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Ojai Valley School

5.00 5 1 (1 review)
723 El Paseo Road
Ojai, CA 93023
Tel: (805)646-1423
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OVS students enjoy time hanging out with friends on the 195-acre high school campus, located in a stunning canyon overlooking the Ojai Valley. Throughout the year, student life is punctuated with fun events to balance the academic schedule. These include camping trips, prom and other socials, themed dress days, community service projects, and countless weekend excursions.
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OVS students enjoy time hanging out with friends on the 195-acre high school campus, located in a stunning canyon overlooking the Ojai Valley. Throughout the year, student life is punctuated with fun events to balance the academic schedule. These include camping trips, prom and other socials, themed dress days, community service projects, and countless weekend excursions.
Ojai Valley School offers students in grades 3-12 the ability to live and learn alongside peers from around the world. Residents participate in a vibrant community of motivated students and develop friendships that last a lifetime. Just ask our alumni. Many of their closest friendships began in the OVS dorms or were developed on camping trips or sports teams.
Ojai Valley School is one of the few equestrian boarding schools in California with stables on both the middle and high school campuses, allowing students to walk from class to the barn to ride nearly every afternoon in place of sports or P.E. classes. Our program welcomes riders of all levels.
Ojai Valley School offers a challenging college prep curriculum with opportunities for Advanced Placement (AP) and honors course work. Last year, juniors and seniors took, on average, three AP classes each year.
Outdoor Education is a key part of the OVS experience. Students in grades 3-12 participate in multiple outdoor trips throughout the year, many of which relate to classroom studies. In freshman Humanities, for example, students read A River Runs Through It, and then a group took a fly fishing trip to the eastern Sierras.
The Athletic program is a vital component of life at OVS. Middle and high school students participate in athletics each season. High school sports options include soccer, basketball, volleyball, cross country, track, baseball, equestrian, tennis, golf, and lacrosse.
Surf's up! OVS students enjoy great Southern California weather and frequent excursions to the Pacific Ocean for early morning surf trips. The 'Dawn Patrol' surf club welcomes beginners and experienced surfers alike, and they regularly paddle out from local surf spots.
At the OVS Upper Campus, high school students in grades 9-12 flourish from the attention they receive in small classes and benefit from a college prep program that emphasizes character development and academic achievement.
The arts curriculum at OVS include drawing, music theory and composition, music history, voice, ceramics, photography and three AP art courses. Students have the opportunity to explore costume design, graphic design, and film. They can also participate in electives such as dance and chorus. OVS produces musical and drama productions throughout the year.
Recent college acceptances for our students include Brown, Columbia, Northeastern, NYU, King?'s College London, St. Andrews University, Boston University, Colorado State, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Pitzer College, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and others.
  • It is our goal to recruit intellectually curious, outgoing students who want to participate in all aspects of Ojai Valley School`s academic and extracurricular programs.
  • We strive to enroll students from all backgrounds whose talents, skills and interests will enrich the OVS community.
  • Through the development of a strong college prep curriculum and with emphasis on study skills, confidence and leadership, students earn placement at select colleges and universities worldwide.

Alumni Reviews
  Review School

  • Review Description

  • Class of 2011
    5 Stars   7/12/2012
    University of California, Berkeley
    I started boarding at Ojai Valley School (OVS) since fifth grade in Elementary School and this experience had been the best time of my life largely due to the supportive environment of the faculty members. . .
Definition of Terms 
2016 School Data
 Ojai Valley School Boarding School Avg.
School Focus College Prep College Preparatory
Grades Offered (Boarding) 3-12 9-12
Grades Offered (Day) Pre-K-12 9-12
School Type Co-ed Co-ed
ADD/ADHD Support Yes Yes
Religious Affiliation Non-denominational Non-denominational
Year Founded 1911 1910
Campus Size 195 acres 110 acres

Student Body

Enrollment 269 students 298 students
% Students of Color
9%
20%
% International Students
20%
20%
% Students Boarding
40%
68%
Average SAT Score n/a * National Avg. »View
SAT range (25th-75th percentile) 1834 - 2086 -
Offers Post-Grad Year No No

Academics and Faculty

Saturday Classes No No
Classroom Dress Code Casual Casual
Average Class Size 12 students 12
*National School Avg. » 20
Teacher : Student Ratio 1:6 1:7
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered 19 16
ESL Courses Offered Yes Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
43%
70%
Summer Program Offered Yes Yes

Finances

Endowment Size $2 million $16 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)		 $50,500
(Jr. Boarding Tuition (5/7 day) Grades 3-5: $44,500)		 $51,700
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)		 $20,500
(Varies per grade level: http://www.ovs.org/?id)		 $28,500
Yearly Tuition
(5 Day Boarding)		 $44,500 $38,000
% Students on Financial Aid
27%
35%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant $10,635 $21,582
Merit Scholarships Offered No No

Admission

Application Deadline Feb. 1 / rolling Jan. 15
Accepts Standardized Application Yes No
SSAT Required Yes Yes
Average Percentile SSAT 45% -
Acceptance Rate
64%
57%
Director of AdmissionsTracy Wilson
Associate Director of AdmissionsJohn Valenzuela

Course Listings

List of Courses Offered Link to List of Courses

AP / Advanced Courses

# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered 19 16
CoursesAP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics, AP Psychology, AP Spanish, AP Statistics, AP Studio Art: 2D, AP Studio Art: 3D, AP Studio Art: Drawing, AP United States History, AP World History, Honors English 10, Honors Geometry, Honors Spanish II

Sports

# Interscholastic Sports Offered 10 14
SportsBaseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Equestrian, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball

Extracurriculars

Total Extracurricular Organizations 24 23
ExtracurricularsActing, Chorus, Community Service Club, Computer Club, Cycling Club, Hiking Club, Horseback Riding, International Studies, Journalism, Kayaking, Kickboxing, Leadership, Performing Arts, Photography & Video, Rock Climbing, Ropes Course, Surfing, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Woodshop, Yearbook, Yoga

College Matriculation

Year: 2012 - 2014 10 Most Popular College Choices  (# Enrolled)
Chapman University 5
New York University 3
University of Nevada, Las Vegas 3
Boston University 2
California College of the Arts 2
California Lutheran University 2
George Washington 2
Michigan State University 2
Occidental College 2
University of California, San Diego 2

School Notes

    Founded in 1911, Ojai Valley School is recognized for its challenging academics and unique programs:
  • 100% college placement
  • Interscholastic sports
  • Outdoor education (trips to Yosemite, Escalante, the Lost Coast and Joshua Tree)
  • Equestrian program
  • Community service (includes a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico)
  • Fine and performing arts
  • International ESL and summer programs
    • A spectacular location 40 miles southeast of Santa Barbara and at the foot of the Los Padres National Forest ensures weekend access to beaches, lakes and mountains.
  • School accreditations: ACA, WAIC, WASC
  • Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
    • Barbara B. Smith (L35) - Ethnomusicologist, Professor Emeritus of Music, University of Hawaii
    • Robert Erburu (L46) - Former Chairman of the Board and CEO, Times Mirror
    • Michael Mondavi (L58) - Founder, Folio Wine Partners
    • Jeffrey Hyland (L63) - President, Hilton & Hyland, architectural historian and author
    • John Slavik (L66, U69) - Owner, Pinnacle Holdings, Inc.
    • Keith Carradine (U67) - Actor, composer, musician
    • David Lazarus (L74, U78) - American business and consumer columnist for the Los Angeles Times
    • Bruce Sommers (L79) - President of Sincbox Media
    • Mari Holden (L84, U88) - 2000 Olympic silver medalist, cycling
    • Tiana Coudray (L02,U06) - 2010 winner, USEA Gold Cup Series CIC3* division, Galway Downs International Horse Trials
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Quick Stats
  • Grades: (Boarding) 3-12
  • Students: 269 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $50,500
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $20,500
  • Acceptance rate: 64%
  • Average class size: 12 students
  • Application Deadline: Feb. 1 / rolling
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