apply to middle school

Our Middle School consists of 5th–8th grades.

Our main entry points for Middle School are 5th and 6th grades and each year we expand both grades and add between 6-10 new students to each grade.

Openings in 7th and 8th grade vary each year, and depend on the number of returning students and space availability.

We do not expect to know if we will have openings in 7th and 8th grades, or how many we may have until the middle of the academic year. A grade may have no openings at all for new students or it may have one or two. It is highly unusual for us to fill more than a very small number of places, if any, but that situation can change late in the admission process. For that reason, we still encourage families to show their interest by submitting a complete application.

ADMISSION PROCESS

The Middle School admission process has several steps. We encourage families to begin the process as early as possible so they can ensure that all forms are complete by the deadline. Details about each step follow the list below.

Request Information

The first step in our process is to create a profile in our online admissions system Ravenna and explore information about our admissions process. Creating an account gives you access to San Francisco Friends School and the full directory of schools: it does not commit you to apply. Please create your account using an email address you check often and will have access to throughout the admission season. Once you have created an account for your child, you will be able to view the directory of schools and begin to explore San Francisco Friends School to review the admissions process, steps, and important dates.

Visit Us

We offer a few different experiences for families to get to know San Francisco Friends School. At these information sessions, you will get a deeper look into our philosophy, programs, and a sense of our school community. We can't wait to meet you!

We will post the dates of our admissions events on our Ravenna page in early September. In the meantime, follow our Instagram and Facebook pages to get a sense of our school community—we regularly post fun and interesting goings-on at Valencia Street.

Apply!

Families are welcome to submit an application after they have attended an information session.

Please submit the application, student statement and supplemental materials, an optional family photo and the application fee online through your Ravenna account.

The application and all supporting materials are due on January 19, 2024.

If the application fee is of concern, please contact Krissi Lewis, Associate Director of Admission at admissions@sffriendsschool.org.

Student Statement

Student Evaluation Form

You can send the Common Confidential Student Evaluation Form electronically to your child's current teacher and to another current or recent former teacher through your online Ravenna account. The teachers should send this form directly to San Francisco Friends School and can upload the form directly to your Ravenna account. If they aren't able to do it that way, they can submit it by email to Krissi Lewis, Associate Director of Admission at admissions@sffriendsschool.org.

Transcripts

Testing not required

As we continue to improve on our commitment to equity and a student-centered approach in the admissions process, San Francisco Friends School no longer uses standardized tests as a part of the admissions assessment process. Test results have always only been just one factor we considered in gaining a clearer academic picture of each applicant. They can provide one opportunity to present a student’s academic potential and preparedness, but this potential can also be represented in other parts of the application.

Parent/Guardian Meeting

Parent meetings for applicant families will take place on campus or on Zoom from January – early March 2024.

Once parents have attended an information session, they will be able to schedule their parent meeting through Ravenna with a member of the Admissions team. We feel it is important to learn about your family and to hear parents' perspectives and educational philosophy. We plan to spend a half-hour meeting with each applicant's parents and ask that both parents or guardians attend the meeting.

We strive to enroll students whose families understand our mission and will support the values of simplicity, mutual respect, peaceful problem-solving, and service in our school community. We welcome parents who will actively participate in Friends School's family and help to create a vibrant school culture.

Family involvement in the community is central to the continued growth and health of SFFS; families work together to help shape a school culture in which their children will thrive. SFFS parents are as actively involved in the school community as their schedules permit, assisting with service projects, accompanying field trips, or supporting parent education initiatives. Parents participate on a committee with a focus that resonates for them, whether it is Community Involvement, Diversity, Library, Room Parent, or Admissions.

Parents' Association Committee List

Lista de comités de la Associación de Padres

All family members are welcome to attend a monthly Meeting for Worship and all-school Parent Association meetings. Families also contribute to fundraising efforts in the school's Annual Fund, and at events such as the spring fundraiser. We strive towards a goal of 100% parent, staff, and trustee participation in the Annual Fund and have reached or come close to that goal every year.

Assessment

Once we receive your application, you will be able to schedule your child’s visit day in Ravenna. Group visit days will be at the end of January and in early February and will consist of assessments in reading, writing, and math, as well as fun, group activities with some of our middle school teachers. Applicants will also have the opportunity to tour the school and meet Friends School students.

Once we receive your application, you will be able to schedule your child’s visit day in Ravenna.

Decisions

Admissions decisions will be emailed on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at noon.

Family enrollment deadline is Thursday, March 21, 2024, at 10 am.

We know that this week can be stressful and choosing an independent school can be a difficult decision. We are more than happy to talk to you during this time whether or not you ultimately decide to join us at San Francisco Friends School.