SSFS Closing

[rosie25]

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

Which schools were responsive?

[Anonymous]

It’s a trek from MoCo but I just spoke with our HoS today and Burgundy Farm in Alexandria would welcome applicants JK-8. I used to work at SSFS and it’s very much a sister school. Progressive/outdoor/quirky with a big emphasis on the arts and honoring students as individuals. A great option for the few families commuting to SSFS from DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Highly recommend Barnesville School of Arts & Sciences. It's in the outer part of Montgomery County on a lovely campus where kids (up to 8th grade) spend a lot of time outside. They have bus routes from Rockville, Gaithersburg, Germantown, etc and I suspect that they would expand routes if there were demand. My child has gone for years and thrived.

Read all the info on here before even thinking about Barnesville. We left.

[Anonymous]

How far is Green Acres School from SSFS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How far is Green Acres School from SSFS?

Just did a quick google maps and looks like 30 minutes

[Anonymous]

Green Acres is approximately 8 mins from Pike and Rose off of Rockville Pike. Great school. We are very happy there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

I think COVID and Trump's hostility to China contributed to the problem by reducing demand. Plus other schools probably started competing for the same students. Other people may know more.

I am an alumna and friends with an SSFS teacher. They had said in 2022 that less international students were wanting to board because their families no longer view the US as safe due to school shootings and riots shown on the news

[Anonymous]

For those seeking a small, supportive environment, Nora School is a great option for 9-12.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a trek from MoCo but I just spoke with our HoS today and Burgundy Farm in Alexandria would welcome applicants JK-8. I used to work at SSFS and it’s very much a sister school. Progressive/outdoor/quirky with a big emphasis on the arts and honoring students as individuals. A great option for the few families commuting to SSFS from DC.

I was also going to suggest Burgundy Farm, at least for any DC or VA families (it’s also doable from PG County). They have a parent-sponsored bus that picks up and drops off from Capitol Hill in case that helps with transport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Highly recommend Barnesville School of Arts & Sciences. It's in the outer part of Montgomery County on a lovely campus where kids (up to 8th grade) spend a lot of time outside. They have bus routes from Rockville, Gaithersburg, Germantown, etc and I suspect that they would expand routes if there were demand. My child has gone for years and thrived.

Absolutely no.

Barnesville is not a good school.

I know this for a fact because one of mine went there for 5 years. Before this head of school. Barnesville never recovered from the loss of the original head of school. Very behind in Science & math and Languages. Kids fail out of HS coming from there.
Where do most kids go from Barnesville LOL

Barnesville stuggles to keep going and keep teachers.

[Anonymous]

Change.org petition: https://chng.it/LYSJXKksNW

Note: YOU ARE ABLE TO SIGN THE PETITION AND SUPPORT THE CAUSE WITHOUT MAKING A DONATION, SO PLEASE DO, AS THE PETITION IS THE TARGET. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SKIP THE CALL FOR FUNDS PAGE. DONATIONS DO NOT GO TO SSFS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Change.org petition: https://chng.it/LYSJXKksNW

Note: YOU ARE ABLE TO SIGN THE PETITION AND SUPPORT THE CAUSE WITHOUT MAKING A DONATION, SO PLEASE DO, AS THE PETITION IS THE TARGET. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SKIP THE CALL FOR FUNDS PAGE. DONATIONS DO NOT GO TO SSFS.

This isn’t going to change anything. Clearly if the school was salvageable they wouldn’t take this step so abruptly. They obviously know things you don’t. But if signing this makes you feel better …

[Anonymous]

It does make me feel better, thanks for your comment.

[Anonymous]

parents of juniors may consider asking if their children have enough credits to graduate. Or enroll at MC as others have suggested. if they can graduate (needs an English credit typically in MD), they could take a gap year or enroll in CC and apply in the fall.

[Anonymous]

That person is a troll. Ignore them. Holding your community in the light. (Petition signed )