Michael Gary Speaks
I’m also keenly aware that a major driver of our success is that we do this work together.
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As our Advance Friends Select strategic plan approached its fifth year, our board of trustees assessed its framework and identified many achievements. Our goals have upheld a legacy of excellence in teaching and learning, inspired our work to become an antiracist institution, motivated the transformation of our Parkway Building and its rooftop athletic field, supported the creation of a new upper school STEAM Building, and driven cross-divisional collaboration to reimagine our Parkway Building’s 16th Street entrance and multipurpose backlot playspace. |
With the start of another academic year, I am incredibly proud of all that we are able to accomplish at Friends Select School.
I’m also keenly aware that a major driver of our success is that we do this work together.
We recently completed the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) interim report, a component of a thorough process we undergo for state accreditation. We were commended for our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work as a model for other schools to emulate, and we were praised for how much our school community has changed in five years, from our clear vision and exciting new spaces to our strong leadership and enrollment growth.
Admission to Friends Select has grown from 570 to 645—
a 13% increase—since I started as head of school in 2016. Our enrollment is robust: lower and middle schools now have waiting lists, and our upper school enrollment is approaching a historic high. This is a testament to the incredible work of our admission team and also signifies that our families value what Friends Select provides. Word of mouth from our community is a primary influence in attracting prospective families.
As our Advance Friends Select strategic plan approached its fifth year, our board of trustees assessed its framework and identified many achievements. Our goals have upheld a legacy of excellence in teaching and learning, inspired our work to become an antiracist institution, motivated the transformation of our Parkway Building and its rooftop
athletic field, supported the creation of a new upper school STEAM Building, and driven cross-divisional collaboration to reimagine our Parkway Building’s 16th Street entrance
and multipurpose backlot playspace.
With input from students, families, faculty, staff, and alumni, our board and administration are planning to update our strategic goals to elevate environmental sustainability.
As a Quaker school, this is already a value of our organization. However, integrating environmental sustainability into our strategic plan enables Friends Select to take action regarding climate change as part of our ongoing responsibilities in our city of Philadelphia and beyond.
Friends Select’s endowment has also increased substantially in the past five years, from $10 million to $14.5 million. While this is robust, it is necessary to grow our endowment even further to support salaries for our faculty and staff, cover our academic programs, and match our annual commitment to provide financial aid for our community. Over 35% of our students receive financial aid, which is almost double the national average for independent schools. We hope to continue to grow this cornerstone of our financial foundation through contributions and prudent financial management so as to keep Friends Select financially strong for current and future generations of students.
This issue of Select News is paired with our annual Report of Gifts, further emphasizing that it is your support that allows us to realize our strategic vision. As proud as I am of our accomplishments, I am humbly aware they are only possible through the support of our Friends Select community.
