Frankford Friends School

Since 1833, Frankford Friends School has offered a values-based Quaker education in the heart of Philadelphia.
FFS students explore, problem-solve, and work together to expand their understanding of themselves and the world beyond through initiatives like the Project Based Learning program and the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Graduates of FFS are confident, caring, socially conscious young adults who use their strengths, knowledge, and passion to better our world.
Children of all faiths and all ethnic, racial, and economic backgrounds are welcomed to our community. Frankford Friends School students are members of a community that is highly diverse and inclusive. The racial composition of the school mirrors that of the City of Philadelphia.

Quick Stats (2023)

  • Top Ranked PA School
  • Grades: Prekindergarten-8
  • Yearly Tuition: $14,300
  • Acceptance rate: 60%
  • Average class size: 18 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Frankford Friends School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Pennsylvania for:

Category
Attribute
School History

School Overview

Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-8
Year Founded
1833

Student Body

Total Students
n/a
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
43%
State avg.: 26%

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers
20 teachers
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
50%
Average Class Size
18 students
Classroom Dress Code
Casual

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline
None / Rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost
Tuition Notes
Tuition varies depending on grade level. www.frankfordfriends.org
% on Financial Aid
25%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$3,000
Acceptance Rate
60%
National avg.: 85%
Admissions Director
Sharon Oliver
Admissions Associate
Sharon Oliver

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
16 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Chess Club, Science Explorers, Soccer Shots

Arts and Music Programs:
Advanced Art, Art Classes, Choir, Ethics Class, Fiber Arts, Jazz Band, Print making, Robotics Club, Service Learning, Strings Program, Theater and Improvisation

Recreational Athletic Programs:
Fitness, Physical Education

School Notes

  • At Frankford Friends School, the Quaker testimonies of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship of our natural and human communities are honored, lived, and learned.  Students are challenged to work both independently and as part of a team. We enhance each student`s skill in creative problem-solving and provide opportunities for children to develop their passions by engaging in projects that have personal meaning to them.
  • Whether learning to code a robot in the IDEA Lab, building a sustainable neighborhood with help from the City Planning Commission, or conducting research for the Frankford Historical Society, hands-on learning helps children to grow cognitively, emotionally, socially, and physically.
  • Frankford Friends School students are intellectually curious, engaged, and care deeply about each other and the world outside of themselves. They become adults who use their strengths and passions to make the world a better place.
  • Our outstanding academic program prepares our graduates to thrive in the selective public and private high schools they attend. Frankford Friends School`s curriculum emphasizes the 21st century skills of critical thinking, teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving.
  • Our teachers adopted the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a foundational framework to engage our students in understanding issues in our communities. An important aspect of this initiative is the formation of partnerships with people and organizations who are working on the same issues that students explore in class. Not only will students see what action might look like, but they will understand the connection between what they learn and local action and service, and become true protagonists for change in their own communities. Project-based learning is a huge component of the program.
  • Our program also includes:
    • The IDEA (Innovation Design Engineering Art) Lab
    • Choral and string music program
    • Spanish in grades PreK-4 (twice weekly), and grade 5-8 (daily) 
    • Physical Education 
    • Civic Engagement
    • A focus on nurturing a growth mindset in students, and enhancing their executive functioning abilities, problem-solving skills, and leadership opportunities
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Frankford Friends School cost?
Frankford Friends School's tuition is approximately $14,300 for private students.
What is the acceptance rate of Frankford Friends School?
The acceptance rate of Frankford Friends School is 60%, which is lower than the national average of 86%. Frankford Friends School's acceptance rate is ranked among the top private schools in Pennsylvania with low acceptance rates.
What is Frankford Friends School's ranking?
Frankford Friends School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Pennsylvania for: Lowest average acceptance rates, Most extracurriculars offered and Oldest founding date.
When is the application deadline for Frankford Friends School?
The application deadline for Frankford Friends School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

School Reviews

5  
The middle school curriculum at FFS is engaging, rigorous, and multi-faceted. I have been so happy with my son's experience at Frankford Friends School. He is not only being challenged academically, but he is cared for by his teachers and the staff at FFS. Middle school years can be tough for kids to navigate, but he has felt included, he has been treated with kindness, and he is thriving both in his learning and his social life. He was also recently accepted to all 5 of the high schools (both public and private) to which he applied. I am so grateful to Frankford Friends School.
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Quick Stats (2023)

  • Top Ranked PA School
  • Grades: Prekindergarten-8
  • Yearly Tuition: $14,300
  • Acceptance rate: 60%
  • Average class size: 18 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Philadelphia, PA is $8,186 for elementary schools and $13,080 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
The average acceptance rate in Philadelphia, PA is 68% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).

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