"We prepare students to engage in the world that is and to help bring about a world that ought to be."
-
Class of 2025 College Destinations
Friends is proud to announce the college matriculation of the Class of 2025. Congratulations to our Seniors! -
Day of Service: A Celebration of Community and Quaker Values
The FS community came together for its annual Day of Service, a beloved tradition rooted in Quaker values. Throughout the day, students, teachers, and staff across all divisions partnered with nonprofits across New York City, demonstrating their shared commitment to service, stewardship, and community engagement. -
Middle School Debaters Triumph at Model Congress
Students once again demonstrated their strength in debate and public speaking at the annual Model Congress. Competing alongside over 250 students from 13 schools across the New York metro area, our delegation of 48 Middle School students—supported by 14 dedicated Upper School mentors—had an outstanding showing. -
“Grease is the Word!”
Friends proudly presented Grease last month, a joyful production featuring 45 students in the cast and crew. Their collective talent and energy brought this timeless classic to life, delighting the audience with laughter, dancing, and song. -
Reimagining Public Spaces with Purpose in Grade 1
This spring, students in 1MLJ have taken on the role of “Parkitects” in an imaginative, interdisciplinary inquiry into the design, function, and care of public spaces. -
Ninth Graders Champion Change Through Youth Philanthropy
Friends recently held its annual Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) finals, a powerful capstone experience and service-learning project embedded in the Grade 9 history curriculum. This initiative challenged students to connect with the nonprofit sector and explore the role philanthropy plays in addressing pressing social issues across New York City. -
From Friends to Duke’s Courtside Crew
Congratulations to David Williams ’23, who is now in his second year as a Student Manager for the Duke University Men’s Basketball team—one of the most respected and tradition-rich programs in college athletics. -
Spring Sports in Full Swing
Follow the official Friends Seminary Athletics Instagram account to stay up-to-date on Middle and Upper School sports. -
Artist Chenlu Hou Brings Folklore and Form to Life
Chenlu Hou, whose imaginative ceramic sculptures are inspired by traditional Chinese folklore, ceremonial objects, and personal memory, engaged both Middle and Upper School students in thoughtful conversations about the power of art to express identity and spark connection. -
Unplugged and Empowered: Zora ’25 Champions Healthy Media Habits for a Digital Generation
A passionate advocate for digital wellness and media literacy, Zora serves as a Student Ambassador for Take Two Media Initiative, a nonprofit organization committed to equipping K–12 learning communities with the tools to engage with media responsibly. -
Bearing Witness: A Deepened Study of The Diary of Anne Frank in Middle School English
This spring, Grade 6 students at Friends Seminary have been engaged in a powerful and multifaceted exploration of Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. As part of their English 1 curriculum, students have been reflecting on the enduring importance of personal narratives and what it means to serve as a witness to injustice. -
An Evening of Reflection and Reunion with Linda Chu
At the sixth annual We’re All Grown Ups Now event Alumni Council member Marc Mechanic ’08 interviewed Faculty Emerita Linda Chu, who reflected on her extraordinary 51-year tenure at Friends
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239
YEARS OF QUAKER EDUCATION
Founded ten years after the birth of our nation, Friends Seminary is the oldest continuously operated, independent, co-educational school in New York City.
790
STUDENTS
| 259 | Lower School (K-4) |
| 227 | Middle School (5-8) |
| 304 | Upper School (9-12) |
41% |
STUDENTS OF COLOR |
1
CENTER FOR PEACE EQUITY AND JUSTICE
Grounded in the Quaker values of equality, diversity and community engagement, CPEJ supports academic, social, and cultural programs which contribute to wider movements for social change.
4,570
ACTIVE ALUMNI
33
ATHLETIC TEAMS
15 Varsity, 3 Junior Varsity, 14 Middle School
Baseball, Basketball, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Spring and Indoor Track, Cross Country, Volleyball
92%
of graduates were accepted to one of their top three schools.
25
Most Attended Institutions (2020-2024)
Boston University
Brown University
Colgate University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Duke University
Emory University
George Washington University
Georgetown University
Hamilton College
Haverford College
Kenyon College
University of Michigan
Middlebury College
New York University
Northeastern University
Northwestern University
Oberlin College
University of Pennsylvania
Rice University
University of Southern California
Syracuse University
Tufts University
Washington University- St. Louis
Wesleyan University
Yale University
1
MISSION
To prepare students to engage in the world that is and to help bring about a world that ought to be.
179
FACULTY and STAFF
| 90% | Faculty hold advanced degrees |
| 8:1 | Student/faculty ratio |
| 15 | Average Upper School class size |
15
STEPS TO NATURE
Stuyvesant Square, a beautiful four-acre park, borders the east end of campus, and punctuates the tranquility that surrounds our neighborhood.
10,694
SERVICE HOURS
Community Engagement and Service are integral parts of the culture at Friends. In 2023-2024, Upper School students collectively logged more than 10,000 service hours.
| 15,000+ | Hours of service completed by the entire Friends community, including students K-12, employees and parents. |
22
Immersive Global Education Travel Programs
Since 2017 students have traveled to 22 international and domestic destinations through our Global Education Program.
MORE THAN
15
CLASSES IN MUSIC, THEATER AND DANCE
Including: Acting, Playwriting, Directing, Public Speaking, Choreography, Technical Theater, Musical Theater, and Jazz, Orchestra and Choral ensembles.
9
ANNUAL PRODUCTIONS AND CONCERTS
MEAN SAT SCORES
| 1478 | Composite |
| 734 | Reading and Writing |
| 744 | Mathematics |
MEAN ACT SCORES
| 34 | Composite |
$6.9
MILLION
FINANCIAL AID BUDGET
23%
OF STUDENTS
RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID
1
TRANSFORMED CAMPUS
COMPLETED SEPTEMBER 2019
Highlights Include:
- 100% ADA accessibility
- New Upper School Building
- Two new Middle School floors
- Upper School Commons and Terrace
- Turfed Skyfield
- Center for Peace, Equity and Justice
- New flexible classrooms
- Fitness Center
- Academic Center
- Music Suite
- Dance and Yoga Studio
- K-6 Makery
- Collaborative spaces
- K-12 Rooftop Greenhouse and Garden
- K-12 Multipurpose Great Room
Other Campus Highlights:
- 1860 landmarked Meetinghouse
- K-12 Gym with 80 ft. Climbing Wall
- Library and Media Center
- Six K-12 Science Labs
- Lower School Library
- Digital Media Lab
- 7-12 STEM lab
- Two Visual Arts Galleries
- Blackbox Theater
45+
STUDENT-LED ORGANIZATIONS
5
WORLD LANGUAGES ANCIENT AND MODERN
Friends was the first NYC independent school to introduce Arabic in 2008.
$40.3
MILLION
ENDOWMENT AS OF
JUNE 2023
$57
MILLION
OPERATING BUDGET
(2022-2023)
Friends Seminary actively promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism in all its programs and operations, including admissions, financial aid, hiring, and all facets of the educational experience. To form a community which strives to reflect the world’s diversity, we do not discriminate on the basis of race or color, religion, nationality, ethnicity, economic background, physical ability, sex, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation. Friends Seminary is an equal opportunity employer.
Friends Seminary — the oldest continuously operated, coeducational school in NYC — serves college-bound day students in Kindergarten-Grade 12.