Madeira School

The Madeira School (simply referred to as Madeira School or Madeira) is a private, day and boarding college-preparatory school for girls in McLean, Virginia, United States. It was established in 1906 by Lucy Madeira Wing.

The Madeira School
Oval and Main building
Address
8328 Georgetown Pike

McLean
,
Virginia
22102

United States
Coordinates38°57′55″N 77°14′6″W
Information
Other names
  • Madeira School
  • Madeira
TypePrivate, day and boarding college-preparatory school
MottoLatin: Festina lente
(Make haste slowly)
Established1906 (1906)
FounderLucy Madeira Wing
NCES School ID02063874[1]
Head of schoolPilar Cabeza de Vaca
Teaching staff50.3 (on an FTE basis)[1]
Grades9–12
GenderGirls
Enrollment321 (2017-2018)[1]
Student to teacher ratio6.4[1]
Campus size376 acres (1.52 km2)
Campus typeFringe rural[1]
Color(s)Red and White         
NicknameSnails
Websitewww.madeira.org

History

Originally located on 19th Street near Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C., it was founded by Lucy Madeira Wing (1873–1961) in 1906 and moved to the Northern Virginia suburb of McLean in 1931.[2]

Madeira School girls 1912

Since 1931, its campus has grown beyond the original campus buildings—Main, the dining hall, Schoolhouse, East, West, and North South Dorms, The Land, the Annex (infirmary), and the two gatehouses at the entrance to the Oval—to include the Chapel/Auditorium, the indoor riding ring and Gaines Hall, the science building, a renovated and expanded dining hall, Hurd Sports Center, and Huffington Library.[3]

In 1980 the then headmistress Jean Harris was arrested for the murder of Herman Tarnower.

Demographics

The demographic breakdown of the 310 girls enrolled in 2013-2014 was:[4]

  • Native American/Alaskan - 0.7%
  • Asian/Pacific islanders - 21.6%
  • Black - 13.9%
  • Hispanic - 3.5%
  • White - 55.5%
  • Multiracial - 4.8%

Campus and facilities

The campus is on 376 acres (1.52 km2) overlooking the Potomac River (McLean, Virginia) and consists of 34 separate buildings.

Public access

The Madeira school has had many disputes over the use of its land. In 1966, Fairfax County proposed the turning of 208 of Madeira's privately owned 376 acres (1.52 km2) into public park land.[5] In 1991 Madeira gave a trail easement along Georgetown Pike, as well as $89,000 for that trail construction to complete the Potomac Heritage Route without visitors entering the main area of the campus.[6] However, this trail was never completed by the park officials. In 2008, the Fairfax County government attempted to obtain from Madeira an easement near the Potomac River to permit the completion of a 100-mile (160 km) loop of walking trails as a condition of approval for the school's proposed expansion plans. This one-mile (1.6 km)-long trail section through Madeira's property would connect the county's Scott's Run Park to Great Falls National Park. The Madeira School declined this easement, citing concerns about safety and environmental impacts.[7][8]

Notable alumnae

Notable faculty

References
  1. "Search for Private Schools – School Detail for The Madeira School". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  2. "The Madeira School". Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  3. "History & Vision - The Madeira School". www.madeira.org.
  4. "Search for Private Schools - School Detail for The Madeira School". nces.ed.gov. US Department of Education. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  5. "Notable Dates in Madeira's History". The Madeira School. Archived from the original on April 25, 2010. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  6. "Madeira Interacts with Local Government". The Madeira School. September 24, 2008. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  7. "Letters to the Editor, The Madeira School's Prudence". Washington Post. September 12, 2008. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  8. Gardner, A. (September 9, 2008). "Elite Setting's Property Debate: Fairfax County, Madeira School Clash Over Trail". Washington Post. Retrieved September 9, 2008.
  9. "Women Who Change the World - The Madeira School". www.madeira.org.
  10. Andrew J. Cosentino (November 17, 1983). The Capital Image: Painters in Washington, 1800–1915. Smithsonian. ISBN 978-0-87474-338-8.

Official website

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