Friends Seminary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Friends Seminary |
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(2025)
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222 East 16th Street
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| Coordinates | 40°44′02″N 73°59′07″W / 40.733997°N 73.985279°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Private |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Quaker |
| Founded | 1786 |
| Principal | Robert "Bo" Lauder |
| Faculty | 180 |
| Grades | K–12 |
| Gender | Mixed gender |
| Age range | 5-19 |
| Enrollment | 794 (2022-2023) 308 Upper School 222 Middle School 264 Lower School |
| Average class size | 18 students |
| Campus type | Urban |
| Colour(s) | Red and White |
| Song | "Alma Mater" |
| Athletics | 31 teams |
| Mascot | Owl |
| Accreditation | NYSAIS |
| Newspaper | The Insight |
| Tuition | U.S.$53,900.00 |
| Former name | Founded as Friends Institute (1786-1860) |
| Website | http://www.friendsseminary.org |
Friends Seminary is a private school in Manhattan, New York City. It teaches students from Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. It is the oldest school in New York City that has always taught both boys and girls. About 800 students attend Friends Seminary.
The current principal is Robert "Bo" Lauder. He became the school's 35th principal in 2002.
Contents
The History of Friends Seminary
Friends Seminary was started in 1786 by members of the Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers. It was first called Friends' Institute. A rich New York merchant named Robert Murray left $10,000 in his will to help start the school.
The first school was on Pearl Street in Manhattan. Its goal was to give Quaker children a "guarded education." This meant an education that focused on Quaker values and beliefs. In 1826, the school moved to a bigger campus on Elizabeth Street. By 1860, the school moved to its current location and changed its name to Friends Seminary.
Friends Seminary was one of the first schools to start a Kindergarten in 1878. In 1925, it was also the first private school for both boys and girls to hire a full-time psychologist. A famous writer, M. Scott Peck, went to Friends Seminary. He said he loved the school because it had many different kinds of students and a caring atmosphere.
In 2015, the school and the New York Quarterly Meeting (a Quaker group) decided to become separate organizations. Friends Seminary now pays the Quaker group money each year. The Quakers still help choose half of the school's leaders. This agreement helps the school continue to follow Quaker values.
The school's main goal is to help students get ready for the world. It also wants them to help make the world a better place. Friends Seminary works to include everyone and teach about different cultures.
How the School is Organized
Friends Seminary is divided into three main parts:
- Lower School: This is for students from Kindergarten to 4th grade.
- Middle School: This is for students in 5th through 8th grade.
- Upper School: This is for students in 9th through 12th grade.
School Buildings and Spaces
The school has six buildings. The biggest one is called Hunter Hall. It was built in 1964. This building has classrooms for the Middle School, most of the Lower School, and some Upper School classes. It also has a gym, a cafeteria, a library, science labs, art studios, and computer labs.
Next to the school is the historic Meetinghouse. It was built in 1860. This building is a special place for Quaker worship. It is also used for school events and music classes. The courtyard outside the Meetinghouse is a place for students to play.
In 1997, the school bought another building on 15th Street. It used to be a German Masonic Temple. This new building is called "The Annex." It uses "green technology" to be more friendly to the environment. The Annex has more science labs, classrooms, and a black box theater for performances.
In 2019, Friends Seminary finished a big building project. They built a new structure behind three old townhouses. This new part connects smoothly to the main school building. It created a separate entrance for the Upper School. It also added a "Great Room" for gatherings, an Upper School Commons area, and new classrooms. There is even a Greenhouse and play area on the rooftop!
School Costs
For the 2023–2024 school year, the tuition for all grades was US$60,500. There are also extra fees for things like meals and technology. Books for grades 9–12 add more to the cost. In total, these extra costs can be about $6,000 to $8,000.
Famous People Who Went Here
Many interesting people have gone to Friends Seminary, including:
- Eva Amurri, actress
- Peter Bart, film producer and writer
- Malcolm Browne, journalist and photographer
- Henrietta Buckmaster, author
- Caleb Carr, writer
- Mel Cummin, cartoonist
- Wylie Dufresne, chef
- Lena Dunham, actress
- Richard F. Casten, physicist
- Timothy Foote, journalist
- Max Graham, music producer and DJ
- Emily Wakeman Hartley, theater founder
- Roger O. Hirson, writer for plays and movies
- Rio Hope-Gund, professional soccer player
- David Isay, radio producer
- Michael Kimmelman, art critic
- Hilary Knight, cartoonist
- Chi Ossé, politician and activist
- Will Menaker, podcast host and film critic
- M. Scott Peck, writer
- Amanda Peet, actress
- Liev Schreiber, actor
- Kyra Sedgwick, actress
- Katharine Lamb Tait, artist
- Olivia Thirlby, actress
- Vera Wang, designer
- William L. Ward, former US Representative
- Calvert Watkins, linguist
- Nat Wolff, actor
