Understanding Oakwood Friends School Tuition Costs: A Comprehensive Guide
Oakwood Friends School, located at 22 Spackenkill Road in Poughkeepsie, NY, is an independent, college preparatory school serving students in grades 6-12. Founded in 1796, it stands as one of the oldest co-educational boarding and day schools in America, with the distinction of being the first in New York State. Guided by Quaker principles, Oakwood is committed to providing a challenging curriculum within a diverse community, nurturing the spirit, scholar, artist, and athlete in each student. This article delves into the tuition costs associated with attending Oakwood Friends School and provides an overview of the school's offerings.
Oakwood Friends School: An Overview
Oakwood Friends School offers a strong academic program, excellent college preparation, and a location in the Hudson Valley, approximately 1-1/2 hours north of New York City. The school focuses on the individual learner and cultivates a diversified community of students and staff in an atmosphere of mutual respect and enrichment.
The Upper School (grades 9-12) curriculum is designed to teach students to think critically, analyze information carefully, and be open to new ideas. Students are encouraged to challenge themselves and actively participate in their learning, bridging traditional areas of study with contemporary global issues. The Middle School (grades 6-8) provides a rich, vibrant program emphasizing hands-on, experiential learning in small, student-centered classrooms.
Oakwood fosters an accepting environment based on the Quaker principle that each individual is worthy and capable of meaningful insight and truth. The school provides opportunities in the arts, athletics, and learning experiences beyond the campus to encourage creativity, self-expression, cooperation, and teamwork.
Tuition Costs at Oakwood Friends School
Understanding the financial commitment required to attend Oakwood Friends School is crucial for prospective families. The tuition costs vary depending on whether a student is a boarding or day student.
Read also: History of Oakwood Village
- Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): \$70,740
- Yearly Tuition (Day Students): \$40,635
- Yearly Tuition (5-Day Boarding): \$60,740
- Tuition for International Students: \$76,600
These figures represent the base tuition costs and do not include additional expenses such as books, supplies, and other fees. It is important to note that tuition rates are subject to change, and families should verify the most current information with the school's admissions office.
Financial Aid and Tuition Assistance
Recognizing that an independent school education is a significant investment, Oakwood Friends School is committed to partnering with families to make an Oakwood education attainable. The school offers a Tuition Assistance Program with two distinct pathways for support:
- Need-Based Financial Aid: Available for new and returning K-12 students.
- Merit Scholarships: Available for new middle and high school applicants.
Oakwood has a long-standing commitment to enrolling a culturally, socially, and economically diverse student body. Financial aid is awarded based on economic need without regard to race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. All financial aid information is kept confidential, and an applicant’s financial need does not affect admission eligibility.
Many families meet tuition expenses through a combination of out-of-pocket tuition payments, financial aid, and loans. To determine a family’s financial need, Oakwood utilizes an independent agency called School and Student Services for Financial Aid (SSS), operated through the National Association of Independent Schools. SSS provides an objective methodology for calculating a family’s contribution towards educational expenses.
The Value of an Oakwood Education
Choosing to send a child to Oakwood is a significant financial investment. Oakwood believes that there is no better investment you can make for your child. At Oakwood, there is an unwavering commitment to a more intentional education.
Read also: Oakwood University Costs
Oakwood provides an array of opportunities in the arts, athletics, and learning experiences beyond the campus to encourage creativity, self-expression, cooperation, and teamwork. The school guides students toward the responsibilities of community life and community involvement through leadership and service both on the campus and beyond. Oakwood 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 and backgrounds.
Oakwood's Upper School serves students in grades 9 through 12. The course curriculum is designed to teach students to think critically, to analyze and evaluate information carefully and to be open to understanding new ideas. In keeping with Oakwood's mission is to educate the spirit, scholar, athlete, and artist in each student, all are encouraged to challenge themselves and be active participants in their learning. We encourage the athlete to try out for the school play, the student who excels in Calculus to study International Relations and the ceramicist to dive into Greek Philosophy. Both electives and year-long courses bridge traditional areas of study with contemporary global issues. The extensive course offerings are not only open to all students. In fact, students are required to engage in a wide breadth of course and topic of study throughout their time here.
Oakwood's Middle School offers a rich, vibrant program that provides challenging academics in a supportive and friendly school environment. The Middle School program emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning in small, student-centered classrooms. Art, photography, music and drama are integral parts of our program, as well as learning to play games and sports during PE and the afterschool program. The Middle School truly nurtures the spirit, the scholar, the artist and the athlete in each person.
Notable Alumni and Achievements
Oakwood Friends School boasts a number of notable alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields:
- Juan Williams: Political commentator, journalist, and 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, Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and political activist.
- Robert Turner: Internationally known ceramicist.
- Lucretia Mott: Quaker, abolitionist, women's rights activist, and social reformer.
- Jonathan Talbot: An American collage artist, painter, and printmaker.
- Keith Bunin: American dramatist and screenwriter.
- Jennifer Yee: Discovered a planet.
The school has also been recognized for its commitment to sustainability, partnering with Solar City to install a 2-acre solar array on campus.
Read also: Oakwood University's Legacy
Admissions Information
Oakwood Friends School's admissions decisions and tuition assistance decisions are made independently and by different committees. Tuition Assistance awards reflect each family’s unique circumstances, vary in size, and are made for only one year at a time. All financial information provided by families is kept strictly confidential.
Oakwood School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, national or ethnic origin in student admissions, student aid, or any other opportunity or benefit for students.
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