Friends School Of Portland (Top Ranked Private School for 2026)

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Quick Facts (2026)

Top Ranked ME School
Grades: Prekindergarten-8
Enrollment: 138 students
Yearly Tuition: $22,505
Acceptance rate: 50%
Average class size: 14 students
Application Deadline: Jan. 24 / rolling
Source: ✓Verified school update

School Rankings

Friends School Of Portland ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Maine for:

School Facts

School Membership(s)School Assoc.

Friends Council on Education (FCE)
New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Religious Affiliation

Friends

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-8

Students By Grade

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade
Grade	Friends School Of Portland
Pre-K	14
Kind	12
1	15
2	16
3	14
4	11
5	16
6	14
7	15
8	11

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Year Founded

2006

Student Body

Total Students

138 students

Student Body Type

Co-ed

% Students of Color

10%

State avg.: 16%

Academics & Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers

20 teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

7:1

National avg.: 11:1

% Faculty w/Advanced Degree

67%

Average Class Size

14 students

Classroom Dress Code

Casual

Tuition & Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline

Jan. 24 / rolling

Yearly Tuition Cost

$22,505

View national tuition avg.

Tuition Notes

Preschool: 2 mornings, $7,884 3 mornings, $10,635 5 mornings, $13,725 2 full days, $10,548 3 full days, $13,638 5 full days, $17,318 Kindergarten: $16,894

% on Financial Aid

33%

Average Financial Aid Grant

$11,985

Acceptance Rate

50%

National avg.: 82%

Admissions Director

Megan Campbell

Application URL

Online Application

Sports

Total Sports Offered

2 sports

Sports

Cross CountryUltimate Frisbee

School Notes

Friends School of Portland is an independent preschool through eighth grade Quaker school guided by the values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship. Our newly expanded Passive House building sits on a beautiful 21-acre campus of forest and outdoor gathering spaces.
Friends School of Portland challenges and empowers students to develop their intellectual, physical, emotional, creative, and spiritual potential in a culture of joyful learning.
The school honors our students' natural gifts as they learn to enter the world with confidence, competence, joy, and a sense of purpose.

OUR VALUES - SIMPLICITY: The Quaker witness of simplicity reminds us to live wisely, finding the time and space to appreciate the Spirit. In our school, uncomplicated routines, uncluttered use of space, and careful use of resources help us stay focused on the unfolding development of each person in our school.
PEACE: We learn to resolve conflict through respectful conversation and peaceful negotiation. We study peace leaders and movements of the world. We provide opportunities for students to take actions on issues they feel strongly about.
INTEGRITY: We seek to integrate our values into how we approach learning and how we conduct ourselves in the classroom, in the school, and in the broader community.
COMMUNITY: We create a close and accepting atmosphere as an essential condition for growth and learning. Warm welcomes, daily class meetings, group singing, handling challenges side by side, and celebrating success contribute to a strong sense of community. We partner with other organizations to do service projects in the wider community.
EQUALITY: We encourage and respect diverse perspectives and experiences. We strive for a dynamic balance between the individual and the group as we seek consensus in our decision-making process. Children refer to adults by their first name.
STEWARDSHIP: We use resources carefully and we learn to care for the world. We study our local ecosystems in order to understand the interconnectedness of all living organisms. We cultivate a community garden and encourage sustainable practices.
TRUTH: Quakers believe in the continual revelation of truth, and that truth is available to each of us. We use silence and reflection as ways to deepen understanding and extend the search for truth. In the classroom, truth is reflected in an open-minded approach to curriculum and teaching, and in an emphasis on critical thinking skills and self expression.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW - Friends School of Portland believes that education is holistic and seamless. As much as possible, we take an interdisciplinary approach to learning. Within the broad strokes of the curriculum framework, teachers try to incorporate student interests as a way of nurturing curious and motivated learners. We design and choose learning experiences and materials that respect developmental stages; offer a multi-sensory, hands-on, inquiry-based approach to learning; and create opportunities for whole group, small group and individual instruction. We set high expectations for students and staff, incorporating research-based practice and integrating Quaker values. Within our cross-curricular approach, teachers attend to the core academic skills that are essential for students to acquire. These are explained below.
We offer here a snapshot of the Friends School of Portland academic program. We have attempted to capture the essentials that guide our academic planning. The faculty considers a range of goals and principles as we plan for student learning what to teach in a changing world, how to foster curiosity and engagement, how to weave reverence for life and joy of learning into the daily rhythm of our classes.
Multi-Age Classes - We group children in multi-age classes. This year we offer Preschool (3 & 4 year olds), K (5+ year olds), Grade 1-2, Grade 3-4, Grade 5-6, and Grade 7-8. Academic planning in a multi-age classroom is sometimes puzzling to those for whom this is new. Multi-age grouping benefits children by offering a family-like atmosphere where labeling by grade, age or skill level becomes irrelevant. It is natural that each student is at a different place than others in one or more aspects as they are in single grade classes. What's different and liberating is that we expect them to be. Whole group, small group and individualized instruction all fit into this setting.
The class is treated as a single group as much as possible. In those subjects where skill development requires ability grouping, teachers divide the class as they see the need. With the abundance of wonderful children's literature, it is often easy and more engaging for students if reading and writing parallel science and social studies. Social studies and science content follows a two-year rotation. Many common starting points of study are open-ended, allowing students a chance to progress to different degrees as appropriate. When feasible, children with similar skill levels will work together while the particular skills are being introduced and practiced. Multi-age classes also offer a range of leadership opportunities for all children.
Families with preschool children (3 & 4 year olds) have six options to choose from, depending on the child's readiness for school and the family needs. There are full day and morning only programs: all five days, three days (Monday, Wednesday, & Friday), or two days (Tuesday & Thursday) .

Source: Verified school update

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Friends School Of Portland cost?

Friends School Of Portland's tuition is approximately $22,505 for private students.

What is the acceptance rate of Friends School Of Portland?

The acceptance rate of Friends School Of Portland is 50%, which is lower than the national average of 79%. Friends School Of Portland's acceptance rate is ranked among the top private schools in Maine with low acceptance rates.

What sports does Friends School Of Portland offer?

Friends School Of Portland offers 2 interscholastic sports: Cross Country and Ultimate Frisbee.

What is Friends School Of Portland's ranking?

Friends School Of Portland ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Maine for: Lowest average acceptance rates.

When is the application deadline for Friends School Of Portland?

The application deadline for Friends School Of Portland is Jan. 24 / rolling (applications are due on Jan. 24 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).

School Reviews

5 5/17/2016

I almost wish I''d never discovered Friends School...it's so amazing. It's the way life and education should be. I planned where I bought my house in relation to how close it was to Friends School.

- Posted by Parent - s.key

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Cumberland County, ME is $20,104 for elementary schools and $26,747 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).

The average acceptance rate in Cumberland County, ME is 72% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).