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Admissions
Welcome to Friends Academy!
Open a new door in your student’s academic journey with an educational experience committed to the highest standards of learning and living.
Why choose Friends Academy? Watch and discover.
Friends Academy is a PreK-12 private school in Long Island that is based on the Quaker school values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equity, stewardship, and service. Founded in 1876, Friends Academy is a nationally renowned coeducational, independent, college-preparatory school for N-12 students on Long Island.
Since its founding in 1876, children at Friends Academy have championed our commitment to the highest standards of learning and living. Alongside academic rigor, the Quaker school values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equity, stewardship, and service are how we achieve educational excellence.
By empowering students to inquire, reflect, and engage in their classrooms, communities, and beyond, we help them shape their brightest future. Our diverse community is welcoming to people of all faiths.
12:1
Student to teacher ratio
104
Faculty with PH.D's and master's degrees
Our Students Have Gone On to Attend
Class of 2024 College Matriculation
Barnard College
Bentley University
Boston College
Boston University
Carnegie Mellon University
Chapman University
Colby College
Colgate University
College of Charleston
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Emory University
Fairfield University
Florida State University
Georgetown University
Hampton University
High Point University
Indiana University-Bloomington
Kenyon College
Lehigh University
Loyola University Maryland
Mount Holyoke College
New York University
Northeastern University
Pennsylvania State University
Providence College
Purdue University
Spelman College
Stony Brook University
Syracuse University
Texas A&M University
The George Washington University
The New School-Parsons School of Design
The University of Texas at Austin
Tufts University
Union College
University of Colorado-Boulder
University of Connecticut
University of Miami
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Pennsylvania
University of Richmond
University of St. Andrews-Scotland
University of Virginia
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Villanova University
Virginia Tech
Wake Forest University
William & Mary
Williams College
Yale University
Visit Friends Academy
Our Lower, Middle, and Upper School Open Houses are happening this fall. We invite you to get in contact with us to learn more about Friends Academy and apply for the 2025-26 school year!
2024 Open House Dates
Taisha Thompson
Director of Enrollment Management and Financial Aid
taisha_thompson@fa.org
Kim Jennings '88
Associate Director of Admissions
kim_jennings@fa.org
Kristin Minuto
Associate Director of Admissions
kristin_minuto@fa.org
Ariana Fountain
Admissions and Enrollment Database Manager
ariana_fountain@fa.org
Joan Phillips
Admissions Associate
joan_phillips@fa.org
Bill Rueger
Admissions Associate
bill_rueger@fa.org
Gail Kammerer-Baker
Athletics Liaison to Admissions
gail_baker@fa.org
Doreen Heyman
Admissions
Assistant
doreen_heyman@fa.org
Financial Aid: Affording Friends Academy
Investing in a Friends Academy education is a major commitment for a family and often requires great sacrifice. In alignment with our Quaker values, Friends Academy is committed to providing access and affordability to a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds to ensure that talented and highly qualified students can attend regardless of their ability to pay.
Creating a community of learners who represent diverse, lived experiences and perspectives is critical to achieving academic excellence. We offer need-based financial aid to families with students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 and all financial aid applications are treated with great care and respect.
2023 Financial Aid Workshop Series
Join us for one of our upcoming virtual Financial Aid workshops. Workshops are facilitated by leaders from ISAAGNY member schools and affiliates.
All events are free, virtual, and designed for the parents/guardians considering an independent school education for their children.
All About Assistance: Tuition Assistance and Affording Independent Schools
Thursday, October 12th: 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Email inquiry@isaagny.org to register.
All About Assistance: Tuition Assistance and Affording Independent Schools
Thursday, October 19th: 7:30pm - 8:30pm
Email inquiry@isaagny.org to register.
Financial Aid Timeline for 2024-2025 Academic Year
Please submit financial aid documentation by December 15, 2023 and follow the timeline below for uploading all required documents. You can click on this link to start your application: https://sssandtadsfa.my.site.com/schoolportal. The SSS school code is 3286.
- October 2, 2023: School and Student Services (SSS) website will open
- December 15, 2023: Submit the Parent Financial Statement (PFS)
- December 15, 2023: Upload 2022 Federal Tax Returns and a Signed Form 4506-T
- February 5, 2024: Upload 2023 W'2 and/or 1099s
- April 18, 2024: Upload 2023 Federal Tax Returns
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is eligible for need-based financial aid?
Friends Academy offers financial aid to qualifying families with students entering Kindergarten through Grade 12. Our financial aid program is need-based, and grants are awarded to families of qualified admission candidates who demonstrate financial need.
2. What makes a financial aid application complete?
A financial aid application is complete once the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS), tax documentation (1040 and W2’s), a 4506 Form, and a recent pay stub are submitted.
3. How are financial aid grants determined?
Need-based financial aid is granted at the school’s discretion and takes into account each family’s unique financial situation as demonstrated through income, assets, expenses, etc. Financial aid awards are only allocated once the SSS file is complete. Upon review of the file, other documentation may be required.
4. Will my application for financial aid impact my admission decision?
Decisions about admission and financial aid are made separately, but information about an award will accompany the decision letter.
5. What do I do if I cannot afford the grant being offered?
Families may appeal their financial aid award by writing to the Director of Enrollment Management and Financial Aid. A letter of appeal should include a detailed explanation as to why the decision is being appealed, along with any additional documentation that will support the request.
6. Will I continue to receive financial aid for the duration of my student's tenure at Friends Academy?
Financial aid grants are valid for that academic year only, and families must re-submit an updated PFS and documents annually to determine eligibility. Families receiving aid can reasonably expect continued support in line with what they have been receiving, assuming their financial circumstances remain consistent.
Inclusive Meal Plan
As part of our inclusive tuition plan, all students, from Kindergarten through twelfth grade receive a daily hot lunch in our Dining Commons. Students have a variety of choices, including salad bar, hot lunch, sandwiches and grill station. Click here for Weekly Menus.
Early Childhood children bring their lunch to eat in the Early Childhood Center kitchen space.
In-class Snacks: All students in Grades Kindergarten - 5th grade are served a light snack either mid-morning or mid-afternoon in their classrooms. Middle School students are offered fresh fruit during the day.
Purchasing breakfast and snacks: Both breakfast and afternoon snack items are available for purchase in the Dining Commons. All Lower School students receive a daily snack, which is eaten in the classroom. Middle School students enjoy fresh fruit at the end of the school day.
Questions: Contact Food Services Manager Christina Mariakais at 516-393-4233 or christina_mariakais@fa.org.
Friends Academy dining services are provided by Flik Independent School Dining. Flik and Friends Academy work in tandem to promote and enhance the school's health and wellness and sustainability programs.
Lower School:
Play Group: $20,900
Pre-Kindergarten: $28,200
Kindergarten: $32,600
Grades 1-4: $38,400
Middle School:
Grades 5-8: $42,400
Upper School:
Grades 9-12: $46,500
For further information on tuition and financial aid, please contact us in the Admissions and Financial Aid Office at admissions@fa.org.
Apply for the 2025-26 School Year
Early Notice Deadline: Dec. 15, 2024
Regular Application Deadline: January 15, 2025
Please follow the process below for all applications to Friends Academy:
Matriculation Fees
Note that a 10% deposit is required with all enrollment contracts.
Matriculation Fees for New Enrollees:
Playgroup/Pre-K: $300
Kindergarten – 4th Grade: $400
5th Grade – 8th Grade: $500
9th Grade – 12th Grade: $600
Apply Online
Online applications for 2025-2026 school year will be available early October through our online application system (Ravenna). To apply, kindly create a user account and search for Friends Academy in the Ravenna school directory. All required forms and steps are online.
Interview
Once we receive your application, we will call you to schedule a virtual parent meeting.
And students applying to:
- Early Childhood and Kindergarten: We will contact you to schedule an on campus assessment.
- Playgroup: 3 years of age by September 1
- Pre-Kindergarten: 4 years of age by September 1
- Kindergarten: 5 years of age by September 1
- Grades 1-4: We will contact you to set up an on campus student visit.
- Grades 5-8: We will contact you to set up an on campus student visit.
- Grades 9-12: We will contact you to set u an on campus student interview with an Admission Team member or Upper School faculty member.
Required Forms
Transcript Release Form and Teacher Recommendation Forms are completed through our online application system. An applicant file is complete when all required forms have been received and the screening/interview is complete. Kindly notify your child’s school that we require the current year’s first-semester report card, report cards for the last 3 years, and all standardized test results for the last 3 years (if applicable). Additionally, students applying for Grades 5-12 must complete the Student Questionnaire online in Ravenna.
Register for SSAT (Student applying to Grades 6-11)
Information regarding the Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT) may be found at www.ssat.org. All test scores must be sent directly from SSAT to Friends Academy. The Friends Academy school code is 3286.
Want to learn more about who we are and what we value? Our viewbook includes more insights into our mission and philosophy, including:
- How we empower our students to create change
- What makes our community so strong
- How we practice peace, justice, and understanding
- Day-to-day life at Friends Academy
Class of 2024 College Matriculation
Barnard College
Bentley University
Boston College
Boston University
Carnegie Mellon University
Chapman University
Colby College
Colgate University
College of Charleston
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Emory University
Fairfield University
Florida State University
Georgetown University
Hampton University
High Point University
Indiana University-Bloomington
Kenyon College
Lehigh University
Loyola University Maryland
Mount Holyoke College
New York University
Northeastern University
Pennsylvania State University
Providence College
Purdue University
Spelman College
Stony Brook University
Syracuse University
Texas A&M University
The George Washington University
The New School-Parsons School of Design
The University of Texas at Austin
Tufts University
Union College
University of Colorado-Boulder
University of Connecticut
University of Miami
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Pennsylvania
University of Richmond
University of St. Andrews-Scotland
University of Virginia
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Villanova University
Virginia Tech
Wake Forest University
William & Mary
Williams College
Yale University
About Our Campus
Located on a beautiful 65-acre campus in the heart of Locust Valley, facilities include the Dolan Center, which houses a state-of-the-art 400-seat theater, art studios and our dining hall; separate buildings for Upper, Middle, Lower schools and the Little Friends Infant & Toddler Center; the Athletic Center with adjacent fields for soccer, field hockey, baseball, softball, football and track, as well as tennis courts; and the three-story, modern Kumar Wang Learning Commons that houses more than 50,000 volumes, a web-based catalog system, e-readers and laptop loan program.
We offer a campus-wide wireless network, various computer labs, a renovated gymnasium, field house (featuring brand-new locker room facilities) and extensive athletic fields.