Moorestown Friends School (MFS) is a private, coeducational Quaker day school in Moorestown, in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.
As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 552 students (plus 45 in PreK) and 76.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 7.3:1.School data for Moorestown Friends School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed September 1, 2025.
The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1991.Moorestown Friends School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed July 4, 2022. MFS is also a member of the New Jersey Association of Independent SchoolsList of Member Schools, New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. Accessed August 12, 2017. and the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools.Listing of ADVIS member schools, Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools. Accessed July 24, 2011. The Head of school is Julia de la Torre.
Awards and recognition During the 1991–92 school year, Moorestown Friends Lower School was awarded the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education,National Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982 Through 2019 (PDF), United States Department of Education. Accessed September 1, 2024. the highest award an American school can receive."CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department", Journal Inquirer, November 16, 2006. "The Blue Ribbon award is given only to schools that reach the top 10 percent of their state's testing scores over several years or show significant gains in student achievement. It is considered the highest honor a school can achieve."Viers Mill School Wins Blue Ribbon; School Scored High on Statewide Test" The Washington Post. September 29, 2005 "For their accomplishments, all three schools this month earned the status of Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor the U.S. Education Department can bestow upon a school."
In 2007, Barbara Quinn Kreider, former chair of the science department and chemistry teacher, was recognized as the New Jersey parochial school teacher of the year, after her successful freshmen science program was rated number one in the country.Camilli, Danielle. "MFS science teacher wins top N.J. honor" , Burlington County Times, October 4, 2007. Accessed March 6, 2008. In 2020, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Michael Omilian, upper school math teacher and Scheduling Director, as an Axalta All-Pro Teacher; he was one of 10 teachers in the Greater Philadelphia area to be recognized."Philadelphia Eagles Recognize Math Teacher Michael Omilian as Axalta All-Pro Teacher", Moorestown Friends School. Accessed April 16, 2021. ""
Historian James C. Scott dedicated his 1990 book Domination and the Arts of Resistance to Moorestown Friends School.
History
In 1781, thirty-three Quaker families pooled their funds and purchased a lot, located near the intersection of Chester Avenue and Main Street. In 1785, a stone schoolhouse was erected and Joshua Hunt was the first teacher.Hartman, p. 4:"Two years later, in 12th Month, 1781, the Elders and Overseers of Chester Preparative Meeting bought from Ephraim Haines a piece of ground on which to build a school house.""On this piece of ground a stone schoolhouse was erected, some time in the year 1785.""The stone structure which was the original Moorestown Friends' School remained unchanged for nearly one hundred years."Woodward, p. 270:"Joshua, son of Robert and Martha Hunt, was born Feb. 1, 1753. His wife, Esther, a daughter of Enoch Roberts, born Sept. 4, 1751, died Feb. 5, 1820. Joshua Hunt resided in Moorestown most of his life, and was the first teacher in the Friends' school in the old stone school-house. In 1790 he removed with his family to Redstone Fort, now called Brownsville, Pa., and there died the next year." In 1784, a lot near Colestown, a growing settlement located at the western side of the township, was purchased and a brick schoolhouse was erected.Hartman, p. 4:"In 1784 another lot had been bought at the western end of the settlement near William Matlack's farm, and a brick school was erected at about the same time as the stone house."
In 1827, the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, which the Moorestown Monthly Meeting is a part of, split into the Orthodox and Hicksite meetings. The Orthodox school stayed on the current site under the name "Moorestown Friends Academy", while a Hicksite school called "Moorestown Friends High School" a block away. The two schools recombined under the name "Moorestown Friends School" in 1920 at the current site.
In 1927, the kindergarten building was constructed, followed by the high school (1929) and gymnasium (1958). In 1965, the current Lower School was built. About two decades later, Stokes Hall was completed, linking the upper and lower schools. In 1997, the Commons Dining Hall was added. In 2002 and 2003, the Field House and Woodward Henry Diller Memorial Library were renovated, respectively. More recently, Moorestown Friends School purchased the Greenleaf Retirement facility to create the Greenleaf South Annex and Hartman Hall in 2008. In 2018, the Greenleaf South Annex was renamed Van Meter Hall in honor of the school's retired Head, Larry Van Meter.History, Moorestown Friends School. Accessed April 16, 2021.
Upper school Upper school at MFS includes grades 9 through 12.
Community service All Upper School students must complete 50 hours of community service, and many participate in service trips to places Alaska, Spain, Chile, Portugal, Italy, Japan, Florida, and more.Intensive Learning in the Upper School, Moorestown Friends School. Accessed December 19, 2025. Faculty make an effort to engage students in their local communities, including the cities of Camden, New Jersey and Philadelphia.Moorestown Friends School Academics - Upper School. Accessed September 7, 2013.
Clubs Extracurricular activities at MFS include Aerospace Club, Agenda Committee (similar to Student Government), Biology Olympiad Club, Chinese Culture Club, Diversity Committee, Drama Club, Christian Student Union, Gender Inclusivity Forum, Mental Health Forum, Indian Culture Club, Investment Club, Jewish Culture Club, Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Club, Science Olympiad Club, Model United Nations, Operation Smile Club (OSI), PRIDE Club, Service Committee, Spanish Club, Women in STEM, and Worship Planning, Red and Blue Club (School Spirit), Fashion Club, Sports Medicine, Design Club, Baking Club, Sports Debate and Entertainment, TEDx Club, Italian American Culture Club, Psychology Club, Image Arts & Literary Magazine, Operation Smile, Engineering Club, UNICEF at MFS, Book Club, Astronomy Club, French Club, Black Student Union, Women of Color [Union], Muslim Student Union, Jewish Student Union, Latinx Affinity, LGBTQ+ Affinity, Trans & Gender Non-conforming Affinity, Multiracial Affinity, East Asian Affinity, South Asian Affinity.Moorestown Friends School Upper School Clubs. Accessed April 30, 2026.
Middle school Middle school at MFS includes grades 5 through 8.
Students take courses in English, Math, Social Studies, Science, and World Languages as well as in non-major courses such as Woodshop, Art, Music, Physical Education, and Health. Technology is an important component of education at MFS. Faculty advisors meet with middle school students daily to help them develop effective study skills.Middle School at Moorestown Friends School. Accessed September 7, 2013.
Middle school extracurricular activities include choir, band, theater, student government, robotics, architecture, web design, and newspaper. The students also have a variety of sports to choose from. Each Middle School grade level has a unique outdoor educational experience.
Lower school Lower school at MFS includes preschool through grade 4.
Beginnings at MFS
During the 2012–2013 school year, the early childhood program at Moorestown Friends School rebranded itself as "Beginnings at MFS" to stress the importance of preschool, prekindergarten, and kindergarten in a child's development.Beginnings at MFS. Accessed September 7, 2013. "We consider the education of young children to be work of enormous importance. [...] This is a school where you will find an experienced, certified teacher with a Master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania leading a class of three-year-olds. Furthermore, in our early childhood classes, we maintain a ratio of one teacher to just 7 or 8 students."Beginnings at MFS: Our Program, Moorestown Friends School. Accessed September 17, 2013.
Academic technology Moorestown Friends School has more than 450 computers and laptops throughout the school, consisting of five computer labs, ten laptop carts and three mini-labs. Five of the laptop carts are for general use and two are for the middle and upper school Science Department. Mathematics, World Languages, and the lower school each have their own dedicated computer cart. MFS is predominantly a PC school; however there are several Macs and iPads available for use at every grade level.Technology at Moorestown Friends School. Accessed September 8, 2013.
The school has a MacBook Pro cart for high-end graphical and media use and an iPad cart as well. They acquired high-quality video production equipment and created an editing studio capable of creating high, near-professional quality video.
Numonic's interactive whiteboards with mounted projectors are in every classroom. The MFS campus has Wi-Fi accessibility throughout the entire school, and all upper school students are able to connect with their own personal devices.
The MFS library houses a computer processing center for students to research and prepare written work. The library's online catalog is available via the network throughout the school or from home. Students are also able to check out laptops, iPads and digital cameras from the Library.
Diversity 58% of the student body are students of color.Fast Facts, Moorestown Friends School. Accessed December 19, 2025.
The Camden Scholars Program The Camden Scholars Program at MFS provides opportunities to students from the Camden City Public Schools in Camden, New Jersey. Recommended by guidance counselors at Camden Middle Schools, candidates apply to Moorestown Friends School, visit classes, and are interviewed.
Once selected by the Camden Scholars Committee and admitted, students receive a scholarship that provides virtually full tuition to MFS. Camden Scholars are encouraged to pursue their interests and develop their talents. Camden Scholars participate in clubs, serve as student leaders, are athletes and perform in plays. They go on overnight retreats and field trips. MFS has a Camden Scholars Coordinator who serves as a liaison to help participants adjust to their new learning environment and sustain a healthy and successful academic and extracurricular schedule. The school's Diversity Coordinator oversees student, employee and curricular diversity efforts throughout the entire school with the aid of a faculty/staff sub-committee.Moorestown Friends School Diversity - Camden Scholars Program. Accessed September 7, 2013.
Meeting for Worship Each week, the MFS community gathers in the Meetinghouse, built in 1802, for Meeting for Worship. There are separate Meetings for each school division.
Friends believe that each person has within him/herself, with God's help, the ability to discern truth. Participants use this time to pray, or worship or simply reflect deeply on the world around them, according to their own faith traditions.