Admissions

Thank you for your interest in Sidwell Friends School!

We’re so glad you’ve made your way to the admissions and financial aid section of our website. The admissions process is now underway! No matter your level of familiarity with Sidwell Friends School, please get to know us better by exploring the full website to see the exciting experiences our students and faculty are creating each day in and outside the classroom. We have routine openings in grades PK, K, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 9, so as you’re exploring we hope you will find stories that give you a great sense of what life is like throughout the lower, middle, and upper schools.

We also invite you to see us in person at an open house, info-session or tour. Events take place on both the Bethesda and the DC campuses. Please see our timeline for dates and then proceed here to create a profile and register for the activity you’re most interested in attending. 

Questions about the admissions or the financial aid process? Please feel free to call or email our office. Contact information can be found on the right side of this page.

Office of Admissions and Financial Aid

Phone: 202-537-8111
Fax: 202-537-2401
admissions@sidwell.edu

Apply to Sidwell Friends

Tuition/Financial Aid

Sidwell Friends by the Numbers

47%

students of color

1,155

students enrolled

$42,372

tuition for 2018/19

23%

of students receive financial aid

$7 million

annual financial aid budget

$28,300

average financial aid award

Frequently Asked Questions

Here is a list of the questions we are most often asked by families who are interested in applying to Sidwell Friends. We hope it is helpful to you as you begin the process, but please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Admissions Office for assistance.

How many students does Sidwell Friends have in each division?

Typically, the Lower School has 295 students, the Middle School has 350 students, and the Upper School has 500 students.

In which grades does Sidwell Friends admit new students?

The School admits most new students in the expansion grades:

  • Prekindergarten: 20 new students
  • Kindergarten: 28 new students
  • 3rd grade: 12 new students
  • 4th grade: 10 new students
  • 6th grade: 16 new students
  • 7th grade: 16 new students
  • 9th grade: 30 new students

Students may be admitted in non-expansion grades if space is available. No students are admitted in 12th grade.

What is the student-teacher ratio?

  • Prekindergarten: 10:1
  • Kindergarten–4th grade: 12:1
  • 5th–8th grade: 16:1
  • 9th–12th grade: 16:1

What are the hours of the school day?

  • Lower School: 8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m. (Early dismissal at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays)
  • Middle School 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (Early dismissal at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays)
  • Upper School 8:00 a.m.–3:20 p.m. (Early dismissal at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays)

Does Sidwell Friends provide lunch?

Yes, lunch is included with the tuition.

Does Sidwell Friends have before-school and after-school care?

Yes, the Lower School Early Risers program begins at 7:15 a.m., and Aftercare is available until 6:00 p.m. In Middle School, Aftercare is available until 6:00 p.m.

Which grades offer interscholastic sports?

Grades 7 and 8 participate in interscholastic sports during the last periods of the school day. Grades 9 through 12 participate in interscholastic sports games and practices after school.

Is bus transportation available?

Sidwell Friends does not provide bus transportation to and from school, but both campuses are near public transportation:

  • The Wisconsin Avenue (Middle/Upper School) campus is 0.7 miles from the Tenleytown/AU Metro station on the Red Line. Metrobus lines 30, 31, 33, 96, H3, and H4 serve the campus.
  • The Lower School campus is 0.4 miles from the Bethesda Metro station on the Red Line.

The School’s Auxiliary Programs Office contracts with an independent bus company to provide shuttle service between the Lower and Middle/Upper School campuses (see schedule). Students can sign up as one-way riders or round-trip riders for a fee.

What is the application process for families who live out of town or overseas?

We understand that applying from out of the area may present some challenges as you go through the admissions process. Please submit your application as soon as possible so that we can be of greatest help to your family throughout the admissions process.

If your child is an international applicant, Sidwell Friends does not offer a program in English as a Second Language (ESL). Therefore all students must be completely fluent in English reading, speaking and composition. Students applying to Middle School or Upper School are required to take the SSAT (Sidwell school code 7366) or the ISEE (Sidwell school code 090200). You may also submit the TOEFL as a supplement to the SSAT or ISEE.

Sidwell Friends is authorized to issue I-20s to international students entering grades 9–11 so that they may acquire an F-1 visa. Sidwell issues I-20s to international students only after they have been accepted and have enrolled in the school. We do not have boarding facilities or a homestay program. Students must live in the DC area with a parent or legal guardian.

Lower School

The joy of inquiry and exploration is instilled in our youngest learners.

Middle School

Growth and discovery take place in a supportive learning environment.

Upper School

Students are empowered to pursue their interests, both in and out of the classroom.

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