About

Welcome to FCS

FCS students are asked big questions about the world around them and given the space, resources, and time to pursue solutions--and even more questions.

Welcome to Friends Community School! Now in our fourth decade, FCS is a welcoming and inclusive community as well as a purposeful and joyful school that engages and inspires young children through adolescence. At FCS, students are respected as individuals, childhood is celebrated, and learning is experiential, relevant, and meaningful. On our campus you will see children actively and enthusiastically engaging in their studies, happily playing at recess, quietly reflecting in Meeting for Worship, and joyfully creating in the arts. Our students are well on their way to becoming lifelong learners, courageous risk-takers, and joyous peacemakers who will matriculate to rigorous independent, parochial, and public magnet schools in the greater Washington, D.C. area--and who, most importantly, will become the kinds of people we most admire.

FCS was born from the Quaker faith and is sustained by Quaker values. As a Quaker school, we believe that intellectual education and moral education are inextricably interconnected--one simply can't exist without the other. Our timeless and universal core values--simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship--are embedded in our curriculum and in daily student and adult interactions. Quaker schools were founded nearly 300 years ago with a commitment to education for all, regardless of race, class, or gender. FCS holds strongly to this practice. We see “that of God” in all.

As a progressive school, we recognize that children learn best from experience and meaningful relationships with peers and teachers. Through hands-on lessons, a child-centered curriculum, collaborative projects, and intentional reflection, we foster deep learning over rote memorization. FCS students are continually challenged with big questions about the world around them and given the space, resources, and time to pursue solutions--and even more questions.

Partnership and community are key to our practice. Students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, members of Adelphi Friends Meeting, and Trustees work to ensure that our mission is evident and we live up to our name. As you explore our website and visit our campus, you will come to see why “Friends” and “Community” are at the heart of our school.

Neal M. Brown, Ed.D.
Interim Head of School

FAQ About FCS

List of 10 frequently asked questions.

Q. What is FCS's mission?

At Friends Community School, children are inspired to reach their full potential as individuals and engaged community members, discovering that of God in themselves and others. We nurture lifelong learners, courageous risk-takers, and joyous peacemakers. Read more about Our Mission and Values.
Q. When was FCS founded?

FCS was founded in 1986 by members of Adelphi Friends Meeting. The tradition of Quaker education dates to 1689, when William Penn envisioned schools fostering intellectual, social, and spiritual growth for all Americans, including Native Americans. Read more on FCS History...
Q. What is unique about FCS?

Visit FCS, and you'll notice how...

Quaker values are woven into life at FCS every day.

Courageous risk-takers thrive at FCS. Trained in progressive pedagogy, teachers help every child stretch--academically, socially, physically, and spiritually.

A caring, diverse community welcomes students, parents, teachers, and friends at FCS. Learn about FCS traditions.
Q. How many students are in the school? How large are the classes?

Approximately 240 students attend FCS. Class sizes range from 12-18 students, depending on age, grade, and subject.
Q. What are FCS's school hours?

Our instructional hours are 8:10 AM to 3:00 PM (Lower School) and 8:10 AM to 3:15 PM (Middle School), Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. On Wednesdays, school is dismissed at 2 PM in Lower School and 2:15 PM in Middle School.
Q. How diverse is the FCS student body?

Approximately 56% of the FCS student body meets the National Association of Independent Schools' definition of "people of color" status. In addition to racial diversity, FCS students share experiences from different faiths, family structures, geographic regions of the D.C.-metro area, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Q. Where do FCS families live?

Located near several major arteries, our school draws from a wide radius that includes Capitol Hill, Takoma Park, Silver Spring, Bowie, Upper Marlboro, Columbia, Laurel, Ft. Washington, Cheverly, and NE and NW DC, as well as nearby Greenbelt, Hyattsville, and University Park.
Q. How can we afford FCS?

Since FCS's founding, accessibility has been a priority. FCS tuition is approximately 30% less than the average tuition at other leading D.C.-area independent schools. Additionally, a large proportion of FCS students--approximately 36%--receive financial aid based on need. To meet the needs of as many families as possible, the maximum grant is 50% of the cost of tuition. Read more about FCS Tuition & Financial Aid.
Q. What credentials do FCS teachers have?

The average amount of experience for FCS full-time faculty is 11 years. Most of our teachers have master’s degrees or are working toward them. Ongoing professional development in progressive practice and Quaker values ensures teachers' effectiveness at FCS. Read more about our Faculty.
Q. Where do FCS graduates go to high school?

Our graduates matriculate to rigorous independent, parochial, and public magnet schools. Read more on After FCS.

Located in College Park, MD, Friends Community School is a progressive Quaker K-8 day school, founded on the belief that every child is a valued member of our community. We offer a challenging curriculum imbued with strong values of equality, integrity, community, environmental stewardship, simplicity and peaceful conflict resolution, rooted in our Quaker heritage.