Everybody smiles a lot. That's one of the first things you'll notice at Oakwood Friends School. Perhaps it's because Oakwood emphasizes individuality, not uniformity.
Held high is respect for the value of each student, teacher, and staff member. The resulting spirit of common trust enables an honest, open exchange of ideas among all campus members.
An independent, college preparatory school serving grades 5-12. Founded in 1796, Oakwood is one of the oldest co-ed boarding and day schools in America and first in New York state. Our commitment to strong academics, excellent college preparatory program, and great location, just 1-1/2 hours North of NYC in the beautiful Hudson Valley, are just a few of the many reasons to have Oakwood on your list. Oakwood Friends School, guided by Quaker principles, educates and prepares young people for lives of conscience, compassion, and accomplishment. Students experience a challenging curriculum within a diverse community dedicated to nurturing the spirit, the scholar, the artist, and the athlete in each person.
Quick Stats (2024-25)
- Top Ranked NY School
- Grades: 6-12
- Enrollment: 177 students
- Yearly Tuition: $37,275
- Average class size: 12 students
- Application Deadline: Feb. 15 / rolling
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
Oakwood Friends School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in New York for:
School Overview
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades 6-12
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Learning Difference Programs
Yes
Learning Programs Supported
Dyslexia / Language-based or Mild Learning Differences
Year Founded
1796
School Calendar
Student Body
Total Students
177 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
53%
State avg.: 40%
Students by Grade
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers
35 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
5:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
73%
Average Class Size
12 students
Number of AP Courses
7 courses
List of Courses Offered
Advanced Courses
AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP English, AP French, AP Spanish
Average SAT score
1250
(Out of 1600)
Average ACT score
22
(Out of 36)
Matriculation DataMatric. Data
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
Admission Deadline
Feb. 15 / rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost
$37,275
Tuition Notes
Middle School Day = $30,300
% on Financial Aid
48%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$21,275
Admissions Director
Anne Mongillo
Admissions Associate
Grace Obee
Endowment Size
$3 million
Sports
Total Sports Offered
10 sports
Sports
Extracurriculars
Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
34 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Academic Committee, Academic World Quest, Animal Rights Club, Anime Club, Book Club, Business Club, Chess Club, Drama Tech, Friends (S.P.I.C.E.) Club, Garden Club, Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), Judicial Committee, Library Committee, Model United Nations, Nominating Committee, School Spirit Club, Spectrum, Student Government, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), Table Top Gaming Club, Tea Club, Yearbook
Arts and Music Programs:
Calligraphy Club, Dance, Dance/Hip Hop Club, Ensemble, Oakword - Literary & Art Magazine, Orchestra
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Fitness Club, Martial Arts, Parks Club, Running Club, Ski Club, Yoga
Academic Committee, Academic World Quest, Animal Rights Club, Anime Club, Book Club, Business Club, Chess Club, Drama Tech, Friends (S.P.I.C.E.) Club, Garden Club, Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), Judicial Committee, Library Committee, Model United Nations, Nominating Committee, School Spirit Club, Spectrum, Student Government, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), Table Top Gaming Club, Tea Club, Yearbook
Arts and Music Programs:
Calligraphy Club, Dance, Dance/Hip Hop Club, Ensemble, Oakword - Literary & Art Magazine, Orchestra
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Fitness Club, Martial Arts, Parks Club, Running Club, Ski Club, Yoga
School Notes
- Oakwood focuses on the individual learner, and cultivating a diversified community of students and staff in an atmosphere of mutual respect and enrichment.
- In striving to fulfill its mission, Oakwood Friends School provides rigorous academic preparation based on primary texts and hands-on learning respects the minds and imaginations of students and focuses on intellectual skills and habits.
- Oakwoodencourages powerful thinkers whose abilities are nurtured through artful teaching, thoughtful assessment, and individual attention.
- Students and adults within the community learn through inquiry, reflection, and action in daily life; search for truth, valuing the challenge of competing ideas; resolve conflicts through respecting and listening to one another; value and embrace the diversity of cultures and religions in our communities; work for the good of society through active service learning; and act courageously in alignment with core moral beliefs.
- Oakwood fosters an accepting environment based upon the Quaker principle that each individual is worthy and capable of meaningful insight and truth.
- Oakwoodprovides 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 five through twelve as well as faculty and families representing every stage of life and a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds.
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Juan Williams - Political Commentator, Journalist, Author
- Hugo Sonnenschein - President Emeritus, University of Chicago
- Mark Strand - Pulitzer Prize winning poet and former Poet Laureate of the United States
- Bonnie Raitt - GRAMMY Acclaimed American Musician, 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, Political Activist
- Jarvis, Thomas and Peter Rockwell - Sons of painter Norman Rockwell
- Robert Turner - Internationally known ceramist
- Lucretia Mott - Quaker, abolitionist, women's rights activist, and social reformer who helped launch the women's rights movement, the 1st Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, NY, which ignited the fight for women suffrage, earning women the right to vote in the USA
- Jonathan Talbot - An American collage artist, painter, and printmaker. He also is the creator of an innovative collage technique that eliminates liquid adhesives from the collage-assembly process.
- Keith Bunin - Keith Bunin is an American dramatist and screenwriter. More recently known for writing "Onward", the computer-animated urban fantasy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures.
- Jennifer Yee - Discovered a planet. Awarded a Carl Sagan Exoplanet Postdoctoral Fellowship by NASA, and currently based at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Oakwood Friends School cost?
Oakwood Friends School's tuition is approximately $37,275 for private students.
Who are famous alumni from Oakwood Friends School?
Oakwood Friends School famous alumni include: Juan Williams, Hugo Sonnenschein, Mark Strand, Bonnie Raitt, Jarvis, Thomas and Peter Rockwell, Robert Turner, Lucretia Mott, Jonathan Talbot, Keith Bunin and Jennifer Yee.
What sports does Oakwood Friends School offer?
Oakwood Friends School offers 10 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Dance, Martial Arts, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Ultimate Frisbee and Volleyball.
What is Oakwood Friends School's ranking?
Oakwood Friends School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in New York for: Most extracurriculars offered and Oldest founding date.
When is the application deadline for Oakwood Friends School?
The application deadline for Oakwood Friends School is Feb. 15 / rolling (applications are due on Feb. 15 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).
Related Schools
Show me:
People that viewed Oakwood Friends School also viewed these schools: Poughkeepsie Day School, Faith Christian Academy, Our Lady Of Lourdes High School, New York Military Academy and The Storm King School.
The nearest high school, elementary school and preschool to Oakwood Friends School is Faith Christian Academy (0.6 miles away)
Show me:
Show me:
School
Location
Miles
Grades
Students
Grades: PK-12 1.7 miles 260 Boardman Road
Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
(845) 462-7600
Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
(845) 462-7600
1.7
PK-12
n/a
Grades: PK-12 | 147 students 0.6 miles 25 Golf Club Lane
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
(845) 462-0266
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
(845) 462-0266
0.6
PK-12
147
Our Lady Of Lourdes High School
(Catholic)
Grades: 9-12 | 675 students 1.9 miles 131 Boardman Rd
Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
(845) 463-0400
Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
(845) 463-0400
1.9
9-12
675
Grades: 7-12 | 80 students 15.6 miles 78 Academy Ave
Cornwall On Hudson, NY 12520
(845) 618-7335
Cornwall On Hudson, NY 12520
(845) 618-7335
15.6
7-12
80
Grades: 8-12 | 188 students 16.9 miles 314 Mountain Road
Cornwall On Hudson, NY 12520
(845) 458-7511
Cornwall On Hudson, NY 12520
(845) 458-7511
16.9
8-12
188
School Reviews
Endorse Oakwood Friends School. Endorsements should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:
- Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
- Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
- Academic or athletic awards
Recent Articles
Early Childhood Education Approaches: A Guide for Parents of 1 and 2 Year Olds
In this article we explore three popular approaches to early childhood education: Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Waldorf. It provides parents of toddlers with essential information about each method, helping them make informed decisions about their child's early education.
Making the Right Choice: A Parent's Guide to Private School Selection
We explore the reasons to consider private school education, compares boarding and day school options, and outlines essential factors in choosing the right school. It provides parents with valuable insights to make informed decisions about their child's education, drawing from real-world scenarios and expert advice.
Navigating Private School Finances: A Parent's Guide
This comprehensive guide explores the intricacies of private school tuition and financing options. Divided into three chapters, it covers understanding private school tuition, various payment methods, and seven specific options for managing educational expenses. The article aims to provide parents and guardians with valuable insights and practical strategies to make private education more accessible and affordable.
