The Oxbow School

530 3rd Street

Napa, CA 94559

22 Reviews

School District
Grade

11-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by other on January 28, 2024

This is a beautiful school and campus. The food is excellent. Teachers are excited about what they are teaching. Unfortunately the school lacks support or any acceptance for students who do not fit their mold. Our student was excited to be a part of this community and learning environment. Sadly the end result was our student being cast out. If your child fits the mold, it would be a great school. If not, the inclusive atmosphere and diversity they proudly boast stops abruptly.
Submitted by parent on November 28, 2021

This is a school that is for students who want to be surrounded by those passionate about art. The school exceeded our expectations in every way possible and we are so delighted that our daughter was able to spend a semester here (honestly wish she could stay for the entire year). She has learned so much about many different techniques that she was not exposed to at her home school. I appreciate all of the feedback she gets from her teachers on both her academics and her artwork. She takes all of her work quite seriously as do all of those around her. She is inspired by the community. The facilities are outstanding and the food is delicious. She has really grown as an artist and as a person because of her experience at Oxbow.
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2019

Oxbow is a one-semester only boarding school for about 40 motivated students from across the nation interested in a visual exploration while also engaged in an honors-level academic experience. My son attended in 11th grade and came back with greater maturity, independence, & an appreciation for true inquiry both in the arts and academically. He was well equipped for the rigor of RISD where he studies graphic design. But you don't have to plan on being an artist to attend. The point is to inspire creativity in thought and work in all disciplines. The semester culminates in a final project involving a major art project, a research paper, and a formal oral presentation and is an amazing event that highlights what this program is all about. The dorms are very nice. The food is excellent. Napa is a lovely and safe town. An hour or so from San Francisco airport. Cannot recommend this school more highly.
Submitted by other on September 01, 2016

I am a proud alum of OS 14- ten years later and Oxbow has continued to make impact my life, both personally and in my career. Oxbow provides a kind of education that never expires.
Submitted by student on January 26, 2015

The Oxbow changed everything about my life. Before coming to the Oxbow school I really didn't fit the typical High School Curriculum, I needed something more. Oxbow changed my perspective on not only the world but on myself for the better. I found the true value of personal connection and I learned to love learning. I have met some of the most amazing people from Oxbow that I will never forget. Oxbow turned me into a more confident, kind, and well rounded individual and all I have to say is I can't be more thankful for The Oxbow School and it's amazing program and staff. -Shannon Aguiar OS29
Submitted by other on January 26, 2015

Before arriving at Oxbow, I was caught up in all the things that my high school peers were: who exactly was invited to what party, getting stressed about what I wore to school, etc. I was bored and unfulfilled, looking to transfer to a different school entirely. The head of my upper school handed me an Oxbow brochure instead. I read it on the bus ride home from school, and by the time I was home, I was hooked. I came into Oxbow as a frustrated artsy kid with few outlets at my hyper-academic private school. Almost immediately on arriving, I learned just how much bigger the world really is, how much more diverse, and how narrow my view of everything was. I tell people that Oxbow is what made me a person. I emerged the other side (reluctantly I never wanted to leave) a fully-formed human. That's the reason, out of all of the other academic institutions I've attended, I support Oxbow with nearly 100% of my donation dollars. It's an incredibly special place, and it holds a special place in my heart. I credit the school with guiding me into where I am today: five years into an extremely rewarding (and successful) career working with creative people every day, fulfilled and happy.
Submitted by student on January 24, 2015

Oxbow was a very important time in my life and i am very grateful that this program exists! I feel that if i had never gone i wouldn't have to same view of art or the world as i do now.
Submitted by parent on January 23, 2015

The Oxbow School - I cannot imagine the sad circumstances surrounding the expulsion, but it is ludicrous to believe that the Oxbow response to those circumstances are what Oxbow and Stephen strive to achieve. My own experience with my daughter's attendance this past fall semester has been life-changing. She returned with more maturity, self assurance and confidence. She RAVED about every single teacher, but for different reasons for each one. In addition to the personal growth, she became more aware of global concerns; she returned a vegetarian, unless she knows where the animal was raised and was humanely killed; she wants to learn to cook for herself; she insists we join a local CSA; she insists we start composting; she cleaned out her room and has become a minimalist, etc. etc. etc. The return to her local school was and still is a transition, but realized that one of the reasons why she loved her experience at Oxbow was simply that each and every student WANTED to be there. I suspect the friends she made will be life-long, as she spends hours on the phone keeping in touch. How tragic for that lone student who maybe did not want to be there.
Submitted by student on January 23, 2015

I can say with all my heart that Oxbow has truly changed my life. In just one semester I saw a development in myself that I never thought could be possible. The creative and supportive atmosphere that they have created here is something that I know I will never find again because it is so unique. The school aspect of it was so much more enjoyable and exciting then traditional schooling is. Oxbow bridges the subjects and makes connections between all aspects of life. I made connections and built relationships that will last a lifetime. If you have this opportunity take it! I have no doubt that this experience has pushed me above me peers and has shown me what a life of art will be like.
Submitted by student on January 23, 2015

I attended Oxbow several years ago and I can say that it is still an important part of my life and the person I have become. It is such a great experience for students to find out what a college atmosphere feels like while their still in high school - this helps them become more responsible for their education, which is very empowering. The friendships I made at Oxbow were genuine and supportive, as were the relationships with the teachers. I strongly recommend this school any high school student as it will help them find their true selves.
Submitted by student on January 23, 2015

I can't say enough good things about this school, it's faculty, staff, and resources. Being at Oxbow was one of the most formative and positive experiences of my life. It is a truly amazing school!
Submitted by student on January 22, 2015

The Oxbow School changed my life... No but seriously. I can't even begin to explain how much I've learned from my experience there. I met 31 wonderful students who have now become life-long friends, along with many staff/faculty members who truly cared about our well-being. Besides the expansive academics and rigorous art practice, you learn about yourself. Who you are, what is the self and what it is to interact with different people from across the globe. I'm beyond grateful to have gone here and Oxbow was even more compliant in helping me paper work/financial aid. They are graciously generous and are run by a team of truly incredible people. So yes, I recommend this school highly, everyone will experience it differently of course, but that's what it's all about, your journey.
Submitted by student on January 22, 2015

Oxbow challenges its students with a new beginning, and a supportive and incredibly close community that encourages and pushes you to become your best self. Oxbow gives you the opportunity to self-reflect and self-discover, and approach your art, writing and studies with intention and deliberation. Oxbow was an amazing experience for me which challenged me to ask myself who I was going to be. My personal morals became solidified, my passions clearer and as the semester progressed I found myself more confident in my own skin and comfortable knowing better my strengths and weaknesses. In the classroom, Oxbow pushed me further in each assignment, delving deeper and becoming more comfortable with reflection and introspection. Each deep engagement prepared me for the next, and by final show I was able to engage a topic was that I was passionate about, and apply the skills I had learned over the semester to create a piece that was complex, personal, and exciting for me.
Submitted by parent on January 22, 2015

The Oxbow School offered an amazing opportunity for my daughter to learn more about herself and to continue her growth as an artist and human being. It was the experience of a lifetime for her, which taught her so much about the direction she wants to go with her aspirations and ambitions. The staff was incredibly caring and responsive to her needs as a student and to my needs as a parent. I would recommend this school with absolute conviction to anyone whose child has the emotional fortitude and maturity to give their all to the program.
Submitted by student on January 22, 2015

Attended a couple of semesters ago, by far the best four months of my life!! I love oxbow and Napa/San Fran! If your interested in art, and having an amazing transforming experience, apply!
Submitted by student on January 22, 2015

This school was an amazing opportunity and really helped me grow personally and artistically. I spent 3 summers and my first semester of junior year at oxbow. It was one of the best life experiences. I have made great friends who i still stay in touch with, and am now pursuing a career in the arts. My now current roommate also attended oxbow in a later semester and we still find ourselves remarking and sharing our great experiences that have come out of this time in our lives.
Submitted by parent on January 22, 2015

An absolutely wonderful and transformative experience, the Oxbow School provided our daughter with the tools to become not only a better artist, but to explore all kinds of possibilities within herself. She attended the Spring '14 semester, leaving our home a talented but somewhat shy young girl and coming back a shining, self-confident adult, all in the span of 4 short months. As for the other reviewer's opinion that " The director spends his time hunting for reasons to expel students", I respectfully disagree. Every school has its policies for what constitutes ground for expulsion, and they were made very clear to both parents and students at the beginning of the semester. And when some students broke those rules and were expelled, we heard how painful the experience was for the entire school body, especially the teachers who, in such a small environment, form very close relationships with each and every student. Yes, no adolescent is perfect, but when the behavior of some endanger and compromise the experience of others, I absolutely agree with the director's decision to expel, especially considering how much there is to learn in the short span of one semester.
Submitted by parent on January 22, 2015

The Oxbow School was an extraordinary experience for our daughter. She attended in the Spring Semester as a Junior and gained more maturity in this time than we ever imagined. In addition to the growth in her artistic work, we saw a growth in her as s person. She was encouraged by Oxbow to take responsibility for her school work and with that came responsibility for her life. We could not be happier with the experience she had at Oxbow and would recommend it to anyone who is considering a program for their HS student.
Submitted by parent on November 11, 2014

This is not a school for any child who is not perfect. And let's be honest here, what adolescent is? The director spends his time hunting for reasons to expel students. And each semester, students are sent home when Stephen Thomas decides. Goodbye tuition and goodbye semester grades. This is an education in coercion, paranoia, and bullying. Otherwise, a beautiful campus and facilities. Too bad it isn't the creative art school it was designed to be.
Submitted by student on October 16, 2014

My semester at Oxbow was transformative and amazing. I learned so much about myself and left the school as a more thoughtful individual. The teachers encourage their students think critically and deeply and to value their own opinions. Almost every writing assignment was written in first person and asked students for their input. The curriculum is intensive, creative, and fosters thinking and personal growth. Students are encouraged to value be conscious of their creative processes and lines of inquiry. Many of the topics discussed lead my peers and I on very thoughtful paths of inquiry that we still focus on months later. I still create work and continue to analyze and think about the topic that I chose for my final project at the end of the semester, for example. The campus is beautiful, the food is amazing, and the teachers truly care about the students- I made very close and meaningful teacher-student friendships. I learned so much about myself, others, and the world in general during my four months at the Oxbow School. I highly recommend this experience to anyone willing to put in the hard work and enter the school with an open, thoughtful mind.