Upper School

Oakwood's upper school serves students in grades 9 through 12. About half of them live on campus and the rest commute to school as day students. The upper school offers programs and activities specifically designed to meet the needs of students in these important college-preparatory years. Small classes, committed, accessible teachers (most of whom live on campus), and comfortable facilities provide for individualized programs and a strong sense of community as students prepare for the demands of college.

A central element of each school day is Collection. Led by a student clerk appointed by the community, this daily morning meeting includes a brief period of silent worship, followed by announcements from students and teachers, and sometimes humorous skits, presentations, and music as well. We all look forward to this time together as we gather our thoughts and plan our goals and schedules for the day ahead.

Upper school students typically enroll in five classes. Some may be traditional classes with an enrollment of 15 or 16 students; others may be quite specialized and have an enrollment of five students. Some students design their own independent study under the supervision of a teacher they have selected.

All students are involved in an interscholastic sport or a non-competitive "life sport" each day, and many are active in clubs or special interest groups. It's not uncommon for a student to be involved in a theater production one season and a varsity athletic team the next. Oakwood students tend to be fully engaged in the varied life of the school community, and there is a strong feeling on campus that this is "home."

Academic

Oakwood's rigorous college-preparatory curriculum emphasizes an active, engaged role for each member of the school community. Students pursue their subjects with a critical eye, examining relationships and exploring the value of information-based research, experimentation, and analysis. In other words, they learn to search for the complex nature of truth. Literature, writing, modern languages, history, mathematics, science, computer literacy, visual and performing arts, physical education, and community service are all required. A wide variety of electives further enriches the curriculum.

Arts

Oakwood Friends School offers a full range of programs in music, drama, and visual arts, all of them emphasizing the process of creation. Whether on stage, in the art studio, or behind the lens of a camera, students experience growth and a sense of accomplishment through self-expression. Oakwood's extensive program includes a drama department that mounts three main stage productions each year, an array of studio and art history classes that prepare interested students for enrollment in college-level art school, and varied instrumental and choral music offerings.

Athletics

A full range of interscholastic and intramural sports allows all students, regardless of ability, to experience the excitement, camaraderie, and physical health that come from athletic activity. Oakwood fields interscholastic teams in cross country, soccer, volleyball, basketball, swimming, softball, baseball, and tennis. Intramural life sports include running, yoga, martial arts, tennis, walking, and fitness training. Some students develop individual sports programs that are conducted off campus.

Oakwood teams compete in three athletic leagues stretching from eastern New York to western Connecticut. Our coaches emphasize participation, skill building, and sportsmanship, and our teams have achieved considerable success in league competition. Over 65% of our students participate in at least two interscholastic sports each year. Scores and schedules are available on Oakwood's calendar. 

Technology

Supported by an extensive fiber optic network, Oakwood's 63 acre, 14 building campus enjoys full connectivity. Academic spaces are supported with networked computers in all classrooms. Collins Library houses a 24-unit upper school computer lab, while Crowley provides the middle school with a state of the art 11-unit computing center. Both students and faculty enjoy wireless printing capability from all points on campus. Computer centers in both dorms allow student access to the school server and internet. All hard-wired dorm rooms provide direct connectivity while wireless internet access is supported in common living spaces and all academic buildings. Faculty, student proctors, and network filtration software provide three layers of internet supervision and promote responsible, safe, and appropriate internet usage. Oakwood's technology helps support vibrate programs in the media arts, film study, digital photography, scientific experimentation, math, music and theater.