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Quaker Education

Since 1683, Quaker schools have been part of this country’s educational fabric. Quaker schools have distinguished themselves by providing strong academic programs and through their commitment to recognizing the worth of each individual. Friends School of Minnesota is one of over 80 Quaker schools in the United States, and it is the only Quaker elementary school in our five state region.

As a Quaker school, FSM attracts families of many religious and non-religious backgrounds. Less than ten percent of our students are from Quaker families. Other families may be Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, agnostic, atheist, and more. The universal values of peace, simplicity, equality, integrity, and community attract and unite diverse families at FSM.

Friends School of Minnesota is committed to practicing the values of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), especially those of peace, community, social justice, nonviolent conflict resolution, and tolerance and respect for all people. There is no direct religious instruction at the school; rather, it is a place of lived values.

We gather weekly at and all-school Meeting for Worship. In the Quaker tradition, our weekly Meeting provides students, staff and FSM community  members the opportunity for silence, reflection, and sharing. Brief periods of silence during the daily classroom routine allow students to focus and reflect in the midst or at the end of a busy day.

When FSM’s founders contemplated how a school could teach peace in day-to-day school life, they implemented a conflict resolution program that is the backbone of our commitment to peace at FSM. 

For more information on the Quakers and Quaker education, see:

  • Friends Council on Education — The Friends Council on Education acts as an integrating force in Quaker education in an advisory and consultative capacity for Quaker nursery, elementary, and secondary schools in the United States and Canada.
  • Religious Society of Friends — Links to information about the Quakers, their religious beliefs, history, and commitment to non-violence.