Facts About Olney

School Profile

Olney Friends School is a college-preparatory, Quaker boarding high school enrolling 50-60
students. We have a teaching faculty of 10. We are accredited by the Independent Schools
Association of the Central States (ISACS) and are members of the National Association of
Independent Schools (NAIS) and the Friends Council on Education (FCE). The class of 2013 has 14 students from 5 states (Ohio, California, Michigan, Kentucky, Pennsylvania) and 4 countries (China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine). Their average SAT score is 1380/2400. All of our students are accepted to a four-year college before they graduate.

Academic Curriculum

Our academic curriculum is challenging and diverse. Students must take a total of 22 credits to
graduate. Each full year course is worth one credit. Humanities courses are an integrated study of
literature, English language, and history. They meet for twice the length of a typical class and are
worth two credits each (English and history). Students must complete eight Humanities, three
mathematics, three lab science, and two foreign language credits to graduate. Other requirements
include one health class, three religion classes, four fine arts classes, and one practical skills class
(such as gardening or outdoor skills). Additionally, students may take electives such as creative
writing, web design, and filmmaking. Olney Friends School offers three Advanced Placement
courses: Calculus, Physics, and History. Seniors are exposed to college-level texts and
seminar-style discussion during grade 12 Humanities and must write a formal fifteen-page
research paper in order to graduate. All students must pass the Ohio Graduation Tests.

We grade on an unweighted 4.0 scale, and we do not rank our students. In such small classes,
class rank would not accurately assess the quality of our students. In accordance with the general
ethic of the school, we prefer that students challenge themselves for their own sake and not out
of competition with other students. Therefore, we do not distinguish students by placing them on
honor lists.

Co-curriculum

In addition to rigorous academics, students are required to participate in a full co-curricular
schedule. They wash dishes after each meal and clean the communal areas of the school every
day. They have physical education for an hour and a half at least twice a week; many choose to
play sports every day. Through local hiking and camping, small construction projects, gardening
work, and outreach in nearby towns, students complete formal community service and outdoor
education activities. Every week they meet in self-governed committees to organize social
activities and advocate for policy changes. Ambitious students can also take leadership positions
as kitchen assistants, residential assistants and on disciplinary committee and spiritual life
committee. Each morning and evening, and twice a week for longer periods, students participate
in unprogrammed worship in the manner of the Religious Society of Friends.