Time with Tony - November 15, 2025

The question came up again at this week’s Parents Association Meeting: When will we start a high school? It’s a question we hear often, and one that comes from a deep place of trust and pride in what our school community offers young people.

Starting a high school from scratch is an enormous endeavor. It requires not only space and funding for classrooms and labs, but also a long-term commitment to staffing, accreditation, diverse academic programming, and college counseling. Most importantly, it requires a community that can sustain such growth, financially, spiritually, and organizationally, over many years. These are not obstacles, but realities; careful stewardship is part of what ensures Friends education remains rooted and strong.

And yet, while we have not taken that step, our middle schoolers are already preparing for success wherever they go next. Through their Friends education, they live the values that make any high school experience meaningful. Integrity, curiosity, respect for every voice, and a steady sense of purpose. They learn how to ask good questions, to listen deeply, and to approach challenges with reflection rather than reaction. Those habits of mind and spirit travel with them into public and private schools alike, where they flourish as grounded, compassionate, and capable learners.

In this way, our middle school does far more than prepare students for high school, it prepares them for life. The Middle School team, led by Amy, is committed to working with our families to find the best fit after FSW. Throughout the year many of our alumni return to share their positive experiences. Also there are multiple information sessions for families to learn more about the opportunities. Please don’t hesitate to reach out for more information.