PFS graduates become particle physicists and sustainable fashion entrepreneurs. They flourish in varied private and public high schools and colleges, and routinely trace their impressive accomplishments to the Friends foundation on which they were raised. 

We prepare students supremely well for whatever comes next by squarely focusing on what’s best for young learners. We are devoted to their academic, social, and emotional growth—and mental health—strengthened through developmentally appropriate challenge and support. Childhood here is protected and celebrated, enjoyable and powerful. As students progress, they see increased responsibility, trust, and expectations, and they live up to them. Come middle school—not in the middle here—they shine. And since Friends students are active agents in their own education, they stay eager to learn. When they leave, our graduates take with them the confidence, independence, knowledge, skills, moral compass, and mindset to succeed.

Why Play Matters

Recess is essential and a vital part of learning. Our outdoor spaces are more than playgrounds; they are learning labs where students build lifelong interpersonal skills and cross-age friendships that foster empathy, leadership, and community.

The sight of a seventh grader digging in the sand alongside a third grader isn’t unusual here—it’s celebrated. Students can choose from a wide variety of options during recess: the big field for soccer, custom-built play structures and swings, or our beloved Village in the woods, where students collaborate to build shops, structures, and stories.