Welcome back loyal fans and followers. For this edition we took our superb reviewing skills to Maret. Now we know what you may be thinking––Maret isn’t that interesting, this column is getting repetitive. But fear not, we know how to take any elite liberal private school and turn it into something truly spectacular for our dear readers. So come along with us on this grand journey through Maret for the fourth issue of Rival Reviews.

Straight away we were met with a black gate and security booth guarding the mansion that was formerly a summer house to presidents and is now home to Maret’s elementary, middle, and high school. And despite what one may think, the different grades are not clearly separated, which resulted in us passing by third grade classes on our tour. 

Before we get into the gritty details, we must preface that the private school phenomenon of leaving backpacks astray continued here as well.

In terms of amenities, Maret had a nice gym, yoga room, weight room, and a “strength and conditioning room,” whatever that means. The cafeteria was notably lavish with three different food counters and a salad bar in the middle. We had the pleasure to try their take on spicy rice noodles and fried rice. It wasn’t your mom’s home cooking by any means, but it was definitely better than the lunch at Jackson-Reed (no hate). 

Like NCS, there was a school store this time stuffed with Maret’s fearsome mascot, the fighting frogs, on any clothing item or accessory imaginable. Becca was able to pick up a little Maret headband which was charged to one of our tour guide’s school accounts (many thanks). 

The school prides themselves on having “art everywhere,” and after meeting the art teacher we are ready to transfer. 

According to our tour guides, teachers at Maret have the ability to teach their own curriculum resulting in a passionate teaching environment. They have classes ranging from communist cultural revolutions to multiculturalism/social justice in musical theater.

Students also have advisory teachers that they meet with once a week for important information and planning—rather than trying to hear the muffled announcements that cut out approximately every 11 seconds. In addition to advisory, students have “convocation” every Monday that serves as a whole-school meeting, as well as an “assembly” every Friday where there are guest speakers, typically successful parents of Maret students. These weekly assemblies are held in a theater, that although could probably only fit one-eighth of the Jackson-Reed student body, was quite extravagant.

Similar to WIS, Maret had lounges separated by grade level. They were really just couches in the middle of open rooms––still more than Jackson-Reed can say for itself.  

JR seniors will be interested to know that the culture surrounding the college process at Maret is very secretive. Everyone uses the in-school college counselor, yet no one really knows where anyone is applying.

Maret’s academic environment did not seem as competitive as other private schools. While rigorous, there are no AP classes and students are encouraged to work together rather than compete with one another.

Last but certainly not least, we must acknowledge Maret’s lack of social integration with other high schools. Backed by our tour guides, people at Maret keep to themselves resulting in a slight reputation of irrelevance and confusion about what actually goes on in the school (yikes). Luckily, there’s us to figure that out. •