Sandy Spring Friends School
SSFS is a progressive, coed, college preparatory Quaker school serving students from Preschool through 12th Grade, with optional 5- and 7-day boarding programs in the Upper School.
Sandy Spring Friends School
Let Your Lives Speak
Recognizing the unique worth of each person, SSFS teachers cultivate the individual talents of every student and foster caring and effective citizens of the world.
Inquiry-Based and Hands-On Approach to Learning
Our approach to learning challenges students to question, to reflect, and to act on knowledge.
Quaker Values
A values-based education emphasizes universal Quaker values of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship.
The Future is Bright at SSFS
SSFS is “Lighting the Way” for the future as we build our new, environmentally-sustainable Upper School building.
Uniquely Sandy Spring
Quaker Values
At Sandy Spring Friends School, we have a profound sense of hope in the individual's ability to create positive change within the world, and we foster the values that create change: simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality and stewardship. These values are sometimes referred to by their acronym, the Quaker SPICES.
Inquiry-Based Approach
We take an inquiry-based approach to teaching and learning, challenging students to strive for academic excellence and to realize their highest potential.
Experiential Learning
We believe that learning is significantly enriched by experience-based projects and programs. They help develop capable, responsible, and globally-aware students who can apply their learning in useful, practical, and meaningful ways.
Teachers as Mentors
Because our teachers see each student as a unique individual, they strive to cultivate each student’s inner Light and talents. The resulting dynamic of frequent communication and trust facilitates confidence and growth, as well as an optimistic outlook, a lifelong love of learning, and the desire to accomplish positive change in the world.
Campus as a Classroom
Our 140-acre campus near urban centers features an old-growth forest and stream, making it a natural environment for study and contemplation and enabling access to a wealth of resources, including six miles of cross-country trails, a pond/swimming hole used seasonally by students and our summer camp, and an aerial adventure park.
Diverse, Caring Community
We believe in a diverse, collaborative, nonhierarchical community, strengthened by all-school and all-division meetings, an active Parents Association, an engaged alumni body, and an emphasis on affirming and empowering the individual and examining all points of view.
At A Glance
coed
608
Students in Preschool-12th Grade
map
140+
Pastoral acres in the heart of Montgomery County
teacher
8:1
Student-teacher ratio
diversity
59%
Students identify as Students of Color
globe
17
Countries represented in our Boarding Program
Discover SSFS
pre- school
lower school
middle school
upper school
Upcoming Events
SSFS News
![SSFS Board Statement on Systemic Racism]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1593182766/sandyspring/alfopu7onoppodfa5rpb/SSFSBoardResolution-3.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1593182766/sandyspring/alfopu7onoppodfa5rpb/SSFSBoardResolution-3.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1593182766/sandyspring/alfopu7onoppodfa5rpb/SSFSBoardResolution-3.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1593182766/sandyspring/alfopu7onoppodfa5rpb/SSFSBoardResolution-3.png","width":1080}])
The pandemic of racism that has plagued the United States from its inception to the present day is antithetical to the values of Sandy Spring Friends School and to the fundamental nature of a Quaker education. See the full SSFS Board of Trustees Statement here.
![An Open Letter From SSFS Head Of School]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1590948771/sandyspring/tgygj5lzxjsqrkvm73ap/BlackLivesMatter-May31.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1590948771/sandyspring/tgygj5lzxjsqrkvm73ap/BlackLivesMatter-May31.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1590948771/sandyspring/tgygj5lzxjsqrkvm73ap/BlackLivesMatter-May31.jpg","width":600}])
We invite you to read an open letter from Tom Gibian entitled "The Pandemic of Racism." This letter is in response to the horrifying and dismaying news of further instances of police brutality and racial injustice in our country.
![SSFS Upper School Arts Showcase]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1591386715/sandyspring/mqhjkiysjuer3hafpj7d/Untitleddesign4.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1591386715/sandyspring/mqhjkiysjuer3hafpj7d/Untitleddesign4.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1591386715/sandyspring/mqhjkiysjuer3hafpj7d/Untitleddesign4.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1591386715/sandyspring/mqhjkiysjuer3hafpj7d/Untitleddesign4.png","width":960}])
SSFS Upper School Arts Showcase
SSFS Upper School invites you to see the incredible work of our students across the spectrum of artistic pursuits including acting, weaving, dance, photography, studio arts, and more!
![Aerial view of the Sandy Spring Friends School Campus]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1561035011/sandyspring/rwjxm9dpjp9y2nkrf3fw/SSFS-Campus.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1561035011/sandyspring/rwjxm9dpjp9y2nkrf3fw/SSFS-Campus.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1561035011/sandyspring/rwjxm9dpjp9y2nkrf3fw/SSFS-Campus.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1561035011/sandyspring/rwjxm9dpjp9y2nkrf3fw/SSFS-Campus.jpg","width":1080}])
Although our campus is temporarily closed due to COVID-19, our Admissions team is still available. Click here for more info and to schedule your one-on-one online meeting.
![SSFS Goes Virtual]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1585949674/sandyspring/dxpoh5jys9gnxmotzfyr/VirtualSchool.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1585949674/sandyspring/dxpoh5jys9gnxmotzfyr/VirtualSchool.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1585949674/sandyspring/dxpoh5jys9gnxmotzfyr/VirtualSchool.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1585949674/sandyspring/dxpoh5jys9gnxmotzfyr/VirtualSchool.png","width":1080}])
Our campus may be temporarily closed, but SSFS is committed to providing families a high-quality educational experience. Find Out How on our Virtual School page!
![Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1583507298/sandyspring/ulf3wj58oundvoccg2ei/coronavirus-600.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1583507298/sandyspring/ulf3wj58oundvoccg2ei/coronavirus-600.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1583507298/sandyspring/ulf3wj58oundvoccg2ei/coronavirus-600.jpg","width":600}])
Recognizing the fast-moving events surrounding Coronavirus updates in our area, we have created a web page to help consolidate communications from SSFS and provide resources to our families.
![Rodney Glasgow]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1571427202/sandyspring/qyhmnqoadcdaccsagkoe/Rodney-Glasgow.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1571427202/sandyspring/qyhmnqoadcdaccsagkoe/Rodney-Glasgow.jpg","width":350}])
Sandy Spring Friends School is honored to announce the appointment of Rodney Glasgow as our next Head of School following Tom Gibian's retirement at the end of the 2019-2020 school year.
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