Friends' Central Could Attract Displaced Catholic School Students

When , the private, Quaker institution with two campuses in Wynnewood, holds its "Twilight Tour" on January 19, teachers and administrators might have more interested parties than they thoguht when the open house was first scheduled.

That's because it will come in the immediate wake of news that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will close 48 area schools, including two prominent high schools in nearby Delaware County—Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast.

"We expect there to be more interest, yes," said Ross Trachtenberg, assistant director of admissions for FCS. "We had one parent walk onto this campus on Friday afternoon (the very day of the announcement by the archdiocese).

"My expectation is that when schools do close, we always get that type of interest. It's 'how many?' That's the question."

The Twilight Tour will be held at both Friends' Central campuses: the middle/upper schools on City Avenue (grades 5 through 8, and 9 through 12) and the lower school on Old Gulph Road (children 3 years old through the 4th grade). Students, faculty, and staff will be giving tours and answering questions. Interested parents can simply show up. Some sports, a play or two and some student-run clubs will be in progresss.

"Folks send their kids to Catholic schools for a high level of education as well as for spiritual reasons," Trachtenberg said, which means Friends' might be a natural alternative. 

Beyond those attributes, though, the Quaker school is starkly different from large diocesan schools, where Catholic priests and nuns teach alongside their lay colleagues. The FCS class of 2011 numbered only 88; many archdiocesan high schools have three times that amount (or more) of students in any given class.

And then there's tuition: according to the FCS web site, the cost per student for the 2011-12 school year is $27,400. (Pre-kindergarten tuition is $17,300.)

Trachtenberg said the tour is intended to highlight the schools' Quaker Works emphasis, which states that "our Quaker values drive an intense commitment to an education that is both intellectual and thoughtful. Our pedagogy is grounded in reflection, integrity, and a willingness to accept responsibility."

"It is the values of the school, and how they shine through everyday," Trachtenberg said. "...Diversity, community and finding a light in everyone."

For more information, contact the FCS admissions office at (610) 645-5032 or email at admission@friendscentral.org.