Oakwood Friends School - Creating Life Long Learners Since 1796

Founded in 1796, Oakwood Friends School is New York State’s oldest co-educational boarding and day school. It is an independent college preparatory school serving grades 6-12. Devoted since its inception to the fundamental Quaker belief that ‘there is that of God in every person,’ Oakwood Friends puts this belief into practice by focusing on the individual learner. This commitment to individual learning is at the heart of the school’s mission, ensuring that each student receives a personalized and enriching education.

Oakwood Friends School prepares students for lives of achievement, accomplishment, compassion, and conscience. The Oakwood experience is guided by Quaker principles, symbolized by the acronym SPICES: Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship.

At every level, classes focus on depth over breadth, stressing the development of an individual, learned viewpoint over factual recall. Students typically characterize life at Oakwood as caring, warm, accepting, engaging, nurturing, and “family” and “home.”

The 66-acre campus of Oakwood Friends School is not just a physical location, but an integral part of the historic Hudson Valley region. Nestled on the banks of the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie, New York, the school is a living testament to the rich history and natural beauty of the area – only a 90-minute train ride from New York City’s Grand Central Station via the Hudson Line.

Oakwood actively strives to instill an ethic of service while encouraging students to think for themselves.

Oakwood Friends School:

Provides rigorous academic preparation based on primary texts and hands-on learning.
Respects the mind and imagination of students and focuses on intellectual skills and habits.
Encourages powerful thinkers whose abilities are nurtured through artful teaching, thoughtful assessment, and individual attention.
Fosters an accepting environment based upon the Quaker principle that each individual is worthy and capable of meaningful insight and truth.
Provides an array of opportunities in the arts, athletics, and learning experiences beyond the campus to encourage creativity, self-expression, cooperation, and team-work.
Guides students toward the responsibilities of community life and community involvement, through leadership and service both on the campus and beyond.
Creates and sustains a vibrant residential and educational community that embraces students in grades six through twelve as well as faculty and families representing every stage of life and a diverse range of experiences, backgrounds.

Attending Oakwood Friends School encompasses more than just focusing on academics. Students are urged to be lifelong learners and global citizens. Oakwood offers various opportunities for extracurricular activities, including clubs, athletics, leadership, service, and social activism. The school also emphasizes fostering a strong sense of community and belonging among students and staff. This is evident in the daily morning collection, where students and faculty come together for important announcements and wish each other a good morning.

The school encourages students to balance their academic studies and social activities, aiming to develop well-rounded individuals with strong social skills, self-esteem, and respect for others in the community.

View the Oakwood Friends School FAQ.

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