Ojai Valley School

[EduCativ]

Since its inception in 1911, Ojai Valley School has held progressive education and character development at the center of its philosophy and practice. "Educating the whole child" is more than a statement of intent. Our academic, residential life, athletic, and outdoor programs create intellectual growth and character development opportunities at each level of student maturity. As represented by the oak tree that graces the OVS logo, our program's strength is rooted in integrity, compassion, fairness, responsibility, respect, and perseverance.

Ojai Valley School's philosophy is contained in words Integer Vitae – meaning wholeness of life, the symmetry of life, soundness of life, and, therefore, poise and strength of life. To accommodate the school philosophy, every effort is made to create an atmosphere for students and staff conducive to learning and growing through the framework of a warm family environment.

Guided by this stated philosophy, Ojai Valley School has as its goals and objectives the development of each student's character through the advantageous use of Ojai's natural surroundings, the diverse educational community, and a robust and professional staff. More specifically, the goals and objectives for each student are outlined in the school philosophy as follows:

• Wholeness of life – Ojai Valley School students are presented with a wide variety of experiences through college preparatory studies, campus life, educational field trips, student activities, athletic programs, and outdoor education. These activities allow students to explore the extent of their interests and abilities, know themselves, and develop an appreciation and respect for other people globally.
• The symmetry of life – Ojai Valley School students are exposed to a well-balanced program, both academic and social, with consistent standards set for each discipline and activity.
• Soundness of life – Towards the development of character, Ojai Valley School students are given responsibilities, which relate to their personal lives and school affairs. Students have an opportunity to learn, perhaps to fail and to try again. With staff support and guidance, students begin to develop the knowledge and strength needed to make sound judgments.

At OVS, we welcome students from around the world. Our alumni represent 49 states and 40 foreign countries, and they graduate with an appreciation and respect for each other on a global scale. Our expectations for international students and domestic students are the same: We want to outgo intellectually curious students eager to participate in all aspects of campus life. We strive to enroll students from all backgrounds whose talents, skills, and interests will enrich the OVS community.

As a college-prep school, OVS's academic program is challenging, led by dedicated teachers who encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, creativity, and collaboration. You can meet some of our incredible faculty members on the Meet the Faculty page. Students are encouraged to engage in class discussions across the grade levels, share ideas, and reach their potential. The curriculum in grades 6-12, as detailed in our Curriculum Guide, is designed to build skills with each year, offering new challenges and opportunities for growth.

In the primary grades, children develop social and academic skills in small classes in which teachers can focus on children's individual needs and abilities. Students develop reading and math skills. They are introduced to science, technology, art, music, and Spanish. Creativity, self-reliance, respect for others, and other character traits are woven into the curriculum to prepare out littlest students for the educational journey that lies ahead.

As children move into the elementary grades, the program focuses more intently on core subjects, including math, language arts, technology, social studies, science, and the fine and performing arts. In middle school, grades 6-8, the curriculum becomes more rigorous as students are introduced to Shakespeare's works and the core principles of algebra, geometry, biology, and chemistry. In the eighth-grade, students travel to Washington D.C. to enhance their studies of government and U.S. history. They learn valuable technology and study skills to prepare them for high school. They play team sports and venture into the outdoors for longer and more challenging trips.

In high school, grades 9-12, students take on more significant challenges in small, college prep classes taught by experienced teachers with a knowledge and passion for learning. Students develop a solid foundation in English, history, math, science, foreign languages, and fine arts. And they have the opportunity to tackle 23 different honors and Advanced Placement classes. Because classes are small, averaging ten students, teachers come to know where students might need help and when they are ready to take on a more significant challenge.

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