FAQs

In 1961 by S. Brook Moore with the vision to create a school to educate the whole person - body, mind, and spirit.

SSFS enrolls 613 students from Preschool (age 3) to the 12th grade. We have over 100 students in our 5 day and 7 day boarding program.

Our Lower School has 153 students from Preschool (age 3) to Grade 5. Our Middle School has 147 students in Grades 6-8. Our Upper School, Grades 9-12 with a 5-day & 7-day boarding option, has 313 students.

The average student to faculty ratio is 8 to 1.

The average class size is 16. Many classes are smaller than 16; all are characterized by supportive and trusting relationships between students and teachers.

There are approximately 150 faculty and staff working at SSFS, each one contributing to a positive educational experience for our students.

No, students do not need to be Quaker to attend SSFS. Quaker values - simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, stewardship/service - are incorporated into the daily academic and social curriculum. (See the "What is a Friends Education" section of our website.)

Over a dozen different religions and denominations are represented in the student body. Quakers represent about 7% of our student body.

Each division operates on a similar school day schedule. See below for exact times for each division:

• The Lower School day begins at 8:10 am and ends at 3:15 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The Lower School day on Wednesday starts at 8:10 am and ends at 2:15 pm.
• The Middle School day begins at 7:55 am and ends at 3:40 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The Middle School day on Wednesday starts at 7:55 am and ends at 2:40 pm.
• The Upper School day begins at 7:55 am and ends at 3:40 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The Upper School day on Wednesday starts at 7:55 am and ends at 2:40 pm.

Yes, our buses pick up students from Montgomery, Howard, and Prince George's Counties, as well as the District of Columbia. 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 Extended Care and Transportation)

Yes, we offer before and aftercare for our Lower School students, and aftercare for Middle School students. Before school care in the Lower School is from 7:30 to 8:00 am. Aftercare runs until 6:30 p.m. in both Lower and Middle School. Kids After Hours runs our Lower School aftercare program. (See Extended Care and Transportation)

SSFS is a member of the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference. Our Middle and Upper School teams compete in the following interscholastic sports: soccer, cross country, volleyball, golf, basketball, lacrosse, baseball, softball, track and field, and tennis. Students also have non-competitive fitness options such as athletic conditioning, modern dance, yoga, and weight training. See more in the Athletics section of the website.

We will accept applications for all grades.

While it is by no means a guarantee of admission, Sandy Spring Friends School does give special consideration to the applicant groups listed below:

• Children of Members of the Religious Society of Friends
• Children of Sandy Spring Friends alumni/ae
• Children of Sandy Spring Friends employees
• Current students' siblings
• Former students in good academic standing

We encourage families to visit our campus to learn more about the SSFS community. We host regular Open House and Discover SSFS events throughout the year. Click here to see upcoming dates.

September 1. Applicants to Preschool (age 3) must be 3 years old by this date; Preschool (age 4) must be 4 years old by this date; Kindergarten applicants must be 5 years old.

In keeping with the Quaker process, all admissions decisions are made by committees within the division. Each student application is reviewed with the whole student in mind. Due to the comprehensive nature of the process, all admission decisions are final.

Yes, our Preschool program is a full-day, 10-month program with extended day and summer care options.

We offer need-based financial aid. The goal is to make a Sandy Spring Friends School education financially accessible to all families. Grants are made solely on the basis of financial need. (See Tuition & Financial Aid.)

Applicants whose files are completed by our January 15th deadline will receive notification of the Admission Committee’s decision by early March. Applicants whose files are not complete by the January 15th deadline will be considered on a space-available basis.

The financial aid deadline for current families is December 1. The financial aid deadline for new families is February 1. The financial aid application and all supporting documents must be received by this date. (See Tuition & Financial Aid.)

The admissions and financial aid process are two separate processes. SSFS is a need-blind school. A family's ability to pay does not impact the admissions review process.

Yes, additional fees may include bus transportation, books, technology, aftercare, and trips. (See Tuition and Financial Aid.)
 

Tuition varies by grade and division. See Tuition and Financial Aid for current rates on our website.

There are 19 countries from around the world represented by our international student population, including Albania, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, China, Croatia, El Salvador, Gambia, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, South Korea, Spain, Ukraine, and Vietnam.
 

39% European American, 20% African American, 7% Asian, 4% Latino, 1% Middle Eastern, 14% Multi Racial, and 14% International, 1% Pacific Islander, (2% Undisclosed).
 

23% of the employees at SSFS identify as faculty and staff of color.

100% of our students apply and are accepted to college.  Some elect to take a gap year.

Yes, SSFS has a 1:1 Program.

• Preschool-1st Grade students use iPads;
• Grades 2-7 use Chromebooks;
• Grade 8 will continue to use iPads through the 2021-2022 school year, then will move fully to Chromebooks;
• Students in the Upper School (grades 9-12) bring their own laptops (see laptop specifications/requirements here).

The cost for the device in Preschool-Grade 8 is included in the cost of the tuition. More information is available on the Technology web page.

All 6th grade families will need to participate with an SSFS-issued Chromebook.