The Madeira School

Madeira is a mixture of the fast, cosmopolitan pace of Washington, D.C. – with a booming cultural life, the buzz of politics, and the mix of diverse nationalities – and the beauty and serenity of the 376-acre campus where one can get caught up in nature by walking in the woods and admiring the spectacular views of the Potomac River.

Madeira fosters the growth of the individual while cultivating collaboration. Our faculty and staff are highly qualified, but more importantly, they love working with our students and are truly passionate about what they do. The academic program is rigorous, challenging, and exciting. And our award winning Co-Curriculum program provides real-world experiences that prepare students for college and beyond.

Madeira welcomes students representing 20 states and 15 countries, and more than one-third are students of color. School life blends boarding and day students, all of whom may participate in late afternoon athletic and performing arts activities and clubs before sharing dinner with friends. In the safety of this environment, Madeira students develop a clear identity, become comfortable with who they are, feel compelled to voice their opinions, and are active members of an increasingly global community.

Madeira prepares each girl to face successfully the challenges awaiting her as she moves into the world of higher education at its most demanding. The proof of this experience is easy to recognize in Madeira’s graduates, women who have gone on to make a difference in the world and in the lives of those around them. Our Strategic Goals:

• Establish Madeira as the 21st century leader in girls’ education
• Bring the world to Madeira and Madeira to the world
• Advance our inclusive culture that flourishes in diversity
• Protect and enhance Madeira’s environment and facilities
• Ensure Madeira’s financial sustainability

Madeira believes that belonging to a diverse private school community leads to responsible and compassionate citizenship in the global community. We value diversity and are committed to honoring differences of race, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and socioeconomic class.

Our school works to expand and support the diversity of its students, faculty, staff, administrators, and Board of Directors in order to promote the broader education of all our constituencies, as well as the values of acceptance, inclusion, and respect. Such an atmosphere strengthens us as a community and our students as individuals and future leaders. Our school strives to create an environment in which all members feel safe and able to thrive.

Madeira’s original mission was to prepare students academically for college, and we still do just that. We also prepare students for life. The combination of academic excellence and real-world experience creates students who graduate with a polish, professionalism, and confidence that sets Madeira girls apart.

The benefits of being a Madeira graduate go beyond the academic knowledge and intellectual and social skills students acquire here. They also include access to a network of around 6,000 alumnae who offer internship opportunities to current students and who help other alumnae make meaningful social and professional connections throughout their lives.

Inspiring teachers. Motivated students. Personalized academic schedules to suit your interests and give you individual challenges. Real-world work experience – that’s what you get at Madeira. A Madeira student may arrive unsure of her interests and goals, but she graduates confident in her abilities and her plans for the future – part of a legacy of bright, passionate women.

To be a Madeira girl means you’ll always be welcomed, encouraged, and accepted. Madeira is a place for study, for play, and for growth. It is a starting point for journeys of the mind that are, at the same time, journeys into the world.