School for Friends in Dupont Circle

[Anonymous]

Hello,
We are considering enrolling our son at the above school when he turns 2 in the fall. Can anyone give feedback (positive and negative) about this specific location, or just Quaker schools in general ? Thanks !

[Anonymous]

SfF is excellent. But this makes it tough to get in. Especially this late in the 08-09 application year. But you never know. You could get lucky. Check the preschool forum to learn more about this school and others. It's tough to generalize about Quaker schools, it's not like Montessori with a specific curriculum.

Good luck

[Anonymous]

I'm the OP,thanks for your feedback ! I was told they are still accepting applications for 08-09 because they have a "rolling" admissions process (my son won't be 2 until November)

[Anonymous]

I don't think that is exactly accurate. They take applications in the fall up until March for admission the following September. Of course, if someone left and there were a spot, you might get offered it-- they would go down their list until they filled the spot, but that has not happened in the 5 years I have had kids at the school!

Also, for the 2 year old room the kids typically have turned 2 by end of August. They have a strong sibling preference so sometimes they'll hold a spot for a sibling until that sibling turns 2 later in the fall, but I'd be surprised if they did that for a new applicant simply because they usually have more applicants than spots in that room!

[Anonymous]

OP Here,
I was referred to the school by a friend who's daughter was admitted well after Septemeber (her birthday is in January) and they didn't apply months in advance. I put a call into the schools director, perhaps they are experiencing a shortage of applications this year because I was personally told that they are still admitting for the two year old program.

[Anonymous]

I am a parent at SfF and we absolutely love it. The teacher are great, and the family community is wonderful. A very nurturing school! I would not hesitate a moment recommending this school. The school follows the Creative Curic, though it is play based and progressive learning..

There were over 100 applicants though for about 20 slots this year, I am surprised that their would be an open slot in the 2 year classroom, and would not go to the wait-list first. Though if a family does leave mid year (which is rare) sometime a slot would be opened up.

[Anonymous]

It may be a matter of balance (if they need boys or girls or a different race to balance the class out). Otherwise, there were many more applications than spots this year. You could luck out and get a spot if they need a boy!

It's a great school. The teachers in the 2 yr old room are amazing.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

OP - do you plan on enrolling your 2 year old all day or half a day? My opinion of the school depends on that...

[Anonymous]

OP here,
To answer the previous poster's question, it would be the full day. Please share your experience....

[Anonymous]

PP here: for a full day, the school is FABULOUS. In fact, ideal. Your child will have a full day to enjoy all the very well thought out enrichment activities (the best of which happen earlier in the day -- the half a day in the afternoon involves a nap or quiet time, for example). The teachers are very warm, nurturing and experienced. We were not so happy with the very frequent requests for $ through direct giving and auction. The pressure to give financially past tuition was a bit intense and difficult for us, but I'm not sure if that is unique to this school.

[Anonymous]

It really is a great school. As far as asking for money, that's the way it is everywhere (and gets even worse in private school!). We don't have a lot of money, but we do what we can, when we can, and have never been made to feel badly for not giving more. We do give a lot of time, doing clean up days, set up/clean up for the fair, solicitations for the auction, working during the auction. I figure that this is my child's school and our community - it's nice to get to know the families and have a good time doing it. The school is not in the business of making money - any extra goes toward financial aid and building maintenance, etc. The school doesn't actually pocket, or save, much money at all. The teachers get paid competitively for the area, they all get health insurance (even part time aides).

If you can get in, take the spot!

[Anonymous]

i'm really surprised there are spots open. we've been on a waiting list there for two years!

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP who loved SfF but had a problem as a parent with the relentless requests for $....while true the school doesn't "make" money, it has very large over head costs that many other private schools, including preschools, don't have. For example, they have to rent very expensive space. Therefore, quite bit of the money raised goes to the roof and walls. In our experience with the school, the director put lots of pressure on the parents to give unusually in time and money and suggested the financial health of the school was rocky...
By the way, SfF IS a private school. I have a background in independent school administration and I know what unusual pressure is when it comes to school fundraising.

That said, the teachers are wonderful and the school is perfect for a 2 year old.

[Anonymous]

PP here: admittedly, maybe other private preschools in DC are this intense fundrasing wise...my experience is in high school.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks to everyone for ALL of your feedback !