Our History
The Clariden School was founded by Faye Williams, a pioneer of the Montessori movement in the United States who was mentored by Mario Montessori Sr., co-founder of the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). After relocating from Connecticut to North Texas in 1986, Faye opened a small school in a converted church off White Chapel Boulevard in Southlake in the early 1990s, serving Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12.
As the school grew beyond its three-acre campus, a parent donor stepped in, donating 23 acres of land now known as Clariden Ranch. The School moved into its new home there in 2003 and was named Clariden — a blend of Faye's daughters' names (Charlane, Leana, Marietta) reworked from "Clarus," the Latin word for clear, bright, or to illuminate.
Clariden Today
Today, The Clariden School is a not-for-profit, private, fully accredited, college-preparatory school serving PreK through Grade 12 students in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Through an award-winning Project-Based Learning curriculum with a strong focus on STEAM, Clariden ignites student curiosity and prepares students to be contributing citizens in their local and global communities.
In 2022, Clariden opened a new STEAM building featuring a MakerSpace, Science Lab, Think Tank, four classrooms, and a student lounge, expanding hands-on learning opportunities for Middle and Upper School students.
