At Carolina Friends School “we teach our students that it is possible to change the world.”

Even the youngest children learn that they have capacity and agency. Their thoughts and actions matter. By harnessing their imagination, developing their skills, and working intentionally and diligently, they learn that they can improve their lives and the lives of others.

Whether it be collecting for area families affected by food insecurity, exchanging ideas and working with migrant workers in North Carolina, advocating for legislation in Raleigh and Washington, D.C., organizing student diversity leadership conferences, supporting schools in Topchi, Afghanistan, or designing agricultural tools from upcycled materials as part of a permaculture class to advance environmental sustainability efforts on campus, CFS students embrace the audacious challenge and optimism of our mission statement to make a tangible difference in the lives of others.

Bold visioning and powerful action have been at the heart of Carolina Friends School since its inception. From our founding in 1962 as the first integrated school in the state, we have embraced diversity of all kinds understanding that inclusive classrooms produce better outcomes for all children. Most importantly, the school has always been guided by what is best for children.

Today the school thrives on a beautiful, wooded 126-acre campus and two satellite Early School campuses that excite students’ imaginations, creates space for children to showcase their existing passions and discover new ones, teaches the skills necessary to thrive in a future that has not yet come to be, and nurtures the soul. Guided by the Quaker values of simplicity, peace, equality, and truth, the staff at CFS are dynamic and talented educators who are passionate about their work and forge lasting relationships with students as learning partners.

Each day when I see children laughing, discovering, reflecting, and creating from my window, I am grateful to be associated with this place that is transforming lives. Our community is a very special one, where hard work, joy, inspiration, and love are found in every corner of campus. I thank you for browsing our website and invite you to visit campus to experience for yourself the magic that is Carolina Friends School.

Karen Cumberbatch
Head of School