Thoughts on Friends Community School

[Anonymous]

Are there any FCS families here? Our child is going to 1st grade this fall. We are considering applying for FCS and would like to have some insight info. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

You'd like to enter this fall? I think you are too late. It's a popular school.

[Anonymous]

Don't do it. The teachers there are horrible. I would not send my child to that school knowing what I know.

[Anonymous]

Ignore the troll. It's a great school. But you're too late for the 2016-17 school year.

[Anonymous]

I'm a troll because I have a different opinion than you? Hmmm. Ok.

[Anonymous]

Quality school. We don't send our kids there (hard to swing private for 3 kids...for us), but we looked at it and are close to a number of families who send their kids there. They're uniformly enthusiastic about the place and the kids are impressive (smart, thoughtful, kind, articulate--good ambassadors for the place). From the outside this seems like the best option in PGC for families who aren't interested in going the Catholic school route. The families we know are zoned for strong MC public schools, but are happy with their choice and seem to think it's an unusually good deal financially for all the benefits that come from private, engaged parents, small class size, lack of a testing culture, little to no homework in the lower grades, more time outside, emphasis on ethics and character alongside academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quality school. We don't send our kids there (hard to swing private for 3 kids...for us), but we looked at it and are close to a number of families who send their kids there. They're uniformly enthusiastic about the place and the kids are impressive (smart, thoughtful, kind, articulate--good ambassadors for the place). From the outside this seems like the best option in PGC for families who aren't interested in going the Catholic school route. The families we know are zoned for strong MC public schools, but are happy with their choice and seem to think it's an unusually good deal financially for all the benefits that come from private, engaged parents, small class size, lack of a testing culture, little to no homework in the lower grades, more time outside, emphasis on ethics and character alongside academics.

Ironic given the behavior of the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Quality school. We don't send our kids there (hard to swing private for 3 kids...for us), but we looked at it and are close to a number of families who send their kids there. They're uniformly enthusiastic about the place and the kids are impressive (smart, thoughtful, kind, articulate--good ambassadors for the place). From the outside this seems like the best option in PGC for families who aren't interested in going the Catholic school route. The families we know are zoned for strong MC public schools, but are happy with their choice and seem to think it's an unusually good deal financially for all the benefits that come from private, engaged parents, small class size, lack of a testing culture, little to no homework in the lower grades, more time outside, emphasis on ethics and character alongside academics.

Ironic given the behavior of the teachers.

Wow, somebody really has an anti-FCS agenda!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Quality school. We don't send our kids there (hard to swing private for 3 kids...for us), but we looked at it and are close to a number of families who send their kids there. They're uniformly enthusiastic about the place and the kids are impressive (smart, thoughtful, kind, articulate--good ambassadors for the place). From the outside this seems like the best option in PGC for families who aren't interested in going the Catholic school route. The families we know are zoned for strong MC public schools, but are happy with their choice and seem to think it's an unusually good deal financially for all the benefits that come from private, engaged parents, small class size, lack of a testing culture, little to no homework in the lower grades, more time outside, emphasis on ethics and character alongside academics.

Ironic given the behavior of the teachers.

Please provide specific examples to support your statements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Quality school. We don't send our kids there (hard to swing private for 3 kids...for us), but we looked at it and are close to a number of families who send their kids there. They're uniformly enthusiastic about the place and the kids are impressive (smart, thoughtful, kind, articulate--good ambassadors for the place). From the outside this seems like the best option in PGC for families who aren't interested in going the Catholic school route. The families we know are zoned for strong MC public schools, but are happy with their choice and seem to think it's an unusually good deal financially for all the benefits that come from private, engaged parents, small class size, lack of a testing culture, little to no homework in the lower grades, more time outside, emphasis on ethics and character alongside academics.

Ironic given the behavior of the teachers.

Please provide specific examples to support your statements.

I'd like to know as well. I have an FCS middle-schooler, and there are definitely issues in terms of communication/transparency/accountability from school to parents. But I don't know anything about ethics being an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You'd like to enter this fall? I think you are too late. It's a popular school.

Can definitely attest to this. They had more applications than spaces available for next year. Seems that most, if not all, current students are returning next year in some grades. Although it was our first choice and we made that clear, we are on a waiting list that I don't expect to move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Quality school. We don't send our kids there (hard to swing private for 3 kids...for us), but we looked at it and are close to a number of families who send their kids there. They're uniformly enthusiastic about the place and the kids are impressive (smart, thoughtful, kind, articulate--good ambassadors for the place). From the outside this seems like the best option in PGC for families who aren't interested in going the Catholic school route. The families we know are zoned for strong MC public schools, but are happy with their choice and seem to think it's an unusually good deal financially for all the benefits that come from private, engaged parents, small class size, lack of a testing culture, little to no homework in the lower grades, more time outside, emphasis on ethics and character alongside academics.

Ironic given the behavior of the teachers.

Please provide specific examples to support your statements.

I'd like to know as well. I have an FCS middle-schooler, and there are definitely issues in terms of communication/transparency/accountability from school to parents. But I don't know anything about ethics being an issue.

I have a middle schooler at FCS as well and have been extremely impressed with the staff and faculty, pretty much across the board. When my child had a personal crisis earlier this year, we thought the school handled it in outstanding fashion and worked with my spouse and I as a team to help my child recover. It's a caring, challenging, wonderful place.

[Anonymous]

There are extensive discussions of Friends Community School in the Private/Independent Schools forum. It's highly regarded.

[Anonymous]

I think a pp is referring to a situation from years ago, and those people are no longer there. My child has been there for seven years, and this predates her attendance. She's had a wonderful experience and great teachers.