Sidwell Friends School is a PK–12, co-educational Quaker day school founded in 1883. Sidwell Friends School is a dynamic educational community grounded in the Quaker belief that there is "that of God in everyone." Individually and collectively, we challenge ourselves to pursue excellence in academic, athletic, and artistic realms. We are committed to the joys of exploration and discovery. Differences among us enhance intellectual inquiry, expand understanding, and deepen empathy. The Quaker pillars of the School inspire active engagement in environmental stewardship, global citizenship, and service. We find strength in reflection and shared silence. At the heart of each endeavor, we strive to discern deeper truths about ourselves and our common humanity, preparing students and adults to "let their lives speak."
Sidwell Friends School affirms the centrality of diversity and inclusion in all aspects of academic and campus life. Honoring a multiplicity of voices, we celebrate shared joys and address tensions productively. Together, we are guided by Quaker testimonies and seek to answer the question, "How do we nurture a sense of belonging in our community and demonstrate our commitment to a just world?"
The Quaker belief that there is "that of God" in everyone shapes everything we do at Sidwell Friends. We see it in the classroom, where teachers value the unique gifts that each student offers. We hear it in Meeting for Worship, when we listen deeply to those who feel moved to speak into the silence. We experience it in service to others when we encounter worldviews and cultures that challenge our own.
At Sidwell Friends, truth is not a rigid set of facts imparted from teacher to student. Instead, it is continuously revealed through dialogue, inquiry, and reflection. Whether in the classroom or weekly silent worship, all voices are honored as our learners' community seeks truth together.
By nurturing children's innate curiosity within a framework of Quaker values, we encourage our students to live adventurous, imaginative, and ethical lives. Our students graduate not only with skills and knowledge but with an internal set of queries to guide them. In this way, Sidwell Friends prepares students to "let their lives speak."
Sidwell Friends students are actively engaged in the world and think critically about what is going on around them. Through a commitment to service, we graduate students who are empathetic, collaborative, and reflective. Students and teachers partner with local and global nonprofit organizations focusing on a range of social justice issues. We aim to serve these community partners while providing opportunities for our students to "let their lives speak."
As a Friends school in the nation's capital, we prepare our students to see themselves as citizens of the world. Our community fosters self-awareness, empathy, knowledge of global interconnectedness, and a deep understanding of other cultures.
Through travel opportunities, exchange programs, and curricular offerings, students at Sidwell Friends learn about and engage with worldviews other than their own. This process of "decentering" forms a pathway to responsible global citizenship.
When individuals, families, communities, and countries are grappling with a range of social justice issues, Sidwell Friends remains committed to preparing students to be fully present in the world and serve it. The School's focus on equity, justice, and community is deeply grounded in the Quaker belief that there is "that of God" in everyone. Teachers and students enhance and enlarge our community's understanding of race, equality, and social justice through age-appropriate curricula, student clubs and affinity groups, parent affinity groups, speakers, exchanges, and community events.
Exploring questions about race, equality, and empowerment in the context of our community and the world shapes how we teach and learn. Students at Sidwell Friends are always looking for ways to raise awareness about political discourse and injustices that affect people worldwide. They learn to make sense of the larger world, to express themselves and their beliefs, to celebrate differences, and, above all, to listen to each other.
VIDEOS
