Admission FAQ’s
Here are some of the Frequently Asked Questions about admissions, campus life, international applications and the boarding school experience.
Admissions Requirements
Start the application by completing the online inquiry and application form. The application fee for domestic students is $50USD and the application fee for international students is $100USD. Students may also complete the Standard Application Online (SAO). We require a completed application, including the student and parent questionnaires, as well as teacher recommendations, transcripts, and an interview.
Yes. Applicants can schedule in-person visits or request a tour and interview via Zoom.
Yes, tours are a great way to learn about the admission process, the academic and co-curricular programs, and see what sets Ojai Valley School apart. If you would like to schedule a tour, or attend one of our Open Houses, please call the office at (805) 640-2584 ex. 1259.
The application deadline is January 15 for high school candidates to be considered in the first round of decisions. Candidates who apply after the deadline will be considered on a rolling basis, as space permits. There is no deadline for primary, middle or elementary student applications, but we recommend applying no later than March 1 as space fills quickly in most grades.
All high school students who submit their applications by January 15 will be notified of the admission decision on March 10. Students who apply after the deadline will be notified as space is available. It is common for OVS to have a waitpool of candidates during the spring.
OVS provides need-based financial aid to qualified candidates. Currently, 43% of our students in grades PK-12 receive financial assistance. The school offers a limited number of merit and need-based scholarships for qualified candidates. Information about these scholarships is available on the Tuition and Financial Aid page of the website.
It depends on the level of support needed. Support services and accommodations for students with mild to moderate learning differences, such as dyslexia and ADHD, are available for elementary, middle and high school students. Services vary from help with planning and organization to more intensive academic support. There are additional fees for these services that are not included in the tuition. During the Admissions process families should provide documentation such as an IEP, educational assessment or other relevant evaluations. In some cases, students’ academic needs may be too great for the school to provide support and it is critical to determine this during the admissions process.
International Admissions
Yes, OVS enrolls international students and has done so for generations. We are looking for outgoing, intellectually curious students who are eager to participate in all aspects of campus life, including sports, performing arts, community service, and outdoor education. In recent years, we have welcomed boarding students from China, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Nigeria, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Taiwan.
The application requirements are the same for domestic and international students, however, international applicants must provide testing to demonstrate English language proficiency. International students will need to submit a TOEFL, TOEFL Jr., SSAT, or ISEE. Our SSAT code is: 5536 and our TOEFL code is: 9550.
We do not have a minimum score requirement because our Admissions Committee looks at more than just a student’s test scores in evaluating candidacy. The applicant’s interests, academic record, character, involvement in his or her school community, and interest in joining OVS are equally important. Our school offers ESL support for students developing their English skills, and as such we can consider students with developing language skills in the middle school grades.
Ojai Valley School is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant students and can issue the necessary documents to apply for a F-1 student visa. However, please check for the most updated travel requirements and restrictions in your home country.
School Community and Campus Life
Community members describe a warm family environment that is student-centered, respectful, authentic, fun-loving, and resilient. The small school size of OVS, its shared traditions and experiences, the attention to character education, and a devoted, long-tenured faculty foster a supportive and welcoming culture.
No, OVS students do not have to wear a uniform. The dress code varies by campus. We encourage you to review the Student Handbooks on our Resources page.
Typically, there are two students per room. Boys and girls live in separate dormitories on each campus.
Yes! We believe that Outdoor Education is essential to developing Integer Vitae — our mission to develop balanced, well-rounded people — and therefore full participation in this program is mandatory for all students in grades 2-12. Various age-appropriate activities occur throughout the year. Students learn to overcome real challenges that may be physical, social, organizational, and personal. Destinations in recent years have included Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Zion National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, and other national forests and state parks too numerous to list.
No, students are not required to ride horses, but the OVS Equestrian Program is unique in the western United States and extremely popular with students who come from around the world to participate.Students in grades 3-12 can participate in equestrian, and all students in grades PK-3 spend time in the barn. OVS Equestrians mostly ride English and can choose to ride as their sport in middle and high school. The school maintains two stables, one on each campus. Students can ride school horses or bring their own horses to school.
General Questions about Boarding School
The academics in most boarding schools are rigorous, but also come with tremendous support from involved teachers and motivated peers. Students are provided greater time to learn, explore, and participate and as a result they typically find greater success at the university level and beyond. Consider that a survey by The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) found that 87% of boarding school graduates reported that they were very well prepared for college academically compared to 71% of private day school graduates and 39% of public school graduates. The majority also reported that boarding school helped them develop self-discipline, maturity, independence, and the ability to think critically.
One of the greatest benefits of an OVS education is the connection students develop with dedicated teachers who get to know them very well. Teachers are able to provide a high degree of individualized instruction in small classes where students are surrounded by motivated peers and a challenging course of study. As with most boarding schools, the faculty also serve as dorm parents, coaches, mentors and advisors. They participate in outdoor excursions, performing arts, and weekend outings to create a genuine sense of community. OVS students are supported every step of the way. They often form lasting relationships with peers and teachers that extend beyond middle and high school. This is true at most boarding schools, where a TABS survey showed that 90% of boarders reported having great, high quality teachers while only 62% of private day school students and 51% of public school students reported having great teachers. But it is especially true at OVS where the resident experience for many students begins in the younger elementary and middle school grades.
Not at all. Consider that 60% of students who apply to boarding schools do so primarily for the opportunity to get a better education. About 86% of boarding school students say they are very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their family life when the start at boarding school. At OVS, all our graduates go on to attend colleges or universities, which demonstrates the motivation of our students to succeed and the support their receive from their families.