Madeira School Explained

The Madeira School
Motto Translation:Make haste slowly
Address:8328 Georgetown Pike
Zipcode:22102
Country:United States
Former Names:-->
Founder:Lucy Madeira Wing
Head Of School:Christina Kyong
Teaching Staff:50.3
Grades:9–12
Enrollment:321 (2017–2018)
Ratio:6.4
Campus Size:376acres
Campus Type:Fringe rural
Colors:Red and White
Mascot:Snail
Accreditations:-->
Affiliations:-->

The Madeira School (simply referred to as Madeira School or Madeira) is an elite,[1] private, day and boarding college-preparatory school for girls in McLean, Virginia, United States. It was established in 1906 by Lucy Madeira Wing.

History

Founded by Lucy Madeira Wing (1873–1961) in 1906, the school was originally located on 19th Street near Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. In 1931, it was moved some 12 miles west to the Northern Virginia suburb of Greenway, Virginia - later changed to the more recognizable town of McLean.[2]

Events

In 1973, the body of 14-year-old student Natalia Semler was found bound and beaten on the school grounds.[3] [4] John Gilreath, who had been convicted of a sexual assault at the school two years earlier, was convicted of her murder.[5]

In 1980, then-headmistress Jean Harris was convicted of the murder of Herman Tarnower.[6] [7] [8]

Demographics

The demographic breakdown of the 310 girls enrolled in 2013–2014 was:[9]

Campus and facilities

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

Original buildings on the 1931 campus include Main, the dining hall, Schoolhouse, East, West, North, and South Dorms, the Land, the Annex (infirmary), and the two gatehouses at the entrance to the Oval. Buildings added later 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.[10]

Public access

The Madeira school has had many disputes over the use of its land. In 1966, Fairfax County proposed to turn 208 of Madeira's 376acres into public parkland.[11] In 1991, Madeira gave a trail easement along Georgetown Pike and $89,000 for construction so that hikers could walk the Potomac Heritage Route without entering the main area of the campus.[12] 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 100miles 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.[13] [14]

Notable alumnae

Notable faculty

Notes and References

  1. News: Martin . Emmie . Browning . Lauren . Jan 12, 2015 . The 50 Most Elite Boarding Schools in the US . .
  2. Web site: The Madeira School . August 10, 2010.
  3. News: 1973-10-31 . GIRL FOUND SLAIN AT MADEIRA SCHOOL . en . AP via New York Times . 2023-08-20.
  4. Web site: 23 January 1974 . Gilreath Indicted in Slaying . 2023-08-20 . Northern Virginia Sun.
  5. Web site: Gilreath v. Robinson, 544 F. Supp. 569 (E.D. Va. 1982) . 2022-09-01 . Justia Law . en.
  6. News: Haden-Guest . Anthony . The Headmistress and the Diet Doctor . September 12, 2021 . New York Magazine . 31 March 1980.
  7. Web site: Isaacson . Walter . Jean Harris: Murder with Intent to Love . https://web.archive.org/web/20110222035004/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,921003-1,00.html . dead . 22 February 2011 . TIME . 9 March 1981 . 12 September 2021.
  8. Web site: JAN. 17-23: Former Headmistress Freed; Jean Harris, 69 and Frail, Paroled for 1980 Murder - New York Times . Nytimes.com . 24 January 1993 . 12 September 2021.
  9. Web site: Search for Private Schools - School Detail for The Madeira School. nces.ed.gov. US Department of Education. October 24, 2016.
  10. Web site: History & Vision - The Madeira School . www.madeira.org.
  11. Web site: Notable Dates in Madeira's History . The Madeira School . August 10, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100425133330/http://www.madeira.org/about-madeira/history/notable-dates-in-madeiras-history/index.aspx . April 25, 2010 .
  12. Web site: Madeira Interacts with Local Government . The Madeira School . September 24, 2008 . August 10, 2010.
  13. News: Letters to the Editor, The Madeira School's Prudence. Washington Post . September 12, 2008 . August 10, 2010.
  14. News: Elite Setting's Property Debate: Fairfax County, Madeira School Clash Over Trail . Gardner, A. . Washington Post . September 9, 2008 . September 9, 2008 .
  15. Web site: Women Who Change the World - The Madeira School. www.madeira.org.
  16. News: Crombie . Noelle . May 26, 2021 . Rep. Janelle Bynum emerges as police reform leader . The Oregonian . December 1, 2024.
  17. Book: Andrew J. Cosentino. The Capital Image: Painters in Washington, 1800–1915. November 17, 1983. Smithsonian. 978-0-87474-338-8.
  18. Web site: Bayly . Anne Louise . Oral history interview with Anne Truitt, 2002 April-August . Smithsonian Archives of American Art . Smithsonian Institution . 1 August 2022.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Madeira School".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.