In 1988, local Quakers and peace activists founded Friends School of Minnesota. In the tradition of more than 80 Quaker Friends Schools across the United States, Friends School of Minnesota meets children's intellectual, emotional and spiritual needs in an environment that nurtures their social consciousness. Friends School of Minnesota currently has 167 students and 20 faculty. We offer a rich K-8 program where in-depth academic studies are supported by peaceful forms of conflict resolution. We are a diverse community with students from a broad range of religious and non-religious backgrounds, including eight percent from Quaker families. We welcome ethnic and economic diversity ; 31 percent are children of color and 31 percent of FSM families receive need-based financial aid. The School is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States ( ISACS ). The ISACS team described us as a little jewel of a school.