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A division of a Potomac private school could be moving to Bethesda in the coming years, according to school officials.

The McLean School of Maryland has a contract to purchase the former campus of the American College of Cardiology, located on Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda, near the intersection of Cedar Lane, and move its upper school there.

"We're really not big enough for the students to have a full high school experience," said Darlene Pierro, head of school. "We need more space for extracurriculars, athletics, and student groups."

McLean is currently located on a nine-acre plot on Lockinver Lane in Potomac. The lower and middle schools would stay at their current location. The hope is to also increase enrollment at the upper school — which would be known as McLean Bethesda — from about 180 students to more than 300 students, Pierro said.

The school is currently broken into a lower, middle and upper school; under the proposed plan, grades kindergarten through eight would stay in Potomac, while nine through 12 would move to Bethesda.

The former ACC site is 10 acres and contains an 85,000-square-foot building, complete with an auditorium, classrooms, a library and kitchen.

"We really fit very, very well with not an enormous amount of renovation," Pierro said. "The interior of the building fits very well, but we will need to add some type of field or gym space."

Pierro said the school hopes to finalize the sale of the land by spring 2010, with the new school opening in September 2010 or winter 2011.

The site was built in 1977, according to county tax records. The building is currently unoccupied, and the ACC moved out in September 2006, according to Amanda Jekowsky, a spokeswoman for the college.

Pierro would not disclose the financial agreement between the two parties. According to tax records the land is assessed at more than$16 million.

Pierro said the school will now begin assessing the traffic impact and architectural, environmental and suitability issues the new site would present. The new space would also allow McLean Potomac to expand its offerings for students in kindergarten through eighth grades.

"We are thrilled that the McLean School will continue to use and preserve the Bethesda property as a forum for knowledge and education," said Dr. Jack Lewin, chief executive officer of the ACC. "The Bethesda property was a wonderful home to the ACC for over 30 years, and we are pleased to see it pass into the McLean School's hands."

The Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences occupies a house bordering the site. Krishna Balakrishnan, the foundation's executive director, said he doesn't expect much of a difference from the new tenants.

"As far as we are concerned, don't think it will affect us a whole lot," he said. "It will be nice to have some activity in the area. That's always a good thing, a positive thing."