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Founding Board President Carolyn G. Goodman researched the concept of and developed the prospectus for Nevada's first nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade college preparatory school, and began inquiries for land donations during 1978 through 1980. The population of Las Vegas at the time was 165,000. During 1981 and 1982, Mrs. Goodman filed legal incorporation for the "Clark County Day School" (which became The Meadows School). On November 21, 1981, Mrs. Goodman gained the IRS nonprofit status for the School and shortly after began dialogue with Dr. LeOre Cobbley, principal of George E. Harris Elementary School in the Clark County School District, about heading the elementary program of the School. The first Board of Trustees was formed in January 1984, and in March of that year the School was granted a Nevada State License. Dr. Cobbley was hired as the first Head of School. By June 1984, Mrs. Goodman had raised enough money to purchase 5,000 sq. ft. of prefabricated modular buildings which were placed on 1.25 acres of a parking lot loaned to the School by Board member Fletcher Jones, Jr.  The School opened on September 4, 1984, to 140 students in grades K-6.

The quest for a permanent land site continued once the School opened. In 1985, Mrs. Goodman was introduced to William R. Lummis, nephew of Howard Hughes and then Chairman of the Board of Summa Corporation (Howard Hughes Properties parent company) who was developing property northwest of  Las Vegas and thought The Meadows School a formidable, first occupant. Mr. Lummis and the entire Hughes family agreed to donate 40-acres for the permanent relocation of The Meadows School in Summerlin. They also provided additional funds to add new modular buildings on the temporary property to accommodate the growing student enrollment while the infrastructure of Summerlin was to begin. In fall 1987, construction began on the permanent campus of The Meadows School on Scholar Lane, the street name chosen by the students for their new School. Lower School students moved into The LeOre Cobbley Lower School permanent building in September 1988. Middle and Upper School students moved to the new campus in December of that year into the prefabricated modular buildings which were moved from the temporary location. The School completed its enrollment growth and opened in the fall of 1990 with grades kindergarten through 12. The first Upper School Commencement, a class of three students, was held on June 10, 1991. Since that graduation, 100 percent of its graduates have accepted into four-year colleges or universities.

The generosity of Meadows families, friends, and community members have supported the growth of the School. The Scholar Lane campus has grown to include 246,178 sq. ft. of state-of-the-art facilities since moving there in 1988.

• The LeOre Cobbley Lower School was named and dedicated by the Board of Trustees to honor Founding Headmistress LeOre Cobbley in August 1988.
• Richardson-Beckley Gymnasium was dedicated in October 1988. 
• Sarah D. Barder Hall (Upper School) and Plaster Baseball Diamond were dedicated in 1993.
• Levin-Richardson Track, Creel Football Field, L. Harkness Jewett Field House, and Lincy Foundation Tennis Complex were dedicated in 1995.
• Carolyn G. Goodman Beginning School, donated "turnkey" by Sarah D. Barder, was dedicated in fall of 1999, completing the pre-kindergarten through grade 12 objectives.
• Wanda Lamb Peccole Center for the Arts, including the Bonnie Hayes Schreck Peforming Arts Wing, was dedicated in 2000.
• Fertitta-Sturm Middle School, the final permanent academic structure that includes the Rufty Family Math and Science Wing and Jimmerson Humanities Wing, was dedicated on August 25, 2005.
• Athletic Complex additions to the existing gymnasium, including the Linda R. Richardson Hall of Athletes and Key Fechser Fitness Center, was dedicated on October 1, 2010.