Maret School
Encyclopedia
Maret School was founded by Marthe Maret in 1911 as a French primary school. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, three French sisters, Mlles Marthe, Louise, and Jeanne Maret, left their home in Geneva, Switzerland to teach. Louise taught in Russia, Jeanne in the Philippines, and Marthe, who became blind at age 18, in Washington, D.C. By 1911, Louise and Jeanne had joined Marthe in the nation's capital where they were inspired to bring an international flavor to education. That year, Maret French School was founded, later to be named Maret School. In 1923, the Maret sisters moved the School to 2118 Kalorama Road with an enrollment of 185.
True to the precedent set by the Maret sisters, the School has thrived under a notable continuity of strong leadership that has fostered sound growth and advancement while preserving Maret’s valued traditions and ideals.
By 1950, a new principal was on board, Margaret Williams, who would lead Maret School for the next 18 years, building upon the solid foundation laid by the Maret sisters and her direct predecessor Alice Fisher Carson. Under Mrs. Williams’s direction, the School continued to blossom, earning particular praise for its high standards in teaching linguistics and embracing the cultures of other nations.
A burgeoning enrollment led to growing pains at 2118 Kalorama Road, and Mrs. Williams and the Board of Trustees secured a larger parcel and historic property known as “Woodley”. On September 17, 1952, Maret conducted its first day of classes in Woodley at 3000 Cathedral Avenue. A French Baccalaureate option was incorporated into the curriculum, and in 1953, boys were admitted to the Upper School, making Maret a truly coeducational school. By 1966, enrollment had reached 375 students.
The mid 1970s marked the beginning of what many would call “the Sturtevant years,” referencing the tenure of Peter A. Sturtevant, Sr., who took the helm as headmaster in 1974, and who would lead the School for the next two decades. Under his leadership, a new level of intellectual creativity was woven into the fabric of Maret. He instituted cross-curriculum teaching well before the pedagogy had received wide recognition. He advanced the notion that high achievement and risk-taking were symbiotic, a belief that is now not only a tradition, but integral to Maret’s mission and philosophy. The innovative six-week Subtropical Ecology program in Sanibel, Florida, a more than 20-year tradition, was started during Peter Sturevant's tenure. Intensive Study Week was also introduced in those years – when students and faculty embark on a week of special activities outside of regular classes - now a mainstay within the life of the School.Through his guidance, the School stayed true to its culture and commitment to preserving an environment in which all ideas could be examined openly. To accommodate an ever-growing enrollment, reaching 508 students by 1989, the Woodley campus was further enhanced with additional facilities for athletics, arts, and academics. With a newly constructed gymnasium, Maret’s athletics program was strengthened and enlarged, and along with it, Maret’s reputation as a competing force among league schools.
In 1994, Mr. Sturtevant passed the baton to his successor, Head of School Marjo Talbott. Over its more than forty years on Cathedral Avenue, Maret had developed a profoundly vast and complex tradition. It would now be Ms. Talbott's task to cultivate that legacy while preparing the School for the new millennium. Under her leadership, an overarching Master Facilities Plan was developed, which included two phases and a $20 million budget, and which was completed in 2005. She oversaw the creation and implementation of two 10-year strategic plans and has spearheaded the campaign to grow Maret's endowment.
During Ms. Talbott's tenure, Maret has come-of-age, making significant strides in many directions. Her commitment to Maret's legacy – a school that embraces different cultures, interests, perspectives, and talents – is evident in the makeup of our children. More than 39% of the student body identifies as students of color. Parents are native to more than 35 different countries. Nearly 22% of our students receive financial aid, which continues to ensure the School's economic diversity. She has made service more than a concept on campus, instituting the Service Learning program and engaging the school community in wide-ranging public-private partnerships.
, was built in 1801 by Philip Barton Key
. Today it encompasses the main library and administrative offices, and in the past it was the summer residence for several US presidents
as well as General George Patton, Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson
, Lorenzo Thomas
, and others.
The rest of the school comprises
The majority of students surpass the required credit amount by taking four credits of a modern language and eight credits of humanities. Other paths that students sometimes take to fulfill their credit requirements include the taking of multiple credits in the sciences, arts, or humanities.
On top of this rigorous credit requirement, all students must pass 11 of 12 seasons in either a Maret-sponsored sport or a guided independent sport. Furthermore, all students must complete at least 30 hours of community service.
Of course, the former Woodley residence is but one part of the impressive Maret campus. Extensive improvements and expansions to the School’s physical facilities have continued over the years, including a new Middle School facility, a renovated Upper School, expanded Lower School, new state-of-art theatre, improved labs and offices, and an enlarged artificial turf field.
Along with our physical progress, our mission and core values have evolved and taken root. The values instilled from our very start continue to nurture our philosophy today: respect, integrity, the individual, connectedness, creativity, excellence, and joy.
For more about the history of Woodley visit the Woodley Society website.
The school has undergone a major renovation in two phases.
Currently 21% of the student body receives some financial assistance, ranging from $2,000 to nearly full tuition. For comparison, the last census found the median household income for the District was $44,949 (2004/5 - US Census).
Fall:
Winter7:
Spring7:
Along with these sports, there are several alternative, non-competitive conditioning sport electives open to both boys and girls which students can take instead of a sport. These include
Despite Maret's small student population, each year Maret manages to field a full team of each sport listed above. Although Maret has a far smaller student population, their baseball and football teams are among the best in the league. Several of these teams compete for and win MAC and ISL championship titles, and in several cases have members of the teams voted All-MAC champions. Most notable for their success are the men's varsity baseball team and the women's varsity volleyball team. The football team has improved dramatically in the last four years. They have gone from winning one game to being a perennial contender in the MAC. The football team earned second place in the league for three consecutive years. The baseball team has contended twice in the city championship against neighboring school St. Albans at Nationals Park.
True to the precedent set by the Maret sisters, the School has thrived under a notable continuity of strong leadership that has fostered sound growth and advancement while preserving Maret’s valued traditions and ideals.
By 1950, a new principal was on board, Margaret Williams, who would lead Maret School for the next 18 years, building upon the solid foundation laid by the Maret sisters and her direct predecessor Alice Fisher Carson. Under Mrs. Williams’s direction, the School continued to blossom, earning particular praise for its high standards in teaching linguistics and embracing the cultures of other nations.
A burgeoning enrollment led to growing pains at 2118 Kalorama Road, and Mrs. Williams and the Board of Trustees secured a larger parcel and historic property known as “Woodley”. On September 17, 1952, Maret conducted its first day of classes in Woodley at 3000 Cathedral Avenue. A French Baccalaureate option was incorporated into the curriculum, and in 1953, boys were admitted to the Upper School, making Maret a truly coeducational school. By 1966, enrollment had reached 375 students.
The mid 1970s marked the beginning of what many would call “the Sturtevant years,” referencing the tenure of Peter A. Sturtevant, Sr., who took the helm as headmaster in 1974, and who would lead the School for the next two decades. Under his leadership, a new level of intellectual creativity was woven into the fabric of Maret. He instituted cross-curriculum teaching well before the pedagogy had received wide recognition. He advanced the notion that high achievement and risk-taking were symbiotic, a belief that is now not only a tradition, but integral to Maret’s mission and philosophy. The innovative six-week Subtropical Ecology program in Sanibel, Florida, a more than 20-year tradition, was started during Peter Sturevant's tenure. Intensive Study Week was also introduced in those years – when students and faculty embark on a week of special activities outside of regular classes - now a mainstay within the life of the School.Through his guidance, the School stayed true to its culture and commitment to preserving an environment in which all ideas could be examined openly. To accommodate an ever-growing enrollment, reaching 508 students by 1989, the Woodley campus was further enhanced with additional facilities for athletics, arts, and academics. With a newly constructed gymnasium, Maret’s athletics program was strengthened and enlarged, and along with it, Maret’s reputation as a competing force among league schools.
In 1994, Mr. Sturtevant passed the baton to his successor, Head of School Marjo Talbott. Over its more than forty years on Cathedral Avenue, Maret had developed a profoundly vast and complex tradition. It would now be Ms. Talbott's task to cultivate that legacy while preparing the School for the new millennium. Under her leadership, an overarching Master Facilities Plan was developed, which included two phases and a $20 million budget, and which was completed in 2005. She oversaw the creation and implementation of two 10-year strategic plans and has spearheaded the campaign to grow Maret's endowment.
During Ms. Talbott's tenure, Maret has come-of-age, making significant strides in many directions. Her commitment to Maret's legacy – a school that embraces different cultures, interests, perspectives, and talents – is evident in the makeup of our children. More than 39% of the student body identifies as students of color. Parents are native to more than 35 different countries. Nearly 22% of our students receive financial aid, which continues to ensure the School's economic diversity. She has made service more than a concept on campus, instituting the Service Learning program and engaging the school community in wide-ranging public-private partnerships.
Campus
The school's central building, Woodley MansionWoodley Mansion
Woodley is a Federal-style hilltop house in Washington, D.C., constructed in 1801. It has served as the home to influential leaders, such as Grover Cleveland, Martin Van Buren, and Henry L. Stimson, and is now the home of the Maret School. When originally built, it was based on the Woodley Lodge in...
, was built in 1801 by Philip Barton Key
Philip Barton Key
Philip Barton Key was a Representative from the third district of Maryland, and later a United States federal judge. Unusually for a politician in the early United States, Key had been a Loyalist in the American Revolution.Born in Charleston, Cecil County, Maryland, Key pursued an academic course...
. Today it encompasses the main library and administrative offices, and in the past it was the summer residence for several US presidents
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
as well as General George Patton, Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson
Henry L. Stimson
Henry Lewis Stimson was an American statesman, lawyer and Republican Party politician and spokesman on foreign policy. He twice served as Secretary of War 1911–1913 under Republican William Howard Taft and 1940–1945, under Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt. In the latter role he was a leading hawk...
, Lorenzo Thomas
Lorenzo Thomas
Lorenzo Thomas was a career United States Army officer who was Adjutant General of the Army at the beginning of the American Civil War. After the war, he was appointed temporary Secretary of War by President Andrew Johnson, precipitating Johnson's impeachment.-Early life:Thomas was born in New...
, and others.
The rest of the school comprises
- The Activities Building (AB): middle school, two gyms, wrestling room, movement studio, and a weight room.
- The Academic Center (AC): upper school, cafeteria, art rooms, atrium, as well as the offices for most departments.
- The Lower School: lower school, a playground, and a library, as well as the 350-seat theater. The theater also serves as one of several links between the lower school and AC buildings.
- The Cottage: kindergarten.
- The Woodley MansionWoodley MansionWoodley is a Federal-style hilltop house in Washington, D.C., constructed in 1801. It has served as the home to influential leaders, such as Grover Cleveland, Martin Van Buren, and Henry L. Stimson, and is now the home of the Maret School. When originally built, it was based on the Woodley Lodge in...
: administrative offices as well as the main library. - The Stables: art classrooms, development office, and maintenance.
Academics
Maret requires 19 credits to graduate, which includes four mandatory mathematics credits, three mandatory language credits (Spanish, French, Latin, or Chinese), seven mandatory humanities credits (English and history), three mandatory science credits (including one in a physics course, one in a biology course, and one in a chemistry course), and two mandatory credits of art and/or music.The majority of students surpass the required credit amount by taking four credits of a modern language and eight credits of humanities. Other paths that students sometimes take to fulfill their credit requirements include the taking of multiple credits in the sciences, arts, or humanities.
On top of this rigorous credit requirement, all students must pass 11 of 12 seasons in either a Maret-sponsored sport or a guided independent sport. Furthermore, all students must complete at least 30 hours of community service.
Campus History and Renovations
The history of our campus is rich. Philip Barton Key, the uncle of Francis Scott Key, bought the 250-acre wooded estate in 1797. In 1801, he built Woodley, the Federal-style hilltop house that would later become the “summer White House” for two U.S. presidents. Over the years, Woodley was home to several Cabinet Secretaries and General George Patton. The last private owner of Woodley was Henry Stimson, Secretary of War during the Roosevelt and Truman administrations. Stimson helped direct the American war effort from his study, which is still actively used as part of our library.Of course, the former Woodley residence is but one part of the impressive Maret campus. Extensive improvements and expansions to the School’s physical facilities have continued over the years, including a new Middle School facility, a renovated Upper School, expanded Lower School, new state-of-art theatre, improved labs and offices, and an enlarged artificial turf field.
Along with our physical progress, our mission and core values have evolved and taken root. The values instilled from our very start continue to nurture our philosophy today: respect, integrity, the individual, connectedness, creativity, excellence, and joy.
For more about the history of Woodley visit the Woodley Society website.
The school has undergone a major renovation in two phases.
Phase one
During phase one, the AB building was redone, with new classrooms and a band room. This phase of construction vastly improved the classroom spaces for the middle school. The cottage was moved to a new location.Phase two
Phase two was a much larger project. The AC building was connected with the new lower school building, replacing the old undersized building that had housed the lower school in past years and which only had two floors for first through fourth grades. The other additions were a new art studio, a 350-seat theater, a new artificial-turf field, a new cafeteria, and new offices for teachers.Cost
As of 2010, the tuition fee of Maret School is US$ 27,515 for kindergarten to grade 4, $29,835 for grades between 5 and 8, and $31,670 for grades 9-12.Currently 21% of the student body receives some financial assistance, ranging from $2,000 to nearly full tuition. For comparison, the last census found the median household income for the District was $44,949 (2004/5 - US Census).
Fire
A two-alarm fire broke out prior to the phase two renovations. The fire started in one of the art rooms, purportedly as the result of a device that was left plugged in. The fire was put out a few hours later, but the water damage was extensive. The aftermath of the fire prompted a temporary renovation of the AC building.Clubs at Maret
Maret is home to a broad variety of clubs in all different venues, many of which give the students an opportunity to help in their community or expand their views on many subjects. A club may be started by any student as long as there is a teacher sponsor. This freedom allows students a great deal of latitude in creating clubs to learn about and help world issues like Darfur, or to focus on personal interests, such as knitting or chemistry. Many of these clubs hold school-wide bake sales to raise money for their causes. These are some of the diverse clubs offered for the 2009-10 school year: Jam Club, GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance), Psych Club (Psychology), Horizons, Engineering Team, Tech Crew, Community Service Club, Veg Club, Sports Discussion Club, and the National Geographic Bee Club (in the middle school).Sports at Maret
All students in 7th through 12th grades are required to play on either a Maret-sponsored school team or a monitored independent sport. In the upper school (9th-12th grade) each student must participate in at least 11 out of 12 seasons. Because of this requirement, Maret offers a wide variety of active athletic programs, includingFall:
- Soccer (boys and girls, varsity and junior varsity)
- Football (boys, varsity and junior varsity)
- Golf (boys, varsity)
- Tennis (girls, varsity)
- Volleyball (girls, varsity and junior varsity)
- Cross Country (boys and girls, varsity)
Winter7:
- Basketball (boys and girls, varsity and junior varsity)
- Swimming (boys and girls, varsity)
- Wrestling (boys, varsity)
- Ice Hockey (boys, varsity)
- Winter Soccer (boys and girls, non-competitive)
- Winter Running (boys and girls, non-competitive)
Spring7:
- Baseball (boys, varsity and junior varsity)
- Softball (girls, varsity and junior varsity)
- Ultimate Frisbee (boys and girls, non-competitive)
- Tennis (boys, varsity)
- Track (boys and girls, varsity)
- Lacrosse (boys and girls, varsity and junior varsity)
Along with these sports, there are several alternative, non-competitive conditioning sport electives open to both boys and girls which students can take instead of a sport. These include
- Weight Training
- Step Team
- Body Sculpting
- Strength and Conditioning
- Pilates
- Yoga
Despite Maret's small student population, each year Maret manages to field a full team of each sport listed above. Although Maret has a far smaller student population, their baseball and football teams are among the best in the league. Several of these teams compete for and win MAC and ISL championship titles, and in several cases have members of the teams voted All-MAC champions. Most notable for their success are the men's varsity baseball team and the women's varsity volleyball team. The football team has improved dramatically in the last four years. They have gone from winning one game to being a perennial contender in the MAC. The football team earned second place in the league for three consecutive years. The baseball team has contended twice in the city championship against neighboring school St. Albans at Nationals Park.
Notable alumni
- Josh StambergJosh StambergJoshua Collins "Josh" Stamberg is an American actor.Stamberg was born in Washington, D.C., the son of journalist Susan Stamberg and Louis C. Stamberg, a retired State Department employee...
- Prince Hashim bin Al HusseinPrince Hashim bin Al HusseinPrince Hashim bin Al Hussein was born on 10 June 1981. He is the younger of the two sons of King Hussein and Queen Noor. In her autobiography, Queen Noor states that Hashim was named after the clan of Hashim, a tribe to which the Prophet Muhammad and King Hussein belong...
- Princess Iman bint Al HusseinPrincess Iman bint Al HusseinPrincess Iman is the daughter of King Hussein and Queen Noor. She has two brothers Hamzah and Hashim and a younger sister, Princess Raiyah...
- Rosalind WisemanRosalind WisemanRosalind Wiseman is an American parenting educator and author of several publications. Her New York Times best-selling book Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Realities of Adolescence, released in 2002, was the basis of the hit comedy film...
- Theodore ShapiroTheodore Shapiro (composer)Theodore Shapiro is an American composer.Shapiro was born in Washington, D.C. He is best known for his film scores, particularly for the comedies State and Main, 13 Going on 30, Along Came Polly, The Devil Wears Prada, Fun with Dick and Jane, Idiocracy, You, Me and Dupree, Wet Hot American Summer,...
- Yeardley SmithYeardley SmithYeardley Smith is a French-born American actress, voice actress, writer and painter. She is best known for her long-running role as Lisa Simpson on the animated television series The Simpsons....