Sidwell Friends has two campuses: the lower school in Bethesda on the former campus of The Longfellow School for Boys and the middle and upper school on a fifteen acre campus in northwest Washington. Sidwell prides itself on its leadership in environmental issues. The school community is diverse with 39% of the students and 22% of faculty being of color.
Academics:
The high school offers courses in the following departments:
Facilities:
Over its 145 year history Sidwell Friends has evolved from one school house into an institution located on two campuses. The buildings for instruction, library and athletics are both state of the art and environmentally friendly.
Finances:
The school has an endowment of $37 million. It awarded $4.9 million in financial aid to 22% of its students in academic year 2008-2009.
Matriculation:
Sidwell Friends prepares its students for college exceptionally well. High SAT scores and acceptances at the best institutions worldwide attest to the success of that mission. 1
Commentary:
If you are looking for a sensitive, diverse coed day school community for your child in the DC area, you would be hard pressed to find a school better than Sidwell Friends. The gentle Quaker spirituality is a powerful yet humbling influence for children in this day and age. But make sure your child has what the school is looking for. Only 15% of applicants are accepted. This is a very competitive school.
