Anonymous wrote:I want to apologize, if my post didn't seem genuine to you. Please know that it is. Everything that I said in it is true. (I have unbridled enthusiasm for SSFS!)

Good to know! I'm glad that your family has had such a good experience.

I want to apologize, if my post didn't seem genuine to you. Please know that it is. Everything that I said in it is true. (I have unbridled enthusiasm for SSFS!)

In the fall we will have two sophomores in the US and one recent grad from SSFS (2017) going to college. They all started in 6th grade, so we're familiar with the MS and the US. Overall, SSFS provides an environment where students are challenged in the classroom, but perhaps more importantly, students learn who they are, and become responsible, independent, and compassionate young adults. In each and every class, it is very apparent that the teachers are at SSFS because they love to teach young people and they love what they teach. We have parent-teacher conferences twice per year and there is an 'open door' policy, should we need to talk with teachers during the year. During these parent-teacher conferences I'm always amazed at how well the teachers know my kids...almost as well as I do. To me, that is absolute proof that the teachers are truly invested in the well-being of each student. The MS does a great job to create an interdisciplinary curriculum when possible and to use technology as a tool. The US is also on track to increase their interdisciplinary opportunities, but I think this is more challenging, given the more diverse course selection. The US provides a wide range of courses which challenge students at all levels and due to a recent schedule coordination between MS and US, MS students can now take 9th grade classes. SSFS also has a great community feel. If you're a parent/guardian you are part of the parents association (PA), which coordinates events such as Friends Day, Winterfest, Post Prom, Auction, etc. These are some of the ways parents can become involved with school and bring our community as a whole together. There is also a Community Connections Committee, which is part of the PA, and coordinates parent education events, potlucks, etc. These are all great ways to get to know the SSFS community (parents/teachers/administration) and be connected with SSFS as a whole. After 7 years at SSFS, we are completely satisfied, and look forward to the next 3. I'm certain our newest alum will be visiting often based on his great experience and the bonds he has forged with classmates, teachers, and administration.

I can't tell if the last post is genuine or not.

We were so impressed by SSFS when we visited that we enrolled our daughter knowing that the commute was over an hour one way! Our daughter flourished there during the three years she attended, beginning as a sophomore. We were looking for a school that would challenge her academically, but a lot of schools in Montgomery County offer excellent academic programs. We wanted something more. We wanted an exciting academic culture where students were "on fire" about their education. We wanted teachers who were passionate about their subjects and about their students, and we wanted an administration who cared about each student in a personal way. We certainly found all of this and so much more at SSFS. Our daughter made many friends, traveled to different parts of the world, was in student government, Model United Nations, and on the Quiz Bowl Academic challenge team. Academic excellence is the natural by-product there, but more important to my husband and to me is that she found a home where she could explore many facets of her varied interests and soar. There are so many extra curricular programs at SSFS that each student can and will find her/his niche. When it was time to begin looking into college, we had much needed help from a very knowledgeable college counseling staff. She earned the highest merit scholarship available, guaranteed for four years, at her college. She is more than ready to go forward as the young woman she's become at SSFS. To be able to say that a school's culture promotes kindness is, I believe, fairly unique, but I can say that about this school. For her, it is the kind of high school that she will come back to visit for many, many years, and the friendships she made will be lifelong friendships.

How competitive is it to get into the high school?

We LOVE SSFS! The academics are excellent. The community is warm and inclusive. The campus is beautiful and offers fabulous settings for learning in classrooms and outdoors.

The Lower School begins at 8:10 am, and the Middle and Upper Schools start at 8.

The Upper School has a terrific curriculum. Students have the opportunity to explore a variety of topics - much like they will in college. The faculty are excellent. They truly invest time and energy getting to know their students and helping them succeed. I've witnessed how the mutual respect between students and faculty create a unique culture for learning.

Anonymous wrote:We visited the lower school early this year and liked what we saw but the commute would be too much - 30 minutes in the opposite direction. We plan to revisit for middle or high school. We figure DC will do the school bus at that age and the journey won't be too long.

Also interested in thoughts on the high school academics although still a few years away for us.

+1 for information on academics at SSFS. There are aspects of progressive education we love, but I know at some progressive schools academics suffer, particularly at the higher grades.

We visited the lower school early this year and liked what we saw but the commute would be too much - 30 minutes in the opposite direction. We plan to revisit for middle or high school. We figure DC will do the school bus at that age and the journey won't be too long.

Also interested in thoughts on the high school academics although still a few years away for us.

Any feedback on the high school?

We live in Silver Spring and our children go to SSFS. The school starts at 8:10 - and it is about a 20-25 minute commute to get there (but there is also a bus in our neighborhood that we use sometimes). Our children love the school - they love their teachers (and there is a lot to love about the teachers) and they are excited about going to school and what they are learning. We really like the community - the parents, the teachers, the administrators. We like the emphasis that SSFS places on Quaker values - "SPICES" - Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship; and it resonates with kids.

The one downside (for us) is that our kids' friends are all over the map (vs if they went to our neighborhood school), so that entails some driving around to get them to their friends' houses on weekends.

Good luck with your decision.

We thought it was a lovely school during our visits last fall. The community seems great and the teachers we met all were very nice.

It's a lovely school. The commute for us would have been a killer. School starts at 7:45, I think.

My DCs graduated from SSFS. Their biggest strength is the dedication of their teachers. Second, the community - parents and teachers work together.

Thoughts and opinions on the school? We live in silver spring and it seems like a more affordable, alternative option to schools in the city.