وَالتِّينِ وَالزَّيْتُونِ • وَطُورِ سِينِينَ • وَهَٰذَا الْبَلَدِ الْأَمِينِ • لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ فِي أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ
“By the fig, the olive, and Mount Sinai, and this secure city: verily We created man in the best stature.”
Qur’an 95:1–4Rooted in faith.
Reaching for excellence.
Our story.
Olive Branch Preparatory School was founded in 2021 to fulfill the need for a full-time Islamic school in the Montgomery County, Maryland area, and will open its doors in 2027/2028, insha’Allah. The school is driven to provide Islamic teachings in a gentle and holistic way while also maintaining a strong academic program.
The Olive Branch Learning Center, launched in 2024, provides a comprehensive, holistic package to homeschooling families today.
Allah (swt) has stated in Surah At-Tin that He has created mankind in the “best stature,” meaning each human being is equipped with the capabilities to attain the highest levels of success. Olive Branch strives to help each child reach his or her God-given potential in this life and in the hereafter, insha’Allah.
Our Islamic ethos infuses all of our learning, with beneficial knowledge that brings about humility and good character in every child. Teaching social-emotional learning through an Islamic approach helps children navigate relationships, learn cooperation skills, and gain advanced knowledge in Qur’an, Islam, and Arabic. The Muslim identity is nurtured through knowledge of their faith.
Inside our classrooms“Plants are fashioned by cultivation, man by education.”
Jean-Jacques Rousseau · EmileFrom an idea to open doors.
The idea is born
Driven by the state of Islamic schools and the urgent need in Montgomery County, the vision for Olive Branch begins to take shape.
Business registration
Olive Branch is registered, and the mission and vision are written down for the first time.
Approved nonprofit
501(c)(3) status is approved. Documentation and the first website begin.
First summer camp
The first execution step: a camp organized around two concepts, nature and science.
A home of our own
The property at 202 S. Summit Ave and furniture are acquired; consultant and teacher contracts near completion.
Doors officially open
Olive Branch Learning Center begins operations. Bismillah.
The full-time school, insha’Allah
Olive Branch Preparatory School, a full-time Islamic school for Montgomery County, remains the long-term vision this Learning Center is building toward.
Our Mission
To cultivate mindsets, knowledge, and skills that enable each student to enter the real world as a whole-hearted, successful young adult.
Our Vision
A competitive school that is a model for the ideal, high-caliber Islamic faith-based education.
Our Approach
Real-world integration and active learning, adaptive teaching that appreciates each child’s natural phases of development and freedom of choice, and a dedication to high-caliber education.
Thirteen beliefs that shape every decision.
- We believe that an ideal faith-based learning environment nourishes students intellectually and spiritually.
- We believe that an Islamic mindset and character development should be infused throughout the entire school day, not just in one subject.
- We believe that an Islamic education should prepare students to be active members of society and to engage with the larger society.
- We believe that the ultimate purpose of a robust education is to prepare students to face the real world.
- We believe that a high-standard education starts with setting the bar high at every level, from kindergarten to graduation.
- We believe that it’s not the materials or the technologies, but the environment surrounding the student and the unwavering dedication to high-caliber education, that make the biggest difference.
- We believe that nurturing the student’s emotional and developmental needs maximizes what each and every student is capable of achieving.
- We believe that fostering each child’s intrinsic love of learning is extremely important.
- We believe that nurturing teachers’ personal and professional wellbeing is critical to elevating student achievement.
- We believe that project-based, hands-on, and other types of active learning are fundamental parts of a robust education.
- We believe that an appreciation for the natural world is an important part of nurturing child development.
- We believe that real-world experiences in middle school and high school are fundamental in developing a student’s sense of direction and purpose.
- We believe that a student should graduate with a functional resume filled with experiences that are attractive to universities and employers.
Be part of the story.
Whether you enroll a child, teach a class, or carry the mission as a donor, you become part of what Olive Branch is building, insha’Allah.