Friends School history

A Dining Hall/Commons, where students eat lunch and where the school community gathers for special events, was built in 1997.

That addition opened in the fall of 2001, resulting in six elementary classes in grades K-5, as well as a music room, gymnasium, computer lab, library, and an expanded kitchen.

The new Field House and renovated Art Center were opened in September 2002.

In 2004, the school took the unusual and exciting step of launching its highly regarded Teacher Preparation Program.

2005 Friends School of Portland began as a leading by teacher and Quaker Mary Tracy.

2006 FSP attained non-profit status.

2007 James Grumbach, a former math and art teacher and administrator at George School, a Quaker high school in Pennsylvania, was hired as Head of School.

In 2008, the school purchased the former Greenleaf Retirement facility on Main Street, a property contiguous to the current MFS campus near the Field House and Tennis Courts.

The school conducted an extensive national search and appointed Steve de Beer as Head of School in October 2010.

In 2011-12, renovations took place on the Greenleaf South Annex to transform the former boarding facility into a new classroom building.

On May 4, 2012, the building was officially opened and dedicated as Hartman Hall after beloved MFS math teacher Neil Hartman, who taught at MFS for 33 years.

In September 2016 the school changed its name to Walden School.

In 2017, after years of board-led discussions, Friends School launched our new brand to reflect our expanded programs and the immense growth that our school has experienced in recent years.

In June of 2018, after seven years at Friends, Steve de Beer departed Friends School to lead another school in Seattle.

In the 2019-20 academic year, 53 percent of Sidwell Friends students identified as people of color.