Boarding School in Ventura County, California

Oak Grove School:
Oak Grove School is a progressive, co-educational day and boarding school offering a 7-day boarding program to both American and international high school students in 7th through to 12th grade. Based in Ojai City, Ventura County, southern California, we are situated approximately 54 miles (86 km) north of Los Angeles.

Co-educational Day & Boarding School Programs:

Life at Oak Grove - The Art of Living and Learning

The Art of Inquiry
observation • questioning • fact-finding • research • self-reflection

The Art of Communication
speaking • writing • listening • collaboration

The Art of Academia
knowledge and application of academic standards, conventions, and disciplines in core subject areas

The Art of Engagement
attention • self-direction • self-motivation • self-regulation metacognition or learning how one learns • examining one’s own thinking

The Art of Aesthetics
sensitivity and appreciation of beauty in all forms • finding the artist within • artistic expression

The Art of Caring & Relationship
Self: self-understanding and awareness • making healthy choices
Others: self-reflection and awareness in relationship • non-violent communication service to the common good
Local & Global Communities: service and citizenship
The Environment: mindful stewardship

Oak Grove School is a living, learning community and therefore these “arts” should not be perceived as fixed but dynamic in nature and in a constant state of review.

Visual and Performing Arts
All Oak Grove high school students select from a number of fine and performing art electives which encourage and support the development of an aesthetic sense toward all art forms as well as integrate and honor individual student interest and passion.

All 9th grade students take a required class in Foundations of Art. Students may also choose from yearlong concentrations in Studio Art, Ceramics, Digital Design & Photography, Music Performance, Communications/Yearbook, and Drama.

Students intending to pursue applications to art colleges are assisted in developing their portfolios. Music students perform both at school and in the community. Art students showcase their work twice a year at school and frequently in the community.

Athletics
Oak Grove’s Fit for Life & Team Sports Program contributes to helping students see the importance of physical vitality, caring for one’s body, making healthy life choices, developing understanding, respect and compassion for others, and instilling a sense of responsibility to the whole.

The lessons young people learn and practice on the playing fields can serve them for a lifetime. They learn about friendship, both the friendship of their classmates, teammates, teachers and mentors and those “others” who they may be competing against.

Outdoor Education
Oak Grove’s Outdoor Education & Travel Program at the high school level offers opportunities to learn from nature, build lasting friendships, feel comfortable and secure in the outdoors, and become active stewards of the environment.

Fall Camping Trip: The fall camping trip is designed to bring the whole high school together early in the year to orient and integrate new and returning students and teachers. The trip provides an opportunity for community building, developing friendships, building outdoor skills and spending time in nature “unplugged”.

Living simply for a week invites students to consider their relationship to the natural world. A community service project is usually part of the trip. Students spend the week camping either on the California Coastal Islands, on one of the many beautiful beach camps along the California Coast or in the Sierra Mountains.