Friends School and Watershed School are pleased to announce the name of their unified school: Watershed Friends School. The new name reflects a shared commitment to academic excellence, student well-being, and the unique legacies of both schools within the Boulder community. 

Following months of thoughtful dialogue and input from students, staff, families, alumni, community members, and a third-party consultant, the unification team’s leadership recommended the new name on July 7. The boards of both schools then unanimously confirmed the name. The name Watershed Friends School reflects the heritage, emotional connection, and stature that each school has earned in the Boulder community over many decades. 

The unification process, announced earlier this year, brings together two well-respected Boulder schools with complementary missions and a shared dedication to nurturing lifelong learners. Watershed Friends School will officially launch in Fall 2026 and will continue to serve students in preschool through 12th grade. 

Across the school – from program, finance, operations, advancement – and this week’s summer academic workshop, terrific work is already underway to build a strong foundation for Watershed Friends School. Brand development for the unified school will begin this summer in preparation for Fall 2026–2027 admissions and marketing. The community will continue to receive updates as the work progresses. 

Until then, Friends School and Watershed School will continue to operate as separate campuses while preparing for a seamless transition into one school beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. The admissions process is open now for both schools individually as well as the unified Watershed Friends School. 

Contact admissions@friendsschoolboulder.org for preschool through 8th grade at Friends and admissions@watershedschool.org for 6th-12th grade at Watershed.