FAQs

What are you looking for in a Tandem Friends student?

First and foremost, we are looking for students who can succeed academically. If a student is working at an above-average level at his or her current school, this is a good first indicator.  A student who struggles to the point of needing a “shadow” or a dedicated guide in the classroom would have a very hard time being successful at Tandem.  Why is this important?  We believe that a healthy sense of self-esteem is critical to a student’s academic success.  If the work is challenging to the point of constant self-incrimination, then self-esteem falls by the wayside.

Are there students for whom Tandem is not a good fit?

Yes.  A student who relies exclusively on outside rules and parameters to be successful will struggle here.  One of Tandem’s mottoes is “Freedom with Responsibility”.  We demand that our students exhibit responsibility first, particularly with regard to school work and homework.

How much homework is there?

At Tandem Friends, we believe that homework is used to fine tune learning (or get ready for class the next day, in the case of reading).  We emphatically do not believe in homework as busy work! Middle schoolers are asked to have a maximum of an hour a day, although this will be spread out and not always consistent. For example, if a student has a history paper assigned, he or she might not have homework assignments every night, but the expectation would be that he or she is working on it at home.

What is a “Friends” school?

“Friends,” short for the “Religious Society of Friends,” is another term for Quakers.  Quakers believe that there is that of God in everyone. In a school setting, that means we are all working to bring out the best in one another.  There is no requirement or expectation that a student or family be a Quaker to attend Tandem Friends, but the expectation and requirement is that we treat each other with respect and compassion and try to learn from everyone.