Friends' Central Lower School (Top Ranked Private School for 2026-27)

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Quick Facts (26-27)

Top Ranked PA School
Grades: Nursery/Preschool-5
Enrollment: 264 students
Average class size: 13 students
Application Deadline: None / Rolling
Source: ✓Verified school update

School Rankings

Friends' Central Lower School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Pennsylvania for:

School Facts

Religious Affiliation

Friends

Grades Offered

Grades Nursery/Preschool-5

Students By Grade

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Distribution of Students By Grade

Grade	Friends' Central Lower School
Nursery	24
Pre-K	25
Kind	27
1	37
2	38
3	24
4	41
5	48

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Grade 5 largest at 48 students, the biggest class in Friends' Central Lower School and 24 more than Nursery.

Year Founded

1845

Summer School Offered

Yes

School Calendar

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Campus Size

46 acres

Student Body

Total Students

264 students

Student Body Type

Co-ed

% Students of Color

18%

State avg.: 27%

Academic Profile

Total Classroom Teachers

48 teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

6:1

National avg.: 11:1

Average Class Size

13 students

School Membership(s)School Assoc.

Friends Council on Education (FCE)
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools (ADVIS)
Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS)

Tuition & Financial Aid

Admission Deadline

None / Rolling

Admissions Director

Randy Roach

Admissions Associate

Cynthia Harris

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School Notes

Since its establishment in 1845 by the Religious Society of Friends, Friends' Central School, a coeducational, college preparatory day school for nursery through grade 12, has been guided by Quaker testimonies of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, and equality.
Underlying all facets of school life is the belief that "there is that of God in everyone." Meeting for Worship is central, providing time for connections among members of the community and between individuals and their spiritual sources.
Peaceful resolution of conflicts, seeking truth, and collaborative process are key aspects of a Friends' Central education.
Friends' Central offers rigorous and varied educational experiences in academics, arts, and athletics, helping each student to realize his or her true potential and achieve at the highest level possible.
We encourage trial and error, critical thinking and questioning, and intellectual courage in all areas of our curriculum.
We strive to balance competence in using sophisticated technology with the richness of a humanistic education.
Students' individual interests are encouraged and supported while essential skills are carefully honed.
We intentionally seek a wide spectrum of diversity in our school community.
We respect unreservedly that diversity and strive to enhance and support it.
Diversity influences how we teach, learn, and communicate.
It enriches the community and furthers understanding that each human life is intrinsically valuable and interrelated, one with another.

Since its establishment in 1845 by the Religious Society of Friends, Friends' Central School, a coeducational, college preparatory day school for nursery through grade 12, has been guided by Quaker testimonies of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, and equality. Underlying all facets of school life is the belief that "there is that of God in everyone." Meeting for Worship is central, providing time for connections among members of the community and between individuals and their spiritual sources. Peaceful resolution of conflicts, seeking truth, and collaborative process are key aspects of a Friends' Central education. Friends' Central offers rigorous and varied educational experiences in academics, arts, and athletics, helping each student to realize his or her true potential and achieve at the highest level possible. We encourage trial and error, critical thinking and questioning, and intellectual courage in all areas of our curriculum. We strive to balance competence in using sophisticated technology with the richness of a humanistic education. Students' individual interests are encouraged and supported while essential skills are carefully honed. We intentionally seek a wide spectrum of diversity in our school community. We respect unreservedly that diversity and strive to enhance and support it. Diversity influences how we teach, learn, and communicate. It enriches the community and furthers understanding that each human life is intrinsically valuable and interrelated, one with another.

Source: Verified school update

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Friends' Central Lower School's ranking?

Friends' Central Lower School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Pennsylvania for: Largest student body and Oldest founding date.

When is the application deadline for Friends' Central Lower School?

The application deadline for Friends' Central Lower School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Montgomery County, PA is $22,737 for elementary schools and $31,721 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).

The average acceptance rate in Montgomery County, PA is 81% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).