Sidwell Friends School

Founded in 1883, Sidwell Friends School (SFS) is a PK-12, co-educational Quaker day school with campuses in Washington, DC, and Bethesda, Maryland.  Sidwell offers a challenging academic experience in a warm, supportive environment. We seek students who demonstrate the potential to meet high academic and personal standards and contribute to the vitality of the School. Because we believe that students learn from each other, it is central to our philosophy that the student body be coeducational.

For the 2025-2026 school year, 1145 students are enrolled. Fifty-three percent of the student body identify as students of color (e.g. Black/African American, Asian, Native Am, Pacific Islander, Multiracial) including students who identify ethnically as Hispanic/Latino make up 9.5%. Twenty-two percent of the student body receives more than $10 million of need-based financial assistance which includes funds set aside for non-tuition expenses such as books, laptops, yearbooks, PE uniforms, travel related to academics, and Minimester. The average aid award is $39,414. Tuition for the 2025-2026 school year is $53,470 for PK - 2nd grade, $56,080 for 3rd and 4th grades, $59,440 5th - 8th grades, and $59,920 9th - 12th grades.

Mission Statement

Sidwell Friends is a vibrant and inclusive community guided by Quaker testimonies and the belief that there is that of God in everyone. In all facets of school life—academic, artistic, and athletic—the School prepares students to challenge themselves and strive to reach their highest potential. Embracing continuing revelation, we respect each voice in our diverse community and celebrate the inner light in all. Empathy, wonder, and a passion for learning inspire our students to “let their lives speak.”