Curriculum Overview

We want our students to…

develop a lifelong love of learning.
acquire the habits of mind that inspire curiosity and discovery.
develop their personal voice and perspective.
understand their own personal power.
grow confident through their learning.
practice responsibility and accountability to themselves and others.
develop independence and find their own path.
learn how to work alone and in a group.
encounter and embrace values such as respect, stewardship, appreciation of differences, recognition of each other’s gifts and talents, simplicity, equality, and peace.
know success is not often attained on the first try, that there are several ways of solving a problem, and that not all questions have one answer while other questions have no answer.
be as focused on the process of learning as on the product.
ask pertinent questions that advance understanding.
think critically about the world and about their learning.
acquire and exercise self-control.
respectfully and knowledgeably question authority to advance justice and peace.

Engineers at work in preparation for the annual Rube Goldberg competition at Friends School.

"As the parents of a third grade student at Friends School, we would like to share our experience with this most outstanding educational community. Friends School is a practice in life-long learning for the student as a global steward. This practice begins with the premise of peace, cooperation, and justice that fosters a safe, stimulating, and focused learning environment. What does this mean for us as parents? When we communicate in a peace-centered educational community, everyone matters in the learning process. The jewel in this process is the reinforcement of life-long learning. What we see are brilliantly curious students, faculty and administrators all working together toward a common goal of educational stewardship. Thank you, Friends School."

"At home we read a lot, we bake, play games, invent stuff, sing, work in the garden. . . I can't believe we found a school that feels a lot like home. Everyone [here] is so loving and kind. I feel like it's an extension of our family life. We were thinking of homeschooling but this suits us better, much better."

We keep two goals in mind when creating and revising our academic curriculum. The first is to have a framework that coordinates grade levels through a scope and sequence of skills and concepts. This framework is a synthesis of 1) the national standards of each subject area, 2) best practices of independent schools, and 3) the expectations and requirements for successful entry into the local high schools.

The second goal is to honor teacher autonomy, relying on a teacher’s expertise, experience, and inspiration to create themes, select materials, adjust to the needs of each class, and remain open to the teachable moment. Having a say in what one teaches is a hallmark of independent education and one of the main reasons we attract and keep our teachers. The faculty and administration work together to create, revise, and make decisions about the curriculum.

The natural unfolding of child development from kindergarten through eighth grade drives our curriculum and methods. Friends School's mixed-age groupings and small class sizes give children time to learn at their own pace and to develop important relationships with their teachers.

The heart of our K-8 program is language literacy, including reading, writing, and speaking. Our math program focuses on familiarity and facility with numbers, particularly emphasizing word problems. We present curricular materials as part of age-appropriate themes to which children can relate.

In the elementary years, we strive for reading and writing independence, a broadening experience with literature, and a deepening sense of math concepts and computation. Social studies, science, and literature are combined in theme studies and taught separately as well. Our middle school curriculum blends classroom academics, hands-on projects, field trip experiences, and service opportunities. Our math program is coordinated with the local public high schools. Language arts focuses on grammar, composition, and literary analysis. Rich programs in science and social studies round out the core academic curriculum.

Spanish, music, yoga, art, drama, and physical education are integrated into our curriculum. Conflict resolution is an essential part of our curriculum, from early instruction in conflict identification and management strategies in kindergarten to peer mediation in the middle school.

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