Welcome
Dear Friends,
Sidwell Friends School is a coeducational Quaker day school serving approximately 1,100 students in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade Twelve. SFS is a diverse community that includes 39 percent students of color, 25 percent faculty of color, and 5 percent Quakers. Additionally, because we believe in having a student body that represents a variety of economic backgrounds, 22 percent of our students receive nearly $5 million dollars in need-based financial aid.
Our Lower School (Pre-Kindergarten through Grade Four) is located in Bethesda, MD and features newly renovated classrooms, a state of the art gymnasium, and a new recreational quadrangle with a magnificent playground. A community of 296 students, Lower School provides a nurturing environment with a wide-ranging curriculum that is flexible enough to meet the needs of individual students. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal with a balance between freedom and discipline.
Located just 10 minutes away on our Wisconsin Avenue campus, our Middle and Upper Schools share 15 acres in Northwest Washington, DC. Our Middle School (Grades Five through Eight) was recently awarded LEED Platinum certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) by the U.S. Green Building Council, making it the first Platinum rated building in Washington, DC and the first K-12 institution in the world to achieve a Platinum rating. Equipped with a constructed wetland, photovoltaic panels, and a green roof, our Middle School building plays a pivotal role in facilitating student learning and enhancing a curriculum that is both wide and deep.
The Earl G. Harrison, Jr. Upper School has 460 students with class sizes averaging 14 students per class. The Upper School includes the Goldman Library, which has 20,000 books in print, 23,000 e-books, and subscriptions to over 50 periodicals and newspapers. In addition to a well-resourced library, the Upper School has an all-weather turf athletic field, performing and Visual Arts Center, and in winter 2010 will have a newly constructed underground athletic facility. Upper School students pursue a rigorous curriculum that is founded in the liberal arts tradition and that balances academics, arts, athletics, and community service. As a college preparatory school, our students graduate well prepared to apply and attend the most competitive colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. We offer individualized college counseling beginning in the Junior year, as well as a range of programs to facilitate the college search process.
As you can see, SFS students have access to a broad range of opportunities, facilities, and a rich academic and social experience that will inform their personal and professional choices for years to come. Our desire is to create an intellectually vibrant community where students are guided by the pursuit of uncommon academic and personal excellence, a commitment to diversity, an appreciation for Quaker values, and environmental stewardship. I hope you will consider SFS and the array of opportunities available for your child and your family. We will host several admissions programs from October-December that will provide more information about the School and the admission and financial aid process. You may also begin applying online as early as September 2, 2008. I look forward to meeting you and your family!
Sincerely,
Erby Mitchell
Director of Admissions and Financial Aid
