 3 months and older, children, adults, and families.

5. Goldfish Swim School — Various locations

This popular local swim school, with 10 locations in Northern Virginia and Maryland, offers swimming lessons for kids ages 4 months to 12 years. The pools are all kept at a balmy 90 degrees, and the student-to-teacher ratio for all classes is 4:1 so that kids get personalized attention. Goldfish Swim School also hosts birthday parties and open family swim sessions.

RELATED: Best Free Public Swimming Pools in DC for Families

 
SafeSplash Swim School aims to build kids' confidence in the water. Photo courtesy of the schoolTwi

6. SafeSplash Swim School — Various locations

This family-run swim school owned by a local former Olympian focuses on teaching swimming as a life skill so that children can be safe, strong, and confident in the water. Its 12 locations in DC, Maryland, and Virginia offer group, private, and semi-private lessons for ages 6 months and up, as well as adaptive aquatics for kids with special abilities.

7. KIDS FIRST Swim Schools — Various locations

KIDS FIRST has 10 DC-area locations—nine in Maryland and one in Springfield, Virginia—that offer group and semi-private swimming lessons for ages 3 and up using their trademarked KIDS FIRST /Kick First® Learn to Swim System. Private lessons are available for ages 2 and up, as well as Mommy (or Daddy!) and Me classes for babies and toddlers 3 months and older. Pools are kept at 90 degrees.

8. Nation’s Capital Swim Club — Various locations

Do you think you have a future champion swimmer? Nation’s Capital Swim Club—which operates over a dozen locations throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia—has trained incredible Olympians such as Katie Ledecky in its over 35 years of operation. Whether your child is just learning to swim or looking to improve their strokes for competition, this is one of the best clubs in the country, according to USA Swimming.

9. WeAquatics — Various locations

WeAquatics offers swimming lessons at various pools throughout DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Lessons include infant swimming classes for ages 6 months to 4 years, learn-to-swim lessons for ages 4 years through adult, and the Young Masters Swim Team for proficient swimmers ages 4-14.

10. YMCA — Various locations

The YMCA has six locations in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia that offer a wide variety of aquatics classes for every age and ability level, from 6 months old to adults. The Y's different stages based on water skills allow you to pick the right level of challenge for your child, building from water safety to advanced stroke mechanics. Some locations also offer water fitness classes and private swim lessons.

RELATED: Top Mommy & Me Classes Near DC

 
Babies as young as 6 months old can take lessons at SwimLabs. Photo courtesy of SwimLabs

11. SwimLabs — Various locations

This nationwide chain has eight locations in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia, with two more Maryland locations opening soon. SwimLabs' indoor training facilities feature tools used by Olympic swimmers, including state-of-the-art swim tanks, instant video feedback, and mirrors at the bottom of the pool. These tools help everyone from beginners to competitive swimmers improve their technique. Lessons are offered for ages 6 months and up, and adaptive aquatics are available.

12. Little Fish Swimming — Fredericksburg & Stafford, VA

Little Fish Swimming offers swim lessons at four locations in Fredericksburg and Stafford, Virginia. Lessons are offered for everyone ages 6 months and up, including people with special needs and adults. Classes are limited to a maximum of four students and run by a certified coach.