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Everything Washington, DC-area families need to know about applying to this McLean, Virginia, all-girls school.
Quick Answer for Busy Parents
The Madeira School is an all-girls college-preparatory boarding and day school on 376 acres in McLean, Virginia, serving 320–340 students in Grades 9–12. Standardized testing is required for all applicants, though families have flexible options, including SSAT, ISEE, PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores. The application deadline is January 15. Madeira is renowned for its co-curriculum program, guaranteeing every student three real-world internships before graduation.
Why Do Families Choose The Madeira School?
Lucy Madeira Wing founded the school in 1906 on 19th Street near Dupont Circle in Washington, DC, before it moved in 1931 to its current 376-acre campus in what is now McLean, Virginia. Guided by its motto, Festina lente (“Make haste slowly”), Madeira pairs rigorous academics with hands-on, real-world learning.
In January 2025, Madeira received a $60 million gift from an anonymous alumna, the largest single donation in the school’s 118-year history and the largest ever to an independent girls’ school, reflecting the depth of alumnae commitment to Madeira’s mission of “launching women who change the world.”
Families choose The Madeira School for its rare blend of empowering, all-girls academics and its signature four-year co-curriculum internship program, which places students directly in Capitol Hill offices, nonprofits, and global organizations. Situated on a scenic 376-acre campus just outside Washington, D.C., the school offers young women a supportive community where rigorous intellectual inquiry meets real-world leadership experience, preparing graduates to navigate college and their careers with distinct confidence.
Did You Know? Madeira’s mascot is a snail, a nod to the school’s Latin motto, Festina lente, meaning “Make haste slowly.”
How Competitive Is Admission to The Madeira School?
With third-party estimates placing Madeira’s acceptance rate between roughly 35% and 40%, securing a spot is a highly competitive process. The school consistently ranks among the most selective all-girls boarding schools in the country, maintaining standards well above national private school averages.
Because Madeira evaluates applicants holistically, strong grades and standardized test scores alone are not enough to guarantee admission. Successful candidates must also stand out through exceptional personal character, active curiosity, and a demonstrated alignment with the school’s mission during their interview and application process.
Top Tips for a Strong Madeira School Application
- Schedule your campus visit and interview between October and mid-January.
- Decide early which standardized test scores to submit since Madeira is test-flexible.
- Confirm testing registration well ahead of the January 15 deadline if submitting scores.
Best Practices for Prospective Families
- Request recommendations and transcripts with plenty of lead time.
- International applicants should confirm English proficiency testing requirements early.
- Ask directly about the co-curriculum program and its three-internship sequence during a visit.
The Madeira Admission Process
Creating an account in Ravenna is the first step in The Madeira School’s admissions process, where you will be able to sign up for events and submit the required documents for your application.
- Create an account in Ravenna.
- Schedule campus visit & interview.
- Submit online application.
- Student Profile & Fee
- Student Questionnaire
- Parent/Guardian Statement
- Delegate recommendations.
- Current math & English teacher
- Principal or school counselor
- Personal Recommendation (optional)
- Upload transcripts.
- Current and two previous years
- Complete standardized test.
- Grades 9-10: SSAT, ISEE, ERB, state/country mandated testing (within past 2 years)
- Grades 11-PG: SSAT, PSAT, SAT, or ACT (within past 2 years)
- Non-native English speakers: TOEFL or Duolingo English Test (required)
The Madeira School Application Requirements
Student Questionnaire
Submitted via Ravenna, Gateway to Prep Schools, or SAO for all applicants (Grades 9–12 and PG). Students complete short-answer prompts and reflection essays to highlight their interests, character, writing ability, and alignment with Madeira’s mission.
How to write a compelling student questionnaire: Focus on a specific moment of personal growth, curiosity, or community engagement rather than listing accomplishments. Academic tutoring and writing support help students refine their ideas and build a distinct, authentic voice. Learn how to develop an authentic writing voice that helps your statement stand out.
Parent/Guardian Statement
Completed via Ravenna, Gateway to Prep Schools, or SAO for all grade levels. Parents provide insight into their child’s character, academic background, personal growth, and interest in an all-girls educational environment through the parent/guardian statement.
How to write a compelling parent/guardian statement: Share anecdotes that demonstrate your child’s maturity and values rather than repeating their resume. Keep your tone authentic and collaborative. Learn how to write a compelling private school parent statement.
Recommendation Letters
Submitted electronically via Ravenna, Gateway, or SAO for all grade levels. Madeira requires official evaluation forms from the applicant’s current English teacher, current math teacher, and school principal or counselor (school report). Additional personal recommendations are optional.
How to get the best recommendation letter: To secure a strong recommendation letter, your child must build genuine relationships with teachers. Recommenders should highlight your child’s leadership, behavior, and academic impact on the school community.
Transcript
Requested electronically via Ravenna, Gateway, or SAO for all grade levels. Applicants must submit official grade reports from the current academic year alongside complete transcripts from the prior two school years.
How to improve grades: If grades have been a genuine struggle, improving them before applying requires targeted, consistent support—not last-minute cramming. This is where tutoring and academic coaching help strengthen the student’s key skills months before applications are due, allowing students to demonstrate meaningful, sustained academic growth.
Admissions Interview
Applicants schedule an interview with a member of the Admissions team between October and mid-January via their Ravenna account. Interviews take place during an on-campus visit, while students living outside the region who are unable to visit in person can schedule a virtual interview via Zoom.
How to prepare for the admissions interview: Approach the interview as a collaborative dialogue. Students should practice articulating their passions, reflecting on past challenges, and expressing specific reasons why Madeira’s academic model and signature four-year Co-Curriculum program appeal to them. Practice with comprehensive interview preparation to build natural confidence.
Standardized Testing
Testing is required under a test-flexible policy. Grades 9–10 applicants submit SSAT, ISEE, ERB, or state/country test scores from the last two years. Grades 11–PG applicants submit SSAT, PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores. Non-native English speakers must also provide TOEFL or Duolingo English Test results.
Have Questions About Your Daughter’s Application?
Cardinal Education’s consultants help families navigate test selection and prepare for Madeira’s competitive interview process.
Student Life at The Madeira School
Student life at The Madeira School is an engaging blend of rigorous academics, experiential learning, and an empowering all-girls community.
Beyond the classroom, students build leadership, practical skills, and lasting connections across extensive athletic, artistic, real-world internship, and summer opportunities.
Academics
Academic life at The Madeira School is structured around a modular schedule that allows students to focus on three classes at a time, fostering deep engagement and personalized learning paths.
| Metric | Overview & Academic Feature |
| Schedule Structure | Modular schedule featuring three intensive courses per block |
| Student-Faculty Ratio | 4:1 ratio ensuring personalized instruction and mentorship |
| Class Size | Average class size of 12 students |
| Curriculum Integration | Interdisciplinary focus connecting STEAM with the humanities and arts |
This innovative environment ensures students develop strong critical thinking, independent inquiry, and subject mastery while remaining focused and unoverwhelmed.
Arts
The arts program gives every student room to explore creative passions across visual and performing mediums, supported by dedicated facilities and professional exposure.
- Theater: Produces two major annual productions alongside specialized theatrical coursework.
- Visual Arts: Encompasses dynamic instruction in painting, sculpture, digital art, photography, watercolor, and fashion design.
- Music & Dance: Features vocal ensembles, a chamber orchestra, private music lessons, and comprehensive dance training.
- D.C. Arts Integration: Capitalizes on proximity to Washington, D.C., incorporating field trips and partnerships with institutions like the Kennedy Center and Shakespeare Theatre.
Students graduate with creative confidence, polished portfolios, and practical audition preparation for artistic pursuits.
Co-Curriculum Internship Program
Madeira’s signature award-winning program embeds five-week real-world internship experiences into all four years of high school.
- 9th Grade (Building Foundations): Focuses on skill-building, teamwork, and foundational personal development.
- 10th Grade (Serving Others): Immerses students in local community service and regional non-profit organizations.
- 11th Grade (Effecting a Change): Places students directly on Capitol Hill or in policy and advocacy organizations, integrated with US History coursework.
- 12th Grade (Pursuing a Passion): Offers tailored internships aligned with individual career interests, from STEM and medicine to media and the arts.
By moving sequentially through community service, government policy, and individual career passions, students gain real-world confidence, professional literacy, and an expansive network. This hands-on structure helps young women connect classroom theory directly to real-world applications, fostering unparalleled maturity, self-advocacy, and career readiness ahead of higher education.
Athletics
Madeira athletics emphasizes physical fitness, sportsmanship, and personal achievement through competitive interscholastic play and comprehensive wellness offerings.
| Athletics Metric | Program Statistics |
| Mascot & Identity | The Snails |
| Sports Teams Offered | 12 sports across 3 seasons (Varsity & Junior Varsity) |
| Specialized Facilities & Disciplines | Dedicated Equestrian Center and competitive Swim & Dive program |
| Sports Performance | Integrated strength & conditioning program led by certified specialists |
Through competitive team dynamics and individual athletic pursuits, the program builds resilient leaders, fosters sportsmanship, and instills lifelong habits for overall physical and mental wellness. Students develop discipline and teamwork on the field that translate directly to academic perseverance and personal growth across all aspects of student life.
Summer Programs
Madeira extends its campus resources into the summer months through specialized community and leadership programs.
- Camp Greenway: A traditional co-educational day camp serving rising K–10th graders since 1973.
- Girls First: A specialty day and residential program for rising 5th–9th grade girls featuring focused tracks in STEM, Business & Law, Visual Arts, and Performing Arts.
- Greenway Internship Program (GIP): A leadership and counselor training experience for rising 10th graders preparing for future staff roles.
These seasonal initiatives foster continuous skill acquisition, self-discovery, and meaningful mentorship. Whether stepping up as peer counselors or delving into specialized academic tracks, participants build enduring leadership habits and self-assurance that translate directly into their school-year academic and personal pursuits.
Notable Alumnae of The Madeira School
The Madeira School prepares young women to lead with purpose, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to changing the world. Graduates excel across diverse fields, including journalism, public policy, economics, entertainment, and athletics, reflecting the school’s mission to foster analytical thinking and visionary leadership. Notable alumnae include:
- Katharine Graham (’34): Longtime publisher and owner of The Washington Post who led the paper through coverage of the Watergate scandal and the publication of the Pentagon Papers. Her pioneering career as the first female CEO of a Fortune 500 company highlights the school’s tradition of launching confident female leaders.
- Alice Rivlin (’48): A groundbreaking economist who served as the founding Director of the Congressional Budget Office, Director of the OMB, and Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve. Her distinguished public service underscores Madeira’s emphasis on analytical rigor and civic engagement.
- Stockard Channing (’61): An acclaimed Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress best known for Grease and The West Wing. Her dynamic career in theater and television showcases the creative confidence and artistic expression cultivated at Madeira.
- Mika Brzezinski (’85): A prominent journalist, co-host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, and founder of the “Know Your Value” initiative. Her impactful work in national media underscores the school’s focus on articulate communication and women’s empowerment.
- Penny Chenery (’39): An influential sports businesswoman who owned and managed Meadow Stable, guiding Triple Crown winner Secretariat. Her trailblazing role in thoroughbred racing reflects the determination and leadership fostered by a Madeira education.
These alumnae showcase how a Madeira education empowers individuals to explore their passions, lead within their industries, and make lasting contributions to society.
Secure Your Admissions With Expert Madeira School Consulting
With low acceptance rates and a holistic review process, admission to The Madeira School is highly competitive. Standing out requires strategic planning—especially given Madeira’s requirement for standardized testing alongside flexible exam choices, as well as its specific Grades 9–11 entry window.
At Cardinal Education, our experienced admissions consultants guide families through every stage of the process: evaluating standardized testing strategy, honing memorable interview skills, and crafting authentic, compelling personal statements that showcase leadership potential.
Related Articles:
Madeira’s Co-Curriculum: The Only Program Guaranteeing Every Student Three Internships
Madeira’s $60 Million Gift: What It Means for the School’s Future
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Madeira a religious school?
Does Madeira require standardized testing?
What is the Madeira acceptance rate?
What is The Madeira School known for?
Does The Madeira School offer both boarding and day options?
Madeira’s Co-Curriculum program gave our daughter a real internship on Capitol Hill before she’d even graduated high school. Cardinal Education helped us navigate the flexible standardized testing options and prepared her for the interview.
— Madeira Parent