The school was built upon the fundamental principle that each student, no matter his or her background, embodies a special spirit, a

unique voice

that speaks

from the heart.

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History of Oakwood Friends School

In 1796, members of the New York Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) founded the School at Nine Partners in Millbrook, NY, the first coeducational

Friends boarding school in the country. In time, the School moved to Union Springs, NY and changed its name to Oakwood Seminary. A fire on that campus in 1917 resulted in the School's move to Poughkeepsie in 1920, where it became known as Oakwood Friends School. Oakwood continues as a Quaker, coeducational, college-preparatory boarding and day school, enrolling students in grades six through twelve. It continues under the care of New York Yearly Meeting.

Quaker schools encourage students and adults within the community to:

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
Act courageously in alignment with core moral beliefs