About Madeira

Brief History

• Founded by Lucy Madeira in Washington, D.C. in 1906
• Relocated to McLean, Virginia, in 1931
• Instituted a unique Co-Curriculum program in 1966-1967 school year
• Appointed Head of School Pilar Cabeza de Vaca in 2010

Location and Campus

• A 376-acre campus in McLean, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C.
• Encompasses a student center, classroom buildings, art and dance studios, dormitories and faculty housing, a 590-seat auditorium, indoor and outdoor athletic facilities, playing fields, horse stable, indoor riding ring, indoor pool, and the Calleva ropes challenge course
• Overlooks the Potomac River

Academics

The academic curriculum emphasizes both content and skills in the context of a liberal arts education.

• Curricular integration across science, technology, arts, mathematics, literature, history, and world languages
• Co-Curriculum emphasizing real-world experience and applied learning
• College-level mathematics beyond AP Calculus BC 
• Modular schedule curriculum:
  • All classes taught in 80 minute blocks, for three periods a day, five days per week
  • Three blocks constitute a full-year course equivalent
  • 15 academic blocks plus a Co-Curriculum module is considered a full load

During the 2017-2018 academic year, 166 students took 315 AP examinations in:

Biology 26, Calculus AB 21, Calculus BC 25, Chemistry 4, Chinese Language and Culture 1, Comparative Gov’t & Politics 13, Computer Science 16, English Lang 39, English Lit 39, French Language and Culture 4, Japanese Language and Culture 1, Latin 1, Macroeconomics 6, Microeconomics 3, Physics C: 1, Physics 2: 7, Psychology 5, Spanish Language and Culture 6, Statistics 9, Studio Art: 2-D Design 3, Studio Art: Drawing Portfolio 1, US Government and Politics 15, US History 34, World History 35.

A score of 3 or better was earned on 85% of examinations taken.  Scores of 4 and 5 were earned on 53% of the examinations taken.

Co-Curriculum 

Madeira’s Co-Curriculum Program, winner of the prestigious National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) 2003 Leading Edge Award, is now over 50 years old. See the Co-Curriculum pages for grade-by-grade program details.  

Students

• Total number of students in 2019-2020: 324
• Countries represented: 32
• States represented, including the District of Columbia: 18
• 52% boarding students
• 48% day students
• 36% students of color
• 16% international students

Faculty

• Student-faculty ratio of 5:1
• 90% faculty members with master’s degree or higher
• 38 housing units for faculty/staff 

Student Life

• Welcoming community of day students and boarders from across the country and around the world
• Beautiful campus with spaces for fine and performing arts and indoor and outdoor athletics and access to Washington, D.C., for excursions
• Over two dozen student-run clubs and activities including political, cultural, arts, and media organizations all offering opportunities to build relationships and gain leadership experience
• Boarding students living in six dormitories housing around 25 students each and a dorm faculty of four
• Expansive Student Center with lounge area, pool table, and basement with snack bar, mailroom, and lockers for day students
• Dining plan that brings faculty and students together – day girls and boarders alike –for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Athletics

• 12 interscholastic team sports include cross country, field hockey, soccer, volleyball, tennis, basketball, rock climbing, swimming and diving, lacrosse, softball, and track and field
• Competitive horseback riding in all seasons
• Independent School League (ISL) competition

College Counseling

A natural consequence of a quality secondary education is college admission. Madeira’s College Counseling program is designed to ensure successful transition from the secondary school experience to a variety of post-secondary options. Madeira students have a variety of options, including Ivy League universities, highly selective liberal arts colleges, and universities around the country and the world. Click here for a list of recent college destinations. 

Tuition and Financial Aid

Cost of Attendance (2018–2019)

• Comprehensive boarding fee: $62,000
• Comprehensive day student fee: $47,310

Financial Aid 

• 39% of students receive Madeira financial assistance
• Total aid available: $3.45 million
• Average grant size: $32,139

Accreditation 

• Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS)

Memberships

• Association of College Counselors at Independent Schools (ACCIS)
• National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC)
• Potomac and Chesapeake Association of College Admission Counseling (PCACAC)
• THE COLLEGE BOARD
• National Association of Independent Schools
• The Association of Boarding Schools