What OVS offered me was a home away from home. Not only the stunning campus but the amazing faculty and staff that embraces you with open arms, enlightening you with the ability to tackle any obstacles in the world!
— Joshua Hsu (U20), Michigan State University
Ojai Valley School offers resident 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 and other shared experiences.
All boarding students live on campus in school dormitories and are supervised by highly qualified counselors who create a climate of trust, care, honesty, and collaboration. Counselors provide thoughtful programming and support clubs and activities after hours and on weekends. They also supervise the health and wellness of boarding students. The counselor-to-student ratio is 1:3.
Students typically share a dorm room with one other student. They spend time in common areas with peers for studying, recreational time and enjoying nutritious meals in the dining halls. The Lower Campus has two dorms for resident students in grades 3-8, while the Upper Campus offers four dorms for resident students in grades 9-12. Learn more about resident life on the Resident FAQs page.
Here’s a quick look of the typical schedule in both boarding programs:
Lower Campus
• The daily schedule begins at 7:00 a.m. with wake-up, crew jobs and breakfast.
• The academic day begins at 8:00 a.m. It concludes Monday through Thursday at 3:30 p.m., and Friday at 3:00 p.m.
• Residents enjoy recreational time in the dorms until dinner at 5 p.m., followed by study hall from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Electronics (phones, iPads, etc.) are turned in at 9:00 p.m.; lights out at 9:30 p.m.
• Most residents are 7-day boarding students, but the school does offer a 5-day boarding option. This is ideal for working families who live close enough to Ojai to pick up their children each weekend. The 5-day program provides students structure during the academic week and allows families time together on the weekends. Students must be picked up by their parents each Friday and returned to campus Sunday evening.
Upper Campus
• The daily schedule begins at 7:00 a.m. with wake-up, crew jobs and breakfast. Academic classes begin at 8:10 a.m.
• Sports are held after school until 5:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:00 p.m.
• Study Hall runs from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Lights out at 10:00 p.m.
• No classes on weekends, but students often have weekend sports or performing art commitments
• Students who live in the region can go home for the weekend, provided their academic and athletic commitments have been met
To learn more, check out the Virtual Tour video below focusing on the Lower Campus boarding program: