SSFS Closing

[Anonymous]

This is just heartbreaking and shocking. Another option for students is Washington Waldorf School — it’s a welcoming, inclusive, creative, and academically rigorous place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wonder where displaced students will go.

Barry or Sidwell

It’s spelled Barrie.

Burke is also an option

Yeah, Barrie, Burke, and Green Acres as options.

Agree. These are great schools. I’d add Washington Waldorf to the list, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you may want to look at Friends Academy in Ijamsville.

Friends Meeting School?

What can you tell us about it?

We went to visit and did not like it at all. It is very old and run down with no food or lunch programs.

[Anonymous]

Oneness Family School is another option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been waiting for this to happen since I heard SSFS was struggling to bring in students from China. There was no way to replace that revenue.

This news makes me sad even though I'm not surprised. SSFS has been a wonderful school. The faculty and administration are serious about intellectual vigor and serious about morality. When it comes to Quaker values, they don't just talk the talk. They walk the walk, consistently, unlike another Quaker school in the area. (I have experience with both SFS and SSFS.)

Private schools are very expensive to run. This type of thing is going to happen more and more at schools that don't attract very wealthy students and donors. Same for liberal arts colleges.

Why were they struggling to bring in kids from China?

100,000 foreign students have decided to not continue their studies here. Not sure anyone would want to start now.

[Anonymous]

I’m so sorry. I don’t have kids at SSFS but am shocked and very sad to hear this and feel for all the families, teachers, administrators, staff, and alumni impacted.

[Anonymous]

Private school admissions in the area are working RIGHT now trying to help. I just emailed 4 schools and they all responded in minutes.

[Anonymous]

What a difficult situation—so sorry for all those affected

I agree that Washington Waldorf would be a very values-aligned choice for SSFS families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been waiting for this to happen since I heard SSFS was struggling to bring in students from China. There was no way to replace that revenue.

This news makes me sad even though I'm not surprised. SSFS has been a wonderful school. The faculty and administration are serious about intellectual vigor and serious about morality. When it comes to Quaker values, they don't just talk the talk. They walk the walk, consistently, unlike another Quaker school in the area. (I have experience with both SFS and SSFS.)

Private schools are very expensive to run. This type of thing is going to happen more and more at schools that don't attract very wealthy students and donors. Same for liberal arts colleges.

Why were they struggling to bring in kids from China?

Because years ago they pushed out the head of the intl program who did a great job.
SSFS forgot who they were and their mission. The pushed out the Quaker old guard and lost what was special and unique. I’m not Quaker but it was a special place.

[Anonymous]

For those Sandy Spring parents caught in the lurch by the announcement today, we were in a similar place a few years ago and ended up at Washington Waldorf School. It has been a great decision. My 8th grader is thriving. Caring, great community, academically rigorous, and surprisingly sporty for its small size. I know they are mobilizing to try and accommodate SSFS applicants where they can. Website is www.washingtonwaldorf.org.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely shitty. Now I am stuck with no school for a high schooler.

public

Thanks assh#le. Some of us are in shock and grieving. Please don’t come on this forum to just say unhelpful things. There is a reason that some families had their children at SSFS vs public.

Ok, so you are too good to put your kids in public. The financials of this school were disastrous. Loans, overspending, etc....not a surprise at all. Public is an option, its not that you don't have a school, you want a private school and the announcement came in late so its hard to find another private spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wonder where displaced students will go.

Barry or Sidwell

It’s spelled Barrie.

Burke is also an option

Yeah, Barrie, Burke, and Green Acres as options.

Barrie and Green Acres will close next, so I wouldn't get on those sinking ships either. Burke, Field, McLean, Woods Academy, maybe Sheridan. I think just start calling around. I'm sure many schools will try to help if they have open spaces.

I haven’t heard anything like that at all. Unless you actually know something, you shouldn’t speculate. This is an already charged time, and an already sad situation for a school and their community. Making baseless accusations about other schools seems needless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/582051101

More details re their financial strain.

How big was SSFS? Do you think folks will end up going far away to find privates with space? I bet some of the baltimore privates would accommodate, but that’s a trek.

No way this was done in good faith. You can’t just take deposits expecting $16 million to come along.

That link is for a small nonprofit in Sandy Springs, Georgia that seems to be solvent.

[Anonymous]

Side note-thank you to the many kind posters offering sympathy and school advice on this and the other thread-it does help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely shitty. Now I am stuck with no school for a high schooler.

public

Thanks assh#le. Some of us are in shock and grieving. Please don’t come on this forum to just say unhelpful things. There is a reason that some families had their children at SSFS vs public.

Ok, so you are too good to put your kids in public. The financials of this school were disastrous. Loans, overspending, etc....not a surprise at all. Public is an option, its not that you don't have a school, you want a private school and the announcement came in late so its hard to find another private spot.

It’s not about feeling “too good” for public school at all, I’d honestly love to consider it. But the boundary study placed my daughter in a 2/10 rated middle school, and that’s a really tough pill to swallow when it comes to her education and overall development.

The timing of the announcement definitely made things harder, and now we’re just trying to find the best possible fit for her at the last minute.