Ojai Valley School is an independent, co-ed boarding and day school serving 300 students from grades Pre-K to 12 on two campuses in Ojai, California. The Lower Campus (Pre-K though 8th grade) is located on a 14-acre campus in the city of Ojai; the Upper Campus (9th grade through 12th grade) is located on 198 acres in the rural east end of Ojai Valley, next to Los Padres National Forest. The school has always used the natural environment in the Ojai Valley, and California more broadly, as an extended classroom for academic and co-curricular programs. Commitment to sustainability, the environment, and outdoor education are core tenets for all that we do at OVS, and are at the heart of our mission.
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 opportunities for intellectual growth and character development at each level of student maturity. As represented by the oak tree that graces the OVS logo, the strength of our program is rooted in integrity, compassion, fairness, responsibility, respect, and perseverance.
As you explore these pages you will find more information about our programs and diverse community, which includes international students from around the world. As you will see, we continue to live our philosophy more than 110 years after the school was founded. It is an ideal setting for elementary, middle and high school students to learn and grow. I encourage you to come visit our campuses to learn more.
Accreditation: Ojai Valley School is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and holds memberships in the California Association of Independent Schools, the College Board, the National Association of College Admission Counselors, the National Association of Independent Schools, and the Association of Boarding Schools.