Admissions
Where all students are valued and feel a sense of purpose and belonging.
Thank you for your interest in Friends School of Wilmington! I invite you to take time to explore our website and learn more about our school, our campus, and the dedicated educators who work everyday to create a place where all students are valued and feel a sense of purpose and belonging.
Within these pages, we hope you will see what makes attending FSW a unique and rewarding experience for our students, and the joy of joining a school community where teachers, staff, and parents collaborate with intention to support the health, safety, and learning of the reason that all of us are here – our students.
In your exploration, you will learn about what it means to be a Quaker school, an educational tradition with roots that reach back to 1689 when William Penn chartered the first Friends school in Pennsylvania. Friends School of Wilmington was founded in 1994 and is connected to a wide network of successful Friends schools through the Friends Council on Education. Our Preschool Program engages students in the Montessori Method, another time-tested educational approach developed in the early 1900s by Italian physician, Maria Montessori.
Our identity as a Quaker school informs all that we do at FSW as we deliver a vigorous academic program based on inquiry through experiential and collaborative learning. This includes our dedication to environmental education; our emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging; and our intention to create a place where students are inspired to reach their highest potential as lifelong learners who act with courage, integrity, and love.
One of the greatest joys of my work is the opportunity to build relationships with families during the inquiry and application process. I look forward to the opportunity to show you in person all that Friends School of Wilmington has to offer your student and your family.
Very best regards,
David Hoolahan
Director of Admissions
David Hoolahan
Upcoming Admissions Events
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Open house includes 30-minute personalized tour, information session, and teacher Q&A
An FSW Student Is...
Engaged
Our students take the lead in their education, diving into hands-on, project-based learning that connects directly to the real world. It's the difference between reading about Archimedes' principle in a textbook and applying his formula to design a cardboard boat that you race across the Intracoastal Waterway. (Yes, really. The annual boat regatta Golden Paddle Award is a *big* deal in 8th grade). Here, our students don't just excel academically; they thrive on understanding the "whys" in every lesson. By fostering curiosity and critical thinking, we empower them to make meaningful connections and take ownership in their learning journey, preparing them for whatever life's next chapter may be.
Empowered
Our students are agents of change. Service learning is a core part of our curriculum, fostering ethical leadership, nurturing cross-cultural understanding, and modeling civil dialogue. At our 3-acre Longleaf Center for Environmental Learning, students get their hands dirty (literally!) as they learn about native plants and endemic species alongside community organizations like Plastic Ocean Project and Cape Fear Audubon. Each class organizes its own service project, such as our 4th grade partnership with the Diaper Bank of NC, our Kindergarten laundry drive for the Humane Society, and our 7th graders’ lobbying efforts with the Friends Committee on National Legislation in Washington, D.C. Here, students become environmental stewards and global peacemakers, ready to lift up the world in goodness. By fostering a sense of responsibility and global awareness, we prepare them not just for academic success but for meaningful contributions to society.
Joyful
Joy is at the heart of everything we do. Community isn’t just a catchword; it’s our mission to create a culture of belonging where everyone is seen and celebrated for their authentic selves. And we know how to have fun! Our Student Council runs a lively Fall Festival, we host moonlit trivia nights, and our 1-to-1 buddy system fosters meaningful cross-grade friendships. With potlucks, parent-led hikes, beach days, and camping trips, we create lasting memories together. This joyful spirit makes our school a place where students feel valued and supported. By embracing joy and connection, we nurture an environment where students thrive academically and personally, fostering a lifelong love for learning and a strong sense of community.
Discover the Friends School Difference
