Q: When was SSFS founded?
A: SSFS was founded in 1961 by S. Brook Moore.

Q: How many students attend SSFS?
A: 561 total: 267 boys, 294 girls

Q: How many students are in each division?
A: Lower - 186, Middle - 135, Upper - 240

Q: How many openings do you anticipate in each grade for September 2008?
PK - 14
K - 16
1st - 10
6th - 16
9th - 25

Spaces available for all other grades depend on the number of students who will not enroll for the following year. For example, if two current 3rd graders decide not to return for the 2008-09 school year, we can accept two new incoming fourth graders. Due to the transient nature of the job market in the Washington, D.C. area, we typically enroll new students to every grade each year.

Q: What is the birthday cut-off date for entering Pre-K, K and 1st grade?
A: Applicants to the Pre-Kindergarten must be four years old by September 1, 2008, applicants to Kindergarten must turn age five by September 1, 2008 and applicants to the 1st grade must turn six by September 1, 2008. We also strongly recommend that applicants to these grades have prior preschool experience.

Q: How many boarding students do you have?
A: 40 students (14 are 5-day boarders and 26 are 7-day boarders).

Q: How many faculty are teaching at SSFS?
A: 67 full-time teachers and 7 part-time teachers.

Q: What is the racial and ethnic diversity of the student body?
A: 63% European American, 13% African American, 10% Multiracial, 6% Asian American, 6% Foreign Nationals and 2% Latino.

Q: How many students are in your International Student program and what foreign countries are represented?
A: There are 35 students in our International Student Program representing China, Ethiopia, Korea, Russia, Rwanda, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Q: What is the religious diversity of your student body?
A: There are over 20 different religions and denominations represented in the student body. 83 students or 15% of the student body are Quakers.

Q: Does Sandy Spring Friends School have athletic teams?
A: Yes. Sandy Spring Friends School is a member of the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference. Students have the choice between competitive Interscholastic sports such as Soccer, Cross Country, Volleyball, Basketball, Lacrosse, Baseball, Softball, Track and Field, and Tennis. We also offer non-competitive options for interested students.

Q: What percentage of your graduates go on to college?
A: 100% of our students apply and are accepted to college. Occasionally, a student will defer enrollment or choose to pursue another option following graduation. (See College Guidance)

Q: What was the School's rate of attrition last year?
A: 6% of the students who were eligible to return to SSFS did not re-enroll.

Q: What percent of your student body receives financial aid?
A: 25% of the student body receives financial aid.

Q: Do you offer transportation?
A: Yes. Our buses pick up students from Montgomery, Howard and Prince George's Counties. Routes are point-to-point, not house-to-house. Collection points are designed to accommodate as many families as possible. Routes and schedules are adjusted each year according to changes in ridership. (See Bus Schedule)

Q: Do you have a before or after school care program?
A: Yes, we offer before and aftercare for our Lower School students. Before school care is from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. Aftercare is from the end of the school day until 6 p.m. We offer the Homework Club, an after school club, to Middle School students that ends at 6 p.m. (See Tuition and Fees for information on the costs for these programs.)