Sandy Spring Friends School

We question, we reflect, and we act on knowledge learned both in and out of the classroom in ways that foster critical thinking and empower us to make the world a better place. At Sandy Spring Friends School, we are a community of scholars, performers, artists, athletes, thinkers and doers, each with different strengths and interests, but bound together by a determination to honor Quaker values and to see that of God within each of us. Accordingly, we are a debate-driven community that is respectful of differences; we are open and sometimes noisy, but also reflective seekers of quiet. We celebrate being a marketplace of ideas while providing a safe place to explore new concepts with an incredibly vibrant and dedicated group of adults. We question, we reflect, and we act on knowledge learned both in and out of the classroom in ways that foster critical thinking and empower us to make the world a better place. Faculty and staff are here because they are deeply committed to providing preschoolers through 12th graders with an education that will serve them well in the world that they will inherit.

Our School is located in Sandy Spring, Maryland, in Montgomery County, about 17 miles from the White House and 20 miles west of Baltimore. Sandy Spring Friends School is on an amazing 140-acre park-like property that includes a swimming pond, an old-growth forest, streams, two solar arrays, and even an aerial park. We have approximately 600 students in preschool (age 3) through 12th grade, and 160 faculty and staff. While most students live in the neighborhood or have a short commute, our Upper School (9th-12th grades) also includes a boarding option (both five-day and seven-day) for about 80 students, including a robust international community.

The Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, cherishes the worth and dignity of each individual because we believe that there is that of God in every person. This basic belief inspires Sandy Spring Friends School to value the unique gifts of our students, faculty, and staff while also expecting each person to become a contributing and cooperative member of the community. Believing that personal and academic growth flourish in a setting which nurtures trust and respect, we expect all members of the school community to act with integrity and responsibility in every aspect of their lives. We are convinced that all features of school life should be strongly influenced by the practices and testimonies of the Society of Friends. We stress the Quaker values of service, simplicity, equality, honesty, stewardship of the environment, and the peaceful resolution of conflict, as part of our continual search for Truth.

Sandy Spring Friends School develops the trained mind, the skilled hand, and the healthy body within a nurturing community centered in the Life of the Spirit. We provide a challenging academic program combined with stimulating opportunities in the arts, athletics, and community service. Believing Quaker Meeting for Worship to be central to its life and vitality, the School creates opportunities for silent worship, reflection, and the sharing of insights.

Sandy Spring Friends School prepares its students for college, to enjoy learning throughout life, and to become useful, constructive, and caring citizens of the world. Our mission is most clearly stated in our motto, words taken from George Fox, the founder of the Society of Friends: "Let Your Lives Speak."

Sandy Spring Friends School provides a welcoming and nurturing learning community with Friends testimonies and Meeting for Worship central to its life and vitality. A challenging academic curriculum, enriched arts program, inclusive athletics, and service opportunities promote intellectual excellence and strength of character. Recognizing the unique worth of each person, the School strives to develop individual talents and foster caring and effective citizens of the world.

Sandy Spring Friends School embraces the values of the Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers. Quaker values are grounded in the belief that there is that of God in everyone. This belief – along with the continuous quest to seek the truth – is central to the understanding that diversity of thought, identity and experience is essential to academic excellence, personal growth and spiritual development. Our School is committed to fostering a diverse community of students, faculty, staff, administrators, trustees and families who accept, appreciate and respect each individual’s uniqueness.

Sandy Spring Friends School is an exceptional school seeking to prepare students for life and further education. At SSFS, knowing why we learn, and how we learn, are just as important as what we learn. Our educational program is grounded in a deep respect for individual students and intellectual rigor. The School's teachers help students internalize a process we call "QRA"--Question, Reflection, Action--which ensures that they think critically, integrate new knowledge, and apply what they learn. We help students develop their individual sense of purpose as they become caring citizens of the world.