Anonymous
Post 03/12/2026 15:06     Subject: Madeira vs. Holton
I think you should take into account that boarding schools take a lot of international families that can self-pay that may not match the academic level of students coming through the American system or meet the expectations set by a private school in the area... For rising 9th graders, a lot of what any school is hoping for is potential, and having lots of international students can dilute the experience - speaking from 2 friends whose kids are at boarding nearby.

I know Holton well and love it. No info on Madeira.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2026 14:58     Subject: Madeira vs. Holton
Anonymous wrote:I have a child at one, and know kids at the others and looked at both. Go to the one closest to where you live. The commute sucks, and each school has more girls from their side of the river. Yes, there are differences- and if you feel strongly look at those too, but the workload is a lot at both schools. Academically, the difference is at Holton you have lots of short periods and more competitive vibe of students. But you also have time for study halls and a more traditional schedule. Madeira has Mods where you are cramming a lot in 5 weeks, and the fifth week is very stressful every 5 weeks, but the girls are less competitive among each other. Either way, they are both rigorous and a lot of homework.

Socially, their can be more cliquieness at Holton. The Madeira girls are very nice and not cliquey, and more diverse with an international crowd. Holton does some things with Landon, Madeira is more isolated and has little to no contact with boys. Girls who are not borders are mostly from Virginia. At Holton girls are more from MD and DC.

Both have great arts programs. Sports are mostly better at Holton. Girls go to great colleges from both.


Incredibly helpful. Thank you!
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2026 18:33     Subject: Re:Madeira vs. Holton
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would argue Madeira college outcomes are also strong - but differen't in that their kids come from all over the world and have different priorities when choosing where to apply and matriculate. That kind of diversity also makes their classrooms exciting.


You can argue anything you want,but the Madeira college acceptance list posted online for the 2017-2021 period is terrible.


You just look uninformed and with a strange axe to grind. Why use old data - esp. with pre-COVID and COVID data. Anyone that has a kid in high school right now knows how much the private school landscape changed during and after COVID.


A casual comparison of college outcomes from the last couple of years: the girls from both schools end up more or less at the same colleges. But as a proportion of the class size, the share of Holton girls going to Ivies + MIT, Stanford, Duke, UChicago, Northwestern, JHU is about twice (around 20 percent) as high as the Madeira share.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2026 17:55     Subject: Re:Madeira vs. Holton
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would argue Madeira college outcomes are also strong - but differen't in that their kids come from all over the world and have different priorities when choosing where to apply and matriculate. That kind of diversity also makes their classrooms exciting.


You can argue anything you want,but the Madeira college acceptance list posted online for the 2017-2021 period is terrible.


You just look uninformed and with a strange axe to grind. Why use old data - esp. with pre-COVID and COVID data. Anyone that has a kid in high school right now knows how much the private school landscape changed during and after COVID.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2026 17:46     Subject: Re:Madeira vs. Holton
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would argue Madeira college outcomes are also strong - but differen't in that their kids come from all over the world and have different priorities when choosing where to apply and matriculate. That kind of diversity also makes their classrooms exciting.


You can argue anything you want,but the Madeira college acceptance list posted online for the 2017-2021 period is terrible.


Now, do more current. Plus, understand that Madeira's view of a successful college placement list probably differs from yours as they focus on each girl, not on having an impressive list to publish. Early returns for the class of 2026 are very good and, unlike Holton, there is only one committed athlete.


Holton class of 2026 has very few athletic recruits to top schools (just 1). Normally, there are many more.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2026 16:13     Subject: Madeira vs. Holton
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think it's rare for parents to have kids at both. They usually pick one or the other or transfer between.


Fair enough, but there are quite a few families who have sent daughters to Madeira after being at Holton, and their opinions are what I'm looking for.


My daughter is at Holton, and one of her classmates came from Madeira in 9th or 10th grade. Felt that Holton was a better fit academically.


Couldn't have been 9th. Madeira is HS only.


You are right. The girl transferred after spending 9th grade at Madeira. (Asked my DD). The statement about being a better fit academically stands.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2026 15:19     Subject: Madeira vs. Holton
I have a child at one, and know kids at the others and looked at both. Go to the one closest to where you live. The commute sucks, and each school has more girls from their side of the river. Yes, there are differences- and if you feel strongly look at those too, but the workload is a lot at both schools. Academically, the difference is at Holton you have lots of short periods and more competitive vibe of students. But you also have time for study halls and a more traditional schedule. Madeira has Mods where you are cramming a lot in 5 weeks, and the fifth week is very stressful every 5 weeks, but the girls are less competitive among each other. Either way, they are both rigorous and a lot of homework.

Socially, their can be more cliquieness at Holton. The Madeira girls are very nice and not cliquey, and more diverse with an international crowd. Holton does some things with Landon, Madeira is more isolated and has little to no contact with boys. Girls who are not borders are mostly from Virginia. At Holton girls are more from MD and DC.

Both have great arts programs. Sports are mostly better at Holton. Girls go to great colleges from both.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2026 13:59     Subject: Re:Madeira vs. Holton
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would argue Madeira college outcomes are also strong - but differen't in that their kids come from all over the world and have different priorities when choosing where to apply and matriculate. That kind of diversity also makes their classrooms exciting.


You can argue anything you want,but the Madeira college acceptance list posted online for the 2017-2021 period is terrible.


Now, do more current. Plus, understand that Madeira's view of a successful college placement list probably differs from yours as they focus on each girl, not on having an impressive list to publish. Early returns for the class of 2026 are very good and, unlike Holton, there is only one committed athlete.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2026 13:19     Subject: Madeira vs. Holton
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DD got into both. They have pretty different vibes. Your kid will know after doing shadow days which one works best for her.

What were your daughter's impressions of each? Curious about the different vibes she got.


Each child is different. I’m not going to promote one school over the other based on my thirteen year old daughter’s impressions.

I liked both of the schools and their girls.


This might be the most mature comment I’ve ever seen on this site. Thank you.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2026 12:40     Subject: Re:Madeira vs. Holton
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would argue Madeira college outcomes are also strong - but differen't in that their kids come from all over the world and have different priorities when choosing where to apply and matriculate. That kind of diversity also makes their classrooms exciting.


You can argue anything you want,but the Madeira college acceptance list posted online for the 2017-2021 period is terrible.


What bearing does that have on a decision in 2026?
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2026 12:05     Subject: Re:Madeira vs. Holton
Anonymous wrote:I would argue Madeira college outcomes are also strong - but differen't in that their kids come from all over the world and have different priorities when choosing where to apply and matriculate. That kind of diversity also makes their classrooms exciting.


You can argue anything you want,but the Madeira college acceptance list posted online for the 2017-2021 period is terrible.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2026 11:59     Subject: Re:Madeira vs. Holton
Both are good schools with good outcomes. Both will make your daughter feel seen and supported and challenge her academically. If you had a good experience at both, and things like commute are a non-issue, maybe let your daughter lead. She'll know where she feels most excited to spend the next four years.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2026 11:58     Subject: Re:Madeira vs. Holton
I would argue Madeira college outcomes are also strong - but differen't in that their kids come from all over the world and have different priorities when choosing where to apply and matriculate. That kind of diversity also makes their classrooms exciting.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2026 07:56     Subject: Madeira vs. Holton
Anonymous wrote:Holton is better academically and has better college outcomes.


The recent Holton grads with strong college outcomes entered during last leadership and admission criteria. The school is increasingly watering down its academics and you will not see as strong college placements (at least not academics).

If your daughter is athletic and is hoping to get into college via that route, Holton is a great fit bc that is a priority for the new admin.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2026 00:04     Subject: Madeira vs. Holton
Holton is better academically and has better college outcomes.