Whittier Friends School

This is a small school with amazing and dedicated teachers! My son has been attending WFS for three years, he is a happy and thriving student who loves going to school and learning. The multi age small classrooms cultivate a culture of tolerance and cooperation. The small student to teacher ratio ensures dedicated and through lesson plans where students are taught in a classic lesson then pencil to page reinforcement style without screens and a lot of teacher/ student interaction. Computers are used occasionally and sparingly. I see this as a positive because eye contact when speaking, problemsolving and communication skills are built while learning. We get a report about how the day at pick up that include the day's class activities, behavior and reminders about any school activities or meetings that are taking place or upcoming. The school takes lots of field trips that encourage learning outside the classroom and apply to the current curriculum. This school fosters a culture of scholarship, good citizenship, physical, mental and emotional health, and tolerance. Each child is encouraged to be his or her own unique and wonderful self in a gentle and structured environment.

Our daughter was at another school nearby, a school that was apparently the best in uptown. But we weren't in love with the staff or the lack of flexibility in schedules, and our kid came home overwhelmed and angry most days. So we stumbled upon Whittier Friends school, and couldn't be happier. The staff is genuinely nice, schedules are flexible, approach is very Montessori-ish...and our daughter tells us how much she loves her school. Thank you!!

Whittier Friends School is a very nice place to learn and grow. We are all respected as individuals and there is a lot of support for any difficulties that any student might encounter. The staff are very kind and caring and the classrooms are comfortable. Everyone is very friendly and close as friends.

This school is part of our family. My son started preschool here at age 3, and is still here 9 years later. The kids all attend each others' birthday parties, know each other's parents, and generally ACT like an extended family. The teachers here are bright, dedicated, and have class sizes small enough that every student gets loads of attention. The parents are part of the fabric of the school; the community here is very inviting and accepting. There are frequent field trips, to keep the kids engaged. Parents are involved in much of process of keeping the school running, so the sense of community is very strong; though occasionally amateur. The place is TINY; it's more like a large extended family than a small school. I often say that it's like hiring someone else to homeschool your kids. We love it, while fully admitting that it isn't for everyone.There are a couple of private-school assumptions that people may have; If you're looking for a one-stop shop, where you can drop your kids and forget them, this is NOT your school - parental involvement is a big part of the experience here. Similarly, though it is connected to a church, this isn't a Bible school; The values of peace, kindness, and communion are both modeled and taught, but any doctrinal instruction is viewed as parental prerogative.

Amazing daycare, staff is friendly, and they are willing to work with your schedule.