FAQs

General Questions About Unification

Why unify the two schools?

Our schools can be even better together. Both schools have excellent programs, strong finances, and well-established reputations — and we have always shared a commitment to progressive learning and student-centered education. Unifying the strength of both schools will yield a combined school which is more than the sum of its parts.

After unification, our combined school will provide enormous opportunities for our community, including:

  • Our students will benefit from a cohesive experience, from preschool through high school, that strengthens academic culture and deepens learning. In this continuous educational journey, students can grow in a nurturing environment — with teachers who know them deeply and can support their evolving needs at every stage.
  • Our teachers will be able to collaborate among a larger group of exceptional peers, sparking fresh ideas, a richer curriculum, and learning experiences that offer even greater community impact.
  • Our school will benefit from a broader, more diverse community that offers a wider range of perspectives, friendships, and opportunities for connection. And our school can continue to serve as an inspiring model of progressive-learning, nationwide.
  • Our expanded community will offer greater organizational strength and resilience, allowing us to continue to keep our focus where it should be – on teaching and learning.

The unification process begins with the schedule of listening sessions that we’ve outlined. Additional announcements and events are planned as the schools begin to actively collaborate on the unification process. We intend to operate as a combined school starting in the fall of 2026 and we don’t anticipate any momentous programming or logistical changes before then.

We hope to bring the best of both schools into our combined school, and your input is critical. We have launched a comprehensive listening tour to ensure that we understand how best to support every member of our community during the transition. We encourage you to submit questions/comments and sign up to participate in the listening sessions. In all cases, we benefit the most from your candid feedback! 

We are especially mindful of the overlap between our middle schools, and we’ve planned some events and discussions specifically in support of middle-school groups.

Transparent and inclusive communications are a priority for us, and it’s important that all members of the community stay in sync. With those goals in mind, we plan to share virtually identical communications to all audiences. (Our communications on this topic may feel a little more formal and generic as a result!)

All public announcements are shared with the entire community and are available here, on TogetherinBoulder.org.

The Joint Unification Task Force, formed from the boards of both schools, is leading the unification process.

A task force comprised of Trustees from both boards made the decision to call the unified school Watershed Friends School, honoring the strength and long histories of both schools. 

We will release additional information as it becomes available. Significant updates will likely be communicated by email, and this website will be updated as an authoritative resource throughout the process.

Great question! There are three big ways you can help:

  • You can support unification by providing your comments through the planned listening sessions and feedback forms.
  • As the process proceeds, continue to support your current school through active participation in events, and don’t forget to make an annual fund donation to your current school — it’s a big help! (Follow these links to donate to Watershed and/or Friends.)
  • Keep in mind that during unification, as with any complex process, there will be bumps along the road! Stay positive and trust the process!

Tuition, fees, and other financial arrangements for the 25-26 school year remain as previously announced. Future updates to tuition and fees will be announced annually, as always.

At this time, Friends School has two campuses and Watershed School has one. For the 25-26 school year, students will attend their current schools at their current locations. The Joint Unification Task Force will be exploring the best use of our combined facilities. We look forward to your suggestions and comments as we explore future options.

Our two schools are aligned philosophically, academically, and culturally. The primary reason for unification was our belief that together, we could provide an even better educational experience for our students.  Secondarily, there are some financial benefits our unified school will enjoy by combining our resources (eg. one Head of School, one ACIS membership, one student information system, etc). Due to national demographic trends, small independent schools across the country are talking about joining forces. Friends School and Watershed School are ahead of the curve. Our schools can be even better together.

Unification is commonly used when schools combine as it often carries a broader, more ideological meaning of creating unity. We believe this captures the philosophical, academic, and cultural commonalities of our two schools and represents the driver behind our decision to join forces. Merger, on the other hand, is commonly used in business contexts to describe the formal combination of two separate organizations into a single entity, usually with legal and financial implications. You will see that we use the two terms interchangeably to convey both the legal and the philosophical joining of our schools.

One of the reasons we’re joining forces is because we so deeply admire each others’ programs and traditions! While we don’t, yet, know details of what programs, celebrations, and traditions will look like in our unified school, we will seek input as we work to bring the best of both schools to our combined school.  

Early discussions of unification began nearly two years ago.

As is the current practice at both of our schools, once enrolled, students will be promoted from one grade to another assuming their continued academic and programmatic fit with the school.

Yes! The parent perspective is so important. These parents have offered to speak about their family’s experience at Watershed with anyone from Friends School. Just email to set up a time to talk!

  • Kari Wheeler: mom of a Watershed graduate (Class of 2022) and a current senior (Class of 2025). Both of her kids attended MS and US at Watershed. kariwheels@gmail.com
  • Thomas Darwish & Ryan Swanson: dad and mom of a current 6th grader. darwistj@gmail.com, swanryan@gmail.com
  • Anita Suchdeo: mom of two Watershed students (Classes of 2025 and 2027). Both of her kids attended schools on the east coast prior to coming to Watershed two years ago. asuchdeo@yahoo.com
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As one of our trustees shared recently, it's not often that a group of people have the opportunity to put lightning in a bottle. And, we have that opportunity right now to put lightning in a bottle for students and teachers and education in Boulder County. To say we have an inspiring group of educators is a gross understatement. We have an extraordinary team devoted to building and creating the most dynamic, transformative, and enduring PS-12 independent day school in Boulder. How amazing is that?
~ Matt Levinson, Head of School, Friend School
"The unification of Friends and Watershed will be great for Boulder County. By pooling our resources and further aligning our practices, we can create a more robust school, creating even greater access to an empowering learning experience for children and families. Together, we can enhance the strengths of both schools and deliver an experience that is innovative, inclusive, and reflective of the needs of our students and their futures."
~ Carol Hoeffler, Watershed Board Chair, former Friends School trustee and parent, Watershed alumni parent
"I am truly energized by the unification of Watershed School and Friends School. It's hard to imagine two schools more closely aligned philosophically and programmatically. Together we will be more than the sum of our parts: By creating a seamless academic and community experience from preschool through high school, our students will be better prepared for college and life — and better prepared to make a real difference in the world."
~ Tim Breen, Head of School, Watershed School
"We are delighted that Watershed School and Friends Schools are coming together to strengthen educational opportunities for families in the Boulder area. Together, we can educate children in more creative, diverse, and dynamic ways than we could never have done on our own."
~ Julie Goldstein, Former Watershed Board Chair
"Our two schools are a natural fit. Together, we can build on our longstanding commitments to honor the individual and prepare our students to make a meaningful impact in the world. This unification means great things for both our schools and the Boulder area."
~ Kristin Lawrence, Former Friends Board Chair
Our two schools are a natural fit. Together, we can build on our longstanding commitments to honor the individual and prepare our students to make a meaningful impact in the world. This unification means great things for both our schools and the Boulder area.
~ Jason Berv and Sumaya Abu-Haidar, co-founders of Watershed School
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Middle School Unification Questions

When will we know the specifics of how the middle schools will be combined?

We are mindful of the impact this announcement has on those engaged with the middle school, and we plan to have some events and discussions specifically for these groups. At present, we don’t know any specifics of how the middle schools will be combined.

Yes! We are making plans for a series of open houses and tours of both schools are part of those plans. Details will be announced later in the year.

This is a priority! Our two schools came together over the summer of 2025 for shared planning days and will continue to plan throughout the 25-26 school year.  

School Leadership Changes

Both school Heads have announced their departure. Was this merger-related?

This is a sensible question given the coincidental timing. The departures of the heads are not related to the decision to unify the schools. Both heads are highly supportive of the unification plan and have been integral to the boards’ exploration and discussions over the last year.

Tim Breen and Matt Levinson will lead Watershed School and Friends School, respectively, during the 2025–2026 school year. A permanent head will be appointed to lead the school starting July 2026.