Scattergood Friends School

The history of Scattergood Friends School begins when it was founded in 1890 by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) for the education of Friends' children. Today, about 20 percent of staff and students are from Friends families. Scattergood continues to be guided by the tenets of Quakerism: simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship. We are dedicated to the growth of the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—and to the stewardship of the earth.

Scattergood is located in rural West Branch, Iowa, in the greater Iowa City area. It is about 3.5 hours by car from Chicago, and 5 hours from Minneapolis and St. Louis. The school's 126-acre campus consists of a 27 acre main campus and 26 acres of restored prairie. The farm includes 8 acres of certified organic vegetable gardens, a high tunnel (greenhouse), and various barns, outbuildings, and pastures. Livestock include cows, sheep (Katahdin heritage breed), pigs (Guinea Hog heritage breed), and turkeys (seasonally).

Scattergood is accredited by Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) and is a member of the Friends Council on Education (FCE) and The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS). Scattergood is recognized as an independently accredited school by the State of Iowa Department of Education.

Scattergood offers a college-preparatory course load with progressive classes, experiential, hands-on learning and more individualized and self-reflective assessment. The core curriculum includes four years of all the academic areas including English, Social Studies, Science, Math, and foreign language. Critical reasoning and communication skills are emphasized, including reading, writing, speaking, listening, and the capacity to consider other points of view. Students also learn practical life skills through work on the farm, on campus and through projects courses that explore the fine and practical arts. Wilderness trips and service trips provide opportunities for adventure and personal growth.

Scattergood has a staff of 26 educators from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines. Many staff members serve as advisors to two or three students. Most of the staff and their families live on campus. All faculty serve as resources for the community in such areas as nutrition and health, the arts, peace and nonviolence, human rights, stewardship of the earth, and Friends' heritage

Scattergood Friends School challenges students with a college-preparatory curriculum, farm experience, a shared work program, and community living in the spirit of Quaker faith. Scattergood Friends School is a diverse, college preparatory community of motivated and open-minded learners, who value simplicity, equality, and non-violence. The integration of these Quaker values within our curriculum promotes excellence and leadership. At Scattergood, we bring forth the strengths of each individual through a rich and varied set of experiences which prepare students for higher education and life-long learning.

As a community, we appreciate the interconnection of our lives with the land, our inner selves, and each other. We actively learn in small classes on our historic campus, organic farm and restored prairie. We work together on the daily maintenance of the school. We cultivate our inner voice through quiet spiritual reflection and use that voice in community-shared leadership. At Scattergood, we foster the development of the whole person in becoming a global citizen and steward of the Earth. We strive toward instilling a sense of purpose from our values and commitment to the wider and rapidly changing world.