Small school. Big impact.

Imagine finding inspiration and joy in the process of learning. Imagine having agency in learning and being motivated and empowered to ask powerful questions and explore new interests. Imagine being connected to and valued by your teachers and classmates. Imagine a school where students are encouraged to share their unique strengths and talents with the community and are celebrated for being their authentic selves. This is Scattergood. Welcome.

Middle School (grades 6-8): Day program only.

High School (grades 9-12): Day, 5-day & boarding options.


What's a Friends School?

Scattergood Friends School begins when it was founded in 1890 by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) for the education of Friends' children. Today, about 20 percent of staff and students are from Friends families. Scattergood continues to be guided by the tenets of Quakerism: simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship. We are dedicated to the growth of the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—and to the stewardship of the earth.

Academic Program

Scattergood offers engaging and progressive classes, experiential, hands-on learning and individualized and self-reflective assessment. The core curriculum provides students with a solid foundation in math, science, social studies, English, and foreign language. In addition, an emphasis is placed on critical reasoning, respectful communication skills, and develops within students the capacity to consider other points of view. Students also learn practical life skills through work on the farm and campus, and through projects classes that explore the fine and practical arts. Wilderness trips and service trips provide opportunities for adventure and personal growth.

College Placement

Acceptance into a four-year accredited college or university is a graduation requirement at Scattergood. Recent Scattergood graduates have matriculated to:

Reed College, Mills College, Macalester College, Oberlin College, Bard College Berlin, Wake Forest University, Howard University, Earlham College, Cornell College, Syracuse University, University of Iowa, Iowa State University, University of Wisconsin, and others.

Location and Campus

Scattergood is located in rural West Branch, Iowa, in the greater Iowa City area. It is about 3.5 hours by car from Chicago, and 5 hours from Minneapolis and St. Louis. The school's 126-acre campus consists of a 27 acre main campus and 26 acres of restored prairie. The farm includes 8 acres of certified organic vegetable gardens, a high tunnel (greenhouse), and various barns, outbuildings, and pastures. Livestock include cows, sheep (Katahdin heritage breed), pigs (Guinea Hog heritage breed), and turkeys (seasonally).

Accreditation

Scattergood is accredited by Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) and is a member of the Friends Council on Education (FCE) and The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS). Scattergood is recognized as an independently accredited school by the State of Iowa Department of Education.

The Faculty

Scattergood's faculty and staff is comprised of more than 2 dozen individuals from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines. Many staff and their families live on campus and serve as advisors to students. All faculty and staff serve as resources for the community in such areas as nutrition and health, the arts, peace and non-violence, human rights, stewardship of the earth, and Friends' heritage.

Admissions Policy

Students are accepted without regard to race, gender expression, color, or creed. Admission is based on previous school records, three written recommendations, a writing sample and an interview. Students enter in grades 6 through 12. Inquiries and applications are welcomed at any time. Admission is offered fall and spring semesters. For more information, call 319-519-1856 or email admissions@scattergood.org