Frequently Asked Questions

About Secondary Campus Admission

Q.	If I’m enrolled at the elementary campus do I need to reapply to the secondary campus? Is admission to the secondary campus guaranteed?
A.	Although our elementary campus is located about one mile away, we are a K-12 school. Once your child is enrolled in the elementary campus, it is not necessary to apply to the secondary campus.

Q.	When are applications due? When will we be notified of our admission decision?
A.	To guarantee an interview, we ask that 7-12 applications are submited by December 3, 2021. We will continue to accept applications through January 7, 2022. Decision notification will be postes om March 11, 2022 at 5PM.

When do we receive a tour and interview? What can we expect on that day?

After submitting the application, parents and applicants will be notified of a virtual interview appointment during the school day. Each family will meet with an Oakwood Admission Officer, followed by an individual student interview. Campus tours will be scheduled separately and held during the school day. All applicants will complete a writing prompt at the time of their campus visit. Visits typically lasts an hour and a half.

Q.	Does Oakwood require the ISEE?
A.	In an effort to support a more equitable admission process, Oakwood does not require the ISEE. All secondary campus applicants will be given a timed writing prompt on the day of their interview. Additionally, in evaluating admission decisions, the committee will also rely on transcripts, recommendations, and interviews.

What are you looking for in an applicant? Also, are there any factors you are looking for in their parents/guardians?

We seek students who are capable, curious and eager to learn, and will participate fully in the life of the school. Oakwood students engage in a rigorous academic curriculum, a comprehensive athletic program, and numerous opportunities in the visual and performing arts. We seek parents who subscribe to our aims and values and are committed to working in partnership with the school.

Our admission process takes into consideration the personal as well as academic qualities of each applicant. The school is committed to achieving a balance in its classes – of gender, of interests and talents, and of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity.

Oakwood School admits students of any race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Q.	Do you favor applicants from specific elementary or middle schools?
A.	Oakwood strives for our school to reflect the diversity of the larger community, and we are committed to enrolling students from a variety of schools and backgrounds. Accepted students represent a wide range of schools, from independent, public, religious, and beyond.

Q.	What if my child is homeschooled?
A.	If your child is homeschooled, you will need to provide recommendations and evaluations from the people working with your child. In addition, include any documentation of the topics of study, textbooks or books used, and an overview of the curriculum.

Q.	Does Oakwood accept international students?
A.	Oakwood does not issue the I-20 form for foreign student study and only enrolls students who intend to complete their secondary education at Oakwood through the 12th grade. We do not offer a program in English as a Second Language (ESL), so all students need to be completely fluent in English for reading, speaking, and composition.

Does Oakwood offer shadow days?

In an attempt to limit the amount of school missed by prospective students and to reduce the impact on our small classes, we do not offer weekday shadow visits. Instead, we recommend attending a virtual student info session and open houses. Applicants and their parents/guardians will also have the opportunity to tour the campus after submitting an application. Additionally, we welcome you to attend any of our performing arts or athletic events.

Q.	What is Oakwood’s readmission policy?
A.	When a student leaves Oakwood, readmission is not guaranteed. A student who has attended another school must be re-evaluated through the regular admission process and will be considered as part of the current applicant pool.
Q.	What is Oakwood's sibling policy?
A.	To qualify for consideration as a sibling in the application process, the applicant must have a sibling (a) who is currently enrolled in the school and (b) whom the School expects to re-enroll for the admitted sibling's entry year. Furthermore, since the School depends on every family's good citizenship at Oakwood, in the admission decision-making process the School will take into account the quality of the sibling applicant family's partnership, participation, and support. Finally, note that sibling admission is not guaranteed. In considering the status of a sibling applicant, and in addition to the criteria above, preference will be accorded to siblings only when all other significant criteria are judged by the Admission Committee to be equal. Sibling applications for grades K-12 are due on or before October 1, 2021.

Q.	Can we visit the school again after decision letters are mailed?
A.	Visits are available for 9-12 grade applicants and parents only. If you or your child is interested, contact the secondary campus admission office at 818.732.3150 or secondaryadmission@oakwoodschool.org.

We were placed on a waitlist. What are the next steps?

If you are placed on a waitlist, promptly complete the waitlist form to indicate your interest in remaining on the waitlist. As we begin to hear back from families, we will develop a clearer sense of our openings and you will be contacted. We encourage you to explore all your options, but do keep us informed of your continued interest; we will keep your waitlisted application on file should any opening occur during the summer.

Q.	What if we missed the admission application deadline?
A.	Applications received after the deadline will be considered only after all on-time applications have been completed. (Late applications must be submitted online.) Please email the admission office at secondaryadmission@oakwoodschool.org to learn about the availability of spaces.

Does applying for financial assistance influence the admission decision?

Oakwood’s Admission Committee conducts a review of candidates without knowing whether or not they are applying for financial assistance. After accepting the most compelling students, those who applied for financial assistance are referred to the Financial Assistance Committee to determine financial need. In many cases, these families are granted financial assistance awards. As awards are granted and funding becomes limited, some compelling candidates will be offered a place on the waiting list with the hope that a space and funding become available after the first round of decisions.

Q.	How many spaces are available for each grade?
A.	We generally enroll 40 new students in 7th grade, around 15 or so in 9th grade, and one or two in other secondary grades.

Q.	When can I visit the school?
A	We are currently monitoring CDC guidelines and are in the process of planning a hybrid of virtual and in person events for the 2022-2023 admission cycle. Please check back for more information.

About School Life

What are the school hours?

Monday 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Tuesdays 9:00 AM – 2:40 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Thursdays 9:00 AM – 2:40 PM
Fridays 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM

The library is open daily before and after school.

Q.	Does Oakwood have a hot lunch program?
A.	Students may order lunch and snacks through our on-campus cafeteria. In addition, lunch and snack options are available at the Student Store. Students are also encouraged to bring a healthful, nutritionally balanced lunch from home.

Q.	Is a bus service available?
A.	Oakwood currently offers a bus service to and from the Hancock Park, West Valley, and Culver City areas. More routes may soon be available based on interest. In addition, we provide families with zip code lists so that they can create carpools.

Q.	Is there a uniform or dress code?
A.	Oakwood does not require uniforms or other prescribed school wear. However, we do require appropriate school-day dress. Accordingly, we do not permit clothing which is inappropriately revealing, or which contains hostile or vulgar language, sexual references, or references to alcoholic beverages or controlled substances.

How does Oakwood help its new students adjust to the school?

Following admission notifications, we invite all new students to participate in an orientation to meet teachers, students, and administrators. In addition, every new student will be paired with a buddy student from the same grade. Throughout the school year, the admission office hosts several new student gatherings for lunch and activities.

Oakwood fosters a sense of inclusion and community through our weekly community gathering, Town Meeting, through bi-monthly grade-level meetings, and through the advisory program. New seventh graders will be assigned to a senior buddy who will help them become acquainted with the school, and every student in grades seventh through twelfth is assigned a teacher or administrator who acts as the student’s advisor. In middle school, students meet with their advisors twice a week in small groups to discuss issues regarding transitions, community, identity, and much more. Students in grades nine through twelve meet regularly with their advisor to review and plan their academic program and to discuss academic and personal concerns.

How do parents/guardians get involved?

Oakwood encourages parent/guardian involvement at every grade level. Volunteers are an integral part of the success of our school, both through events and activities, they support and thorough the funds they help raise. From assisting with the hot lunch program, the Student Store, development events, community service, planning parent socials, helping with Immersion courses and Oakwood Extension, or joining the Green Team or the Diversity committee, there are many ways to volunteer. All families are expected to give time and resources as they are able.

What is Immersion?

The Immersion Program allows students to pursue an in-depth course of study during a two-week period. All secondary campus students (grades 7-12) will take only one Immersion course each year, which they must complete as part of Oakwood’s graduation requirements. Courses will meet daily during this period, with hours flexible in keeping with the program’s philosophy to move beyond the constraints of a normal school day. This is a graded course that will appear on a student’s transcript. There are a number of offerings specific to middle school, and some are cross-graded.

What Community Engagement opportunities are available for students?

Because the school seeks to instill a sense of stewardship and good citizenship, community engagement is a vital part of the Oakwood program at all grade levels. Through active involvement in their various communities (local, state, national, and international), students learn the importance of civic engagement and responsibility as well as some of the ways that social, political, and economic factors shape community life.

Oakwood sponsors many community service projects including Oakwood Arts Outreach and dinners at L.A. Family Housing, “You’ve Got a Friend” events with children from local elementary school, Friends of the L.A. Rivers projects, Revlon Run/Walk for Women, and other activities with local organizations. Visit our Service Learning page.

Is Oakwood a school for the arts?

While we are not an arts school, our commitment to the arts is equal to our commitment to academic subjects. Oakwood is a strong college preparatory school whose students are particularly attractive to colleges and universities because of the balance we provide between academics and the arts. All 7-12th grade students are required to take a minimum of three years of a visual and/or performing arts. Because of our statement of philosophy and careful construction of student schedules, students don’t have to choose one passion to pursue.

How does Oakwood value and welcome diversity?

Oakwood’s appreciation of diversity is expressed throughout the programs, policies, and philosophy of the school. Oakwood’s goal of increasing diversity is a priority within all constituents of our community—students, faculty, staff, and administration. In the most recent Strategic Plan of the Board of Trustees, increased diversity is an explicit goal. Oakwood seeks greater ethnic and racial diversity as well as greater socio-economic diversity. The current 7-12 student body includes approximately 43% of students of color. Oakwood also expresses its appreciation of diversity in its curriculum. Oakwood has a full-time Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion who works on the admission staff as well as with families and students in the school. Visit our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion web page.

Middle & High School Programs

What special programs are offered to middle school students?

Humanities
Middle school Humanities is a core academic course, integrating literature, history, expository and creative writing, critical thinking skills, current events, religion, philosophy, art, and film. This class meets every day for 70 minutes, thus providing a bridge from elementary to high school and establishing a comfortable “home base” in the midst of a K-12 community.

World Language
Students can select from Spanish, French, or Mandarin.

Wellness
Students enroll in this ungraded course for a trimester in both seventh and eighth grades. The course focuses on important issues faced in early adolescence and addresses issues of social, moral, and physical development.

Outdoor Education
Students in seventh-grade travel to Sequoia National Park for fun in nature and bonding. The trip occurs during the first week of school to further support the class transition to seventh grade.

Eighth Grade Community Engagement Project
Through their advisor group, eighth-grade students devote the year to a group service-learning project of their choosing.

Advisory Group
Under the guidance of the Passage Ways curriculum, middle school students meet in advisor groups bi-weekly to discuss issues pertaining to their age group. Each middle school student will keep the same advisor for two years.

CalArts
Oakwood’s partnership with the California Institute of Art enriches our middle school arts program through weekly classes in special study courses, mentorships, and private lessons.

Visual and Performing Arts
In addition to the Middle School CalArts program, middle school students sign up for an additional art class.

Course Offerings Include:
Middle School Chorus
Choraliers (audition only)
Advanced Orchestra (audition only)
Introduction to Music Composition
Beginning Strings
Beginning Brass
Middle School Orchestra
Introduction to Modern Dance
Middle School Boys' Dance Jam
Introduction to Theatre Art
Advanced Technical Theatre
Theatre Arts II (8th only)
Introduction to Art
Introduction to Photography (8th only)
Introduction to Film/Video (8th only)
Introduction to Sculpture (8th only)
Computer Science
S.T.E.A.M.

Middle School Sports
Students in grades seven and eight compete as members of the San Fernando Private School League. The “everyone plays” policy affords our younger athletes greater opportunity to practice their skills while still striving for the highest level of effort from each participant. Practices occur during the school day, while games are played after 3:30 PM. There are extended practice on Monday until 4:00 pm.

Middle School Clubs
Some of the club offerings include: current events, endangered animals, math club, book club, debate team, cultural awareness, The Banana (middle school newspaper), Student Council, yearbook, art & lit magazine, robotics, coding club, S.T.E.A.M. Council, dungeons and dragons, and more. Students may create additional clubs by obtaining a faculty sponsor.

What special programs are offered to high school students?

Mentorship Program
For high school students who wish to pursue advanced study in a particular artistic discipline, a mentorship program provides one-on-one contact with a CalArts graduate or graduate student with proficiency in that field. These usually take place during a student’s free period or after school. Past mentorships have included: jazz piano, landscape painting, acting lessons, among many others.

Independent Studies
Independent studies are an opportunity for in-depth study of particular subjects that are not offered in the regular curriculum. Students recruit a faculty sponsor to jointly devise a curriculum and must complete a program of instruction as well as a culminating portfolio or project.

Special Topics
While similar to an Independent Study, a Special Topic is an enrichment course that allows students to pursue special interests without the rigor of a full independent study.

Advanced Studies Courses
Course offerings vary according to student interest and ability. Currently, American Government, American History, Art History, Biology, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Computer Science AB, English Language, English Literature, French Language, Human Geography, Music Theory, Number Theory, Physics C, Spanish Language, and Statistics are available.

Senior Project
After having completed their coursework in May, seniors devote two to three weeks pursuing a current interest or experimenting with a new idea. Senior Projects have included making documentary films, conducting oral history projects with senior citizens, assisting with the Special Olympics, working for a political campaign, apprenticing in a law office, participating in programs to assist the homeless, serving as an apprentice to a craftsperson, organizing a neighborhood watch, etc. The projects culminate in two days of seminars for faculty, administrators, and fellow students, discussing the details of each project.

High School Clubs
Asian Affinity Group, CAAMASO (Connecting African, African-American, Multiracial Students at Oakwood), Cultural Awareness, Debate, DIVAS of Color, GECO (Gender Equality Club at Oakwood), Student Council, Admission Committee, Yearbook, High School student newspaper, Global Nomads, Drama Club, Community Youth Partnership, Girls Learn International, Somos Unidos, Sound Crew, Sports Council, Film Club, Chiapas Project, Theater Tech, Somos Unidos, Mock Trial, Rainbow Alliance, Arts Fair Committee, International Thespian Society, Peer Tutoring, LA Family Housing, Prom Committee, and MANY more. Students may create additional clubs with a faculty sponsor.

Where do Oakwood students go when they graduate?

The co-directors of college counseling begin working with students and their parents in the spring of the junior year to identify appropriate interests and choices for college. With three full-time counselors to work with the class, students receive close personal attention and guidance and benefit from the strong relationships and contacts Oakwood has developed with many colleges and universities over the years. Virtually all students go on to four-year schools. View a list of colleges and universities attended by our graduates.