About Us
Cambridge Friends School is an all-gender independent day school for Pre-K through 8th grades located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Our school provides an excellent education, guided by Quaker principles, for the whole child.
In 1961, Cambridge Friends School opened its doors for the first time, welcoming students in kindergarten through 4th grade, “open to children of all races and religions” with the goal of providing students with an excellent education that develops their intellectual, physical, creative, and spiritual potential. And for over 60 years, our school has fulfilled that mission, graduating students who are academically accomplished, grounded, thoughtful, compassionate, and working to contribute toward greater justice and understanding in the world.
Our Quaker values of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship inform everything we do, from how we greet each other in the morning, to how our classrooms are structured, to what topics and texts are included in our curriculum. Balancing individual learning with communal effort, challenging academics with a nurturing environment, a rich education in the arts with a robust foundation in math and scientific methods, Cambridge Friends School is a special educational community.
We trust our students to sincerely engage with challenging topics and wrestle with subjects that affect our world, including learning about civil rights and solidarity movements, climate change and stewardship of our earth, increasing justice in our communities both small and large. By teaching our students how to think – rather than what to think – we empower them to take ownership of their learning to become intrepid questioners, lifelong learners, and change-makers for good.
Some Cambridge Friends School facts…
- CFS includes grades Pre-K through 8th, and ages 4 through 14
- Affinity and community groups support the rich diversity of our students and families
- Our small size lets us know and care for each student
- 52% of our student body identify as students of color
- 40% of our families receive some financial aid
- Our student to teacher ratio is 6:1 and our average class size is 11
Cambridge Friends school is a small but mighty school, a warm and welcoming place that supports students in becoming excellent learners and people.
Come for a visit and see for yourself!
“Through a purposeful and relational approach to learning, Cambridge Friends School nurtures the inherent gifts and light within each child. In the tradition of Quaker education, we engage students in an intellectually rigorous curriculum that fosters critical thinking, develops interdisciplinary skills, and inspires the search for truth through inquiry.”
The Cambridge Friends School Mission Statement
