Friends Seminary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Friends Seminary |
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222 East 16th Street
, 10003
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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 for students from Kindergarten to 12th grade. It's located in the East Village, a historic part of Manhattan, New York City. It's the oldest school in New York City that has always taught both boys and girls. About 794 students attend, from age 5 up to 19.
The school's goal is to help students get ready for the world. They also want to help students create a better world. Friends Seminary follows ideas about service and diversity. It is part of New York's Independent School Diversity Network.
The current principal is Robert "Bo" Lauder. He is the 35th principal of the school. Mr. Lauder joined Friends Seminary in 2002. Before that, he was the head of the Upper School at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C.
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School History and Growth
Friends Seminary was started in 1786 by members of the Religious Society of Friends. These members are 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 start the school.
The first school was on Pearl Street in Manhattan. It aimed to give Quaker children a special "guarded education." In 1826, the school moved to a bigger place on Elizabeth Street. Tuition was low back then, about $10 to $20 a year. By 1915, it had gone up to $250. The school moved again in 1860 to its current spot. At that time, its name changed to Friends Seminary.
In 1878, Friends Seminary was one of the first schools to start a Kindergarten class. In 1925, it was 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's diverse and caring environment. He felt much happier there than at his old school.
In 2015, the school and the New York Quarterly Meeting (a Quaker group) made an agreement. They decided to become separate organizations. Friends Seminary now pays the Quaker group $775,000 each year. Both sides also help pay to keep the historic buildings in good shape. Quakers still choose half of the school's governing board members. A special committee helps make sure the school keeps its Quaker values.
How Friends Seminary is Organized
The school is split into three main parts:
- Lower School: This is for students from Kindergarten to Grade 4.
- Middle School: This includes students from Grades 5 to 8.
- Upper School: This is for students from Grades 9 to 12.
School Buildings and Spaces
The Friends Seminary campus has six buildings. The biggest one is called Hunter Hall. It was built in 1964. This building holds classes for all Middle School students, most Lower School students, and some Upper School students.
Hunter Hall has a gym and a cafeteria in the basement. It also has a library and media center. There are science labs, art studios, and computer labs. Classrooms for all grades are found here.
The historic Meetinghouse is connected to the school. It is also home to The Fifteenth Street Monthly Meeting of The Religious Society of Friends. The Meetinghouse is a very important part of student life at Friends Seminary. Outside its front doors is a courtyard used for recess and other activities.
In 1997, the school bought and fixed up an old German Masonic Temple. This new building is called "The Annex." It uses "green technology" to be more eco-friendly. The Annex has more science labs, three multi-use classrooms, and a black box theater for performances.
The Meetinghouse is also used for the school's music program. In 2019, Friends Seminary finished a big building project. They built a new structure behind three old townhouses from 1852. This new part connects smoothly to the main school building.
The new space gives the Upper School its own entrance. It also has a "Great Room" for gatherings and a courtyard. There's an Upper School Commons and Terrace. New classrooms are grouped around shared study and locker areas. A rooftop Greenhouse and play area were also added.
School Costs
For the 2023–2024 school year, tuition for all grades is US$60.500. There are also extra fees for meals, technology, and books for grades 9–12. These extra costs can add about $6,000-$8,000 to the total cost.
Famous Alumni
Many notable people have attended Friends Seminary:
- Eva Amurri, actress
- Peter Bart, film producer and writer
- Malcolm Browne, journalist and photographer
- Caleb Carr, writer
- Lena Dunham, actress
- David Isay, radio producer
- Michael Kimmelman, art critic
- Hilary Knight, cartoonist
- Chi Ossé, politician and activist
- M. Scott Peck, writer
- Amanda Peet, actress
- Liev Schreiber, actor
- Kyra Sedgwick, actress
- Olivia Thirlby, actress
- Vera Wang, designer
- Nat Wolff, actor
