Friends Meeting School Photo #5 - Our 50 acres of outdoor space leaves plenty of room for deep thought. The FMS family meets all together on a regular basis to ponder the issues facing us, and to find ways to fix the problems.

Friends Meeting School

Dedicated to providing a dynamic, experiential education in the context of Quaker values, to fortify each student's mind, body, and spirit within a diverse environment, and to empower students to let their lives speak in their community and in the world.
Real Learning for Real Life: Students get their hands dirty, literally and figuratively, sorting out the problems of the world and developing skills that prepare our students for college - and for life.
Award-winning arts and athletic programs balance a vigorous, college-preparatory academic workload.

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • Grades: Kindergarten-12
  • Enrollment: 110 students
  • Average class size: 14 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

School Overview

Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Kindergarten-12
Year Founded
1997

Student Body

Total Students
110 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
31%
State avg.: 37%
Students by Grade
Friends Meeting School Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers
17 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
6:1
National avg.: 13:1
Average Class Size
14 students
Advanced Courses
AP Calculus (AB & BC), AP Environmental Science, AP Human Geography, AP Modern World, AP Physics, AP US History
Classroom Dress Code
Casual

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline
None / Rolling
% on Financial Aid
47%
Admissions Director
Presley Belmont

Sports

Total Sports Offered
4 sports

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
8 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
National Honor Society, School Newspaper, Service Club, Student Government, Yearbook

Arts and Music Programs:
Chorus, Community Play, Drama

School Notes

OUR PHILOSOPHY
Our mission is to build a place where students are supported to take risks in the spirit of learning, discovering, and letting their lives speak.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO "LET YOUR LIFE SPEAK?"
Our program is rooted in Quaker principles and practices. Quakers believe that everyone is deserving of respect, everyone possesses an "inner light." (We`ll elaborate on that below.) They also believe that the truth (or "Truth") is never revealed in a single moment; rather, it gradually emerges through experience. Reading about ideas can be helpful, identifying one`s core beliefs can be grounding, but nothing replaces the value of experiencing things first-hand-acting on your beliefs to bring about growth and positive change. That`s how you let your "let your life speak."

QUAKER PRINCIPLES
A universal framework for making moral decisions
There are six Quaker testimonies that emerge from the belief that everyone has an "inner light."
  • SIMPLICITY: Distinguishing between needs and wants. Removing distraction to strengthen your relationships, pursue your beliefs, and remain grounded.
  • PEACE: This is not about avoiding conflict. Our focus on peace informs how we respond to inevitable disagreement. When done well, the response has the power to broaden perspectives and strengthen relationships. Our "Restorative Resolution" program exemplifies this testimony.
  • INTEGRITY: So often, children are put in situations where they try to fit in. This creates inner tension and undermines self-worth. When one is authentic, true to one`s beliefs and free to pursue one`s passions, it`s liberating.
  • COMMUNITY: All schools have a community. However, when a school community is undergirded by Quaker principles, it ensures that every student belongs and the whole is stronger than the sum of the parts.
  • EQUALITY: No one person is more deserving of respect than another. Wisdom can emerge from any member of our community. This is why students refer to our teachers by their first name.
  • STEWARDSHIP: Tending to our environment must happen locally and globally, and the environment includes our culture and community as well as earth.Students at Friends Meeting School engage in weekly "meeting for worship," which is a Quaker religious service. Meeting for worship is an opportunity for the community of students and adults to gather for a period of silence and reflection. During the service, anyone may be moved to share a message-Quakers call this "vocal ministry"-with the group. It provides a valuable opportunity to step outside the chaos of the day, to connect with the larger community, and to exercise one`s voice.
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

What sports does Friends Meeting School offer?
Friends Meeting School offers 4 interscholastic sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer and Ultimate Frisbee.
When is the application deadline for Friends Meeting School?
The application deadline for Friends Meeting School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

School Reviews

  5.00 out of 5  (10 reviews)
5  
FMS has been the perfect match for both my child and my family. The caring teachers and staff provide a warm environment and safe space for the students while offering an excellent academic program. We felt welcomed by the entire school community from the start. My child has grown in so many ways since we enrolled in FMS. We couldn`t be more pleased.
- Posted by
5  
When we toured Friends Meeting School for the first time 9 years ago, I noticed two things right away: the first was that the kids didn`t put locks on their lockers. The second was that the students we met looked me in the eye and spoke with confidence.Our three sons have had an amazing, life changing ,experience at Friends Meeting School. Friends has a rigorous academic program that prepared our oldest for college. He`s going to Shepherd, friends from his class went to Hopkins, Hood, & University of Maryland. More import for our family are the values of the other families and the faculty. The community supported our goal of raising confident, decent, generous kids.Friends Meeting School has an amazing performing arts program and a group of gifted teachers who encourage curiosity and a love of learning.
- Posted by
5  
The teachers and the curriculum in Friends Meeting School promotes development of strong academic skills, good social skills, and mental habits that support lifelong learning . I truly believe that FMS students will share their gift to the world as responsible, confident and compassionate leaders as I have seen this growth and development in my children. It is such as beautiful community to be a part of.
- Posted by
5  
Friends was a life changer for our daughter. Before we put her in FMS, she attended public school . She was miserable. Even though she knew her classmates since kindergarten, she felt alone and anxious. She is very intelligent, but because she is anxious and afraid to speak up, her teachers would assume she didn't know the answers or call on her to help with anything that called for extra academics. We toured FMS and felt like we had entered a community, not a "school" . By the second day of school our daughter said, " I finally feel like I can be myself" . That was over 5 years ago, we hear those same words often from new students, it's a wonderful thing.
- Posted by
5  
I have been going to the school forever and I highly recommend this school for everyone. I have friends who arrived at the school who were previously bullied, and had fallen into depression, but upon arriving at the school their lives changed for the better. The school contains nurturing teachers who care about the well being of the students. I have ADD and I know that my knowledge/comprehensive skills could have been lacking based on my "disability" but, I am a straight A student and I wholeheartedly believe that this school, this home, is why. Learning is exciting and engaging with labs, active conversational classrooms, outdoor experiences (nature walks, gardening, and assorted additional events), and teachers who teach in such a way that if you don't understand something, than you can ask. I could talk about this school forever and all its merits (I won't for the sake of time), but I recommend this school.
- Posted by
5  
This School has changed my daughters life. She started FMS in 6th grade, she was struggling with insecurities and tons of bullying. From the moment we visited FMS we felt welcome. The parents and the teachers love their school and it shows. I hope to be enrolling my son next year as he enters 6th grade. My daughter is now in 8th grade and she is happy, independent and active in sports and drama. If you're looking for a beautiful school, filled with kind excepting people, this is the place for your child. Amazing arts program too!
- Posted by
5  
FMS is a great community to have a child attend. It is a school that encourages the students to move along at his/her own speed. The encourage the students to be part of the world and learn what they can do to help the community. The teachers care about each student and understand what they need to be successful. I want my child to continue through high school. WE LOVE FMS.
- Posted by
5  
FMS encourages diversity and a strong sense of independence! Our son is in his first-year of study and we already notice a remarkable difference in his reading and vocabulary skills. The staff and teachers are kind and supportive and the parents truly take pride and are actively involved in every aspect of the school. The love and support received at FMS is unlike any other!
- Posted by
5  
FMS has both rigorous academics and an emphasis on creative thinking. Classes are small, diverse, and unequivocally provide a safe place for learning. The teachers, staff, and parents are extremely supportive. I give FMS the highest recommendation.
- Posted by
5  
FMS is a beautiful place to learn and grow. Teachers really know my children and offer an academically rigorous curriculum in a more hands-on way. My children are strong critical thinkers and problem solvers as a result. I love the focus on social justice and environmental care-taking too.
- Posted by

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Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • Grades: Kindergarten-12
  • Enrollment: 110 students
  • Average class size: 14 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Frederick County, MD is $10,913 for elementary schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
The average acceptance rate in Frederick County, MD is 93% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).

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