Ojai Valley School

723 El Paseo Road

Ojai, CA 93023

15 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by other on March 21, 2023

I attended OVS lower campus as a day student ages ago. Some background : I was on the road to juvenile delinquency with California's public schools as I'd relocated from a state that was about 2 years ahead of California. Being bored, I just decided not to go to school unless there was a test. This wasi before the government figured out that maybe they should deduct a student's grades who has many absences. After getting straight A's but missing roughly 75 days in 7th grade. It was decided by the district and mom that I needed private school. I attended OVS as a day student for the 8th grade. It was an amazing experience for me. This is far and away the best school I've attended This includes my University experience at UCD . Received my first B at OVS which was a good thing because I was finally feeling challenged. i thrived. If upper campus had been just slightly larger I may have gone to OVS for high school as well. There were less than 20 students in the 8th grade and OVS upper campus had a few hundred students across 4 grades. So i went to a public high school that on the surface looked questionable but ended up being a great school as well ( just not as good my OVS experience. )I still remember being in classes at OVS and loving that at the time it had a much more collegiate feel for how classes were run. When I was attending OVS most of the students were boarding so I can't comment on that experience. Now to state the obvious... It's an expensive school. But it took a kid who was literally hanging out with beach people on beaches in Ventura County on many weekdays to someone who went on to graduate from a UC school. p.s. typos and grammar oddities are not a reflection of my education or lack thereof. I blame my tiny phone screen, old eyes and big thumbs.
Submitted by other on February 11, 2022

i was an 8th grade student when i attended this school. i was a boarding student, and had never attended a private school beforehand. the transition was very harsh for me, because they had so many rules that i had never even seen before. I was sent to the vice principal's office nearly every other week. My phone was taken from me the majority of the time, so i lost contact with every single one of my friends but one. I gained lots of weight due to their large portions of food and not being allowed to skip meals/eat my own food. I was constantly supervised, and about halfway through the year it felt like no matter what i did, i would get in trouble. Boarding at this school has traumatized me. To this day, I still have trouble with disassociation and a general distrust in authority. Do not send your child here.
Submitted by parent on April 27, 2020

We love and appreciate the OVS experience because of the small classes, outdoor ed opportunities, fine arts, thoughtful teachers/admin, friendly staff, parent club involvement, challenging academics, aftercare/club childcare coverage, and amazing lunches!I like that my kids learned to read early on. They learned the sounds first, then progressed to reading simple books and eventually chapter books, all while learning sight words, spelling words, and vocabulary as decoding, fluency, and comprehension developed. Both of my kids love reading. The school also has a "reading buddies" program where older students read to and befriend younger learners. This builds confidence and companionship. PE at OVS challenges students on the field and in the pool. Outdoor ed provides additional opportunities to develop skills by way of class hikes and semi-annual camping trips. I like that students get up on stage early on--to showcase things they've learned, to sing and perform for an audience. This develops courage, talent, and public speaking/comfort at a young age. I enjoy seeing student council members speak over the mic. They are great models for younger students. The Parent Club is also a neat way to give back to the school. The school offers a variety of healthy and colorful options during meals. The food is fresh, homemade, nutritional, and thoughtfully prepared in order to accommodate diverse diets. Students of different ages interact during after-care and recess, including themed clubs held after school. OVS is my kids' home away from home. I can trust that they are safe and comfortable there. They are stretching themselves academically, athletically, musically, creatively, linguistically, artistically, and social-emotionally. I also like that parents are welcome--invited and involved.P.s. Check out the summer camp program in addition to the academic year's offering. Summer camp is well rounded with academics and activities indoor and out.
Submitted by other on February 13, 2020

A majority of the best memories of my life are those of experiences I had at OVS and lessons I learned there that I am now teaching my own children. I did not graduate recently, nor do I have a child there (yet), but many of the teachers I had are still there and a few of my fellow classmates have returned as faculty, so to me, that shows that my experience is still very relevant.
Submitted by student on June 08, 2019

The best you can have. Ojai Valley School provides a foundation to pursue anything you choose. The experience enriches your life and those around you for your entire life. Former Student
Submitted by parent on July 14, 2018

Beyond excellent. Thrilled with OVS and highly recommend
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2016

Our GATE son was so unhappy at his old school. He'd come home, do his homework, practice golf or archery and spend the rest of his nights gaming in his room after dinner. We knew he was bored, and we had to find the fix. We transferred him to OVS mid-semester, 8th grade, end of 2015, although it's a 50 minute commute each way. In the few months our son has been at OVS, he's dropped gaming entirely, has picked-up mountain biking, skateboarding, long-boarding, signed-up for trail running, and now wants to learn the bass guitar. We could never get him interested in an instrument. He's on winter break this week, and today...today...he picked up the book I bought him, "Looking for Alaska", on his own accord! He was excited to turn in his English essay last night after an archery tournament. He said it was his "best written work ever". (Ironically, he's writing at a high school level, although we can't get him to read much of anything.) OVS will soon have him demonstrate archery (he's State Champion Indoor/outdoor and bronze national champion outdoor) to both the upper and lower campus students to encourage his individuality and perhaps get other students interested in this great sport. OVS's philosophy is Integer Vitae – meaning wholeness of life, symmetry of life, soundness of life, and, therefore, poise and strength of life. Their philosophy is somehow getting our son to explore new things and to get him to step out of his comfort zone. We are very happy with our transfer decision. Our son is very happy! Thank you, OVS!
Submitted by parent on March 20, 2015

I wrote this review last summer but it never posted for some reason. My son attended Ojai Valley School in 10th-12th grade. This school dramatically changed my son and his future for the better. My son was unmotivated and unsure of his future when he left public school. He is a smart boy but didn't apply himself. He's now a Political Science Major in New York. Fred Alvarez was my son s track coach, history and journalism teacher but he was such more than that. He was a mentor and a father figure to my son. Fred's wife Tracy in the Admissions Department was beyond accommodating and helpful. Lynn Whipple, the assistant to the Head Master is one of the sweetest women you'll ever meet. Mr.Cooper does a great job of running the campus. I won't name everyone but there are many others that inspired and encouraged my son daily. OVS is more than a school; it is a family for a lifetime.
Submitted by other on September 06, 2014

My granddaughter, an 8th grader, is in her third year at OVS. Prior to attending OVS, she carried a "C" average. Thanks to the entire OVS team, my granddaughter is now an engaged and solid "B" student. The Headmistress is hands-on and caring. WITHOUT exception, each OVS teacher, administrative staff member and support team is clearly dedicated to ensure the students' success. In addition, the students also have opportunities to participate in camping, skiing, surfing, horseback riding, and the arts. As a boarder, she enjoys the additional benefit of 24/7 hands on nurturing and guidance. Thank goodness my granddaughter is living the OVS experience!
Submitted by other on February 15, 2014

I spent four years at Ojai Valley and the incredible natural setting and quality personal instruction I received had a powerful, positive influence to help me become a whole person..
Submitted by parent on August 21, 2013

I'm not sure where the review below came from, but from our visit to the school, the students looked happy, engaged, were polite and friendly. No one looked "depressed" or seemed like they did not want to be there. On the contrary, they were having a lot of fun, and learning some incredible things. This appears to be progressive education at its best.
Submitted by other on August 14, 2013

OVS upper, has a whole lot of drug use and tobacco use. When boarding you get a feeling of depression. Alot of the kids don't want to be there and It's an awful experience. If your a ojai local, I would recommend the school for non boarding.
Submitted by other on April 11, 2013

My experience at O.V.S upper was pretty good. Most teachers were very involved, approachable, friendly and kind. I did have some fall out with 2 teachers but nothing too major. My best memories are playing soccer, volleyball and Lax. After two years, I was definitely ready for college life, life and more. I made some major life lasting friendships at that school. I like the fact that every kids mix up with everybody.
Submitted by parent on March 08, 2013

I had two daughters attend this school. One from grade 5-12 and one from grade 3-12. Both felt very safe at the school and wanted to be at the school all the time. I eventually let them board one year which they loved. They were very prepared for college both academicly and socially. I would highly recommned this school.
Submitted by parent on December 28, 2012

I would like to recommend Ojai Valley School to people who are concerned with boarding school. This school is well-prepared in the various curriculums and programs for preparatory universities and colloeges .