Casady School in Oklahoma City: Independent College Prep with Boarding Options

Casady School is a coeducational independent school serving grades 6 through 12 in Oklahoma City's Nichols Hills neighborhood, with an enrollment of roughly 400 students and a boarding program that draws families from across Oklahoma and neighboring states. Founded in 1947, the school operates on a traditional semester calendar and follows a college-preparatory curriculum accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS).

What Casady School actually is

Casady functions as both a day school and residential boarding institution, which sets it apart among Oklahoma City's private secondary options. The school sits on a 65-acre campus near the University of Oklahoma's research areas, with a mix of academic buildings, dormitories (for boarding students in grades 9-12), athletic facilities, and dining commons. The day program draws primarily from the Oklahoma City metro, while the boarding program enrolls students seeking a full-immersion college-prep environment with structured evening study and residential community oversight. Class sizes average 12-14 students, substantially smaller than Oklahoma public high school averages of 24-28 per classroom.

Tuition, fees, and financial aid

Day tuition for the 2024-25 school year runs approximately $16,500 annually for grades 6-8 and roughly $18,000 for grades 9-12. Boarding tuition adds approximately $12,000 to the day rate, bringing total boarding costs to around $30,000 per year. These figures should be verified directly with admissions, as tuition adjusts annually. The school reports that roughly 30 percent of enrolled students receive need-based financial aid; families applying for aid typically complete the School and Student Service (SSS) financial aid form. Merit scholarships are available for qualifying students, though specific award amounts and selection criteria require direct inquiry with the admissions office. Unlike some peer institutions, Casady does not offer tuition payment plans directly but accepts monthly installments through third-party services like FACTS tuition management.

How Casady compares to other Oklahoma City private schools

Among Oklahoma City's independent day schools with secondary programs, Casady positions itself as the primary residential option. Heritage Hall, also in Oklahoma City, operates a day-only model for grades 6-12 with similar college-prep focus and comparable class sizes but tuition approximately 15-20 percent lower (around $14,000-15,500 depending on grade); Heritage Hall attracts families prioritizing day-school convenience and slightly lower cost. Casady's boarding program is uncommon in the local market; the nearest comparable residential prep school is Guthrie's Oklahoma Military Academy, which emphasizes military structure and leadership development rather than traditional college-prep curriculum. For families seeking day-only secondary education without boarding, Norman's Positive Tomorrows operates a smaller, tuition-free model focused on students experiencing housing instability, serving a distinct demographic. Choose Casady if boarding, smaller class sizes, and a traditional college-prep structure are priorities; choose Heritage Hall if day-school flexibility and slightly lower cost align better with your situation.

Admissions process and timeline

Casady's admissions cycle runs on a rolling basis year-round, though most families apply between September and January for fall enrollment. The application requires submission of previous school records, standardized test scores (typically ISEE or SSAT for middle and upper school entry), a student essay, and parental and student interview sessions on campus. The school evaluates applications holistically, considering academic performance, test scores, character references, and interview impressions. Admission decisions typically arrive within two to four weeks of a completed application. For boarding students, additional conversations explore residential readiness and family expectations around independence and community living. Current families report that the admissions team is transparent about the boarding adjustment period and discusses campus culture directly during interviews.

Who Casady suits and who it does not

Casady works well for families valuing small classes, traditional college preparation, and either boarding as a structured alternative or day attendance within the Nichols Hills area. The boarding program appeals to families seeking full-time residential education, high school students pursuing advanced academics with peer cohorts, and parents of teenagers needing structured environment support outside the home. The school does not suit families seeking STEM-intensive magnet programs, arts-focused curricula, or heavily discounted tuition. Students thriving in larger school settings with extensive extracurricular variety may find Casady's 400-student enrollment limiting compared to Oklahoma City's public magnet and traditional public high schools.

First visit and what to expect

Campus tours run by appointment and typically include a 90-minute walkthrough of classrooms, dormitories (if interested in boarding), athletic facilities, and dining areas, followed by a conversation with admissions staff about your family's goals. Prospective families should plan to spend a full morning or afternoon. The school encourages attending a class visit or athletic event to observe student culture firsthand. Bring questions about daily boarding schedules, parental communication protocols, and academic support resources.

Hours, location, and logistics

Casady School occupies 65 acres at 9500 North Pennsylvania Avenue in Nichols Hills, adjacent to the University of Oklahoma campus. Day students arrive by 8:00 AM; dismissal is approximately 3:15 PM. Boarding students remain on campus weekday evenings and weekends, with two weekend home visits per semester as standard (verify current boarding policies directly). Ample on-campus parking is available for visiting families. The location is roughly 20 minutes from downtown Oklahoma City and sits on public transit–served roads, though day-to-day reliance on private transportation is typical.

Casady fills a specific niche in Oklahoma City's education landscape by offering residential secondary education with traditional college-prep rigor in a setting scaled for individual attention. For families where boarding or its day-school equivalent matters, Casady remains the primary local option.