By 1911, Louise and Jeanne had joined Marthe in the nation's capital, inspired to introduce an international focus to the city’s education. That year, they founded Maret French School – later named Maret School. In 1923, the Maret sisters moved the School to 2118 Kalorama Road with an enrollment of 62 culturally diverse students.

By 1950, Principal Margaret Williams was on board; she led Maret for the next 18 years, building upon the School’s solid foundation. Under Mrs. Williams’ direction, Maret continued to flourish, earning praise for its high standards in linguistics and a renowned reputation for embracing international cultures.

In 1952, burgeoning enrollment compelled the School’s Board of Trustees to purchase a larger campus on the grounds of the historic DC property known as “Woodley” at 3000 Cathedral Avenue, NW. With the move, a French Baccalaureate option was incorporated into the curriculum. By 1966, enrollment had reached 375 students.

The mid 70s marked the beginning of what many would call “the Sturtevant years” -- the tenure of Peter A. Sturtevant, Sr., who led Maret for the next two decades. Under his leadership, a new level of intellectual creativity was woven into the fabric of the School. Mr. Sturtevant instituted cross-curriculum teaching well before such instruction was nationally embraced. He advanced the notion that high achievement and risk-taking were symbiotic, a belief that is now integral to Maret’s mission and philosophy.

Through his guidance, Maret evolved as an environment in which all ideas could be examined openly. To accommodate an ever-growing enrollment (508 students by 1989) the campus was enhanced with additional facilities for athletics, arts, and academics. Maret’s athletics program was strengthened and enlarged. Maret’s became a competing force among league schools.

In 1994, Mr. Sturtevant passed the baton to present Head of School Marjo Talbott. Over the years, Maret had developed a rich tradition as an innovator in college preparatory education. Ms. Talbott's task was to build upon that legacy while preparing Maret for the new millennium.

During Ms. Talbott's tenure, Maret has made significant strides. Under her leadership, an overarching two-phased Master Facilities Plan was implemented; the $30 million program was completed in 2005 with the dedication of Talbott Hall. Ms. Talbott also oversaw the creation and implementation of two 10-year strategic plans and spearheaded the Second Century Campaign to expand Maret's endowment during Maret’s Centennial year. Her commitment to Maret's legacy – a school that embraces different cultures, interests, perspectives, and talents – is evident in the composition of the student body. Enrollment now stands at 635 students – 40% of our students identify as students of color; parents hail from more than 45 nations; and 24% of our students receive financial aid, ensuring economic diversity.

Ms. Talbott has made community partnerships a cornerstone of Maret, instituting the Service Learning program and engaging the school community in wide-ranging public-private partnerships. True to the Maret sisters’ motto of continually “moving forward,” the Case Institute for Curricular Innovation & Excellence and the Fateh Library and Center for Inquiry foster creativity, best educational practices, and the effective teaching of essential skills.