Since 1869, Oregon Episcopal School (OES) has been preparing students for higher education and lifelong learning by inspiring intellectual, physical, social, emotional, artistic, and spiritual growth so that they may realize their power for good as citizens of local and world communities.
Club or Organization: A Cappella & Concert Choirs, Business Club, Challenge Course, Coding, Greenhouse activity, Junior State of America, Maker Studio, Mock Trial, Model UN, Robotics, School Newspaper, Speech & Debate, Student government, Ukulele & Other Acoustics, Yearbook
Arts and Music Programs: Band, Ceramics, Filmmaking, Stagecraft, String Orchestra, Theater
Recreational Athletic Programs: Athletic training, Outdoor Program
School Notes
Nestled within 59 wooded acres of natural wetlands, nature
trails, ropes courses, and gardens in southwest Portland, OES is a
college preparatory, independent, pre-kindergarten to grade 12 day
school, and grade 9-12 boarding school.
The OES curriculum is rooted in inquiry and exploration, with
students engaging deeply to absorb information and take an active,
empowered role in their education. Hands-on, discussion-based,
project-oriented learning happens inside and outside the classroom,
and each discovery leads to the next, driven primarily by the
curiosity of OES students.
With an average enrollment of 870 students, OES has an average
class size of 16, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 7:1, so
everyone is known and appreciated as an individual and supported on
their path of ife with patience, kindness, and love.
Learning and leadership opportunities abound in academics,
music, art, world languages, and athletics (no-cut), and students
can pursue the subjects that intrigue them. Unique among the
school's offerings is a domestic and international boarding program
averaging 60 students who add cultural richness and diverse
perspectives to the entire community.
Gathering at OES is a lived expression of our supportive
community and how much we respect and make space for each other's
similarities and differences. We intentionally create time to
regularly gather and reflect as part of educating toward a larger
purpose: inclusion and respect, understanding and compassion,
service and social justice, and meaning and commitment beyond
oneself.
OES is an educational home for the student ready to practice
critical thinking. It's a place for students to feel safe in making
mistakes as they ask questions and explore, developing a growth
mindset to set them up for higher education and the 21st century
workforce.
"OES is almost like another family to me," said eighth grader
Jacob. "I have all my friends here, and then there are all the
great teachers."
Oregon Episcopal School recently unveiled its newly expanded
and renovated Athletic Center! The nearly 42,000 square foot space
nearly doubles the school`s indoor physical education and athletics
capabilities, enhances the already successful and inclusive
athletics programs, and creates a new hub that meaningfully
connects the entire school community. Team rooms are replacing
traditional locker rooms for meetings, game reviews, classes, and
more.
The Oregon Episcopal School was the grand prize winner in June
2021 of Team American Rocketry Challenge! The school`s 10-student
squad beat 614 teams across the nation to bring home more than
$25,000 in scholarships. It was the Aardvarks` first time
qualifying for the competition.
Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
Virginia Euwer Wolff '55 - Writer
John Robinson '05 - Actor
Ben Westlund '67 - Public servant
Tianhui Michael Li '03 - Data scientist/tech entrepreneur
Grades: PK-8 | 494 students7.5 miles 601 NE Cesar E Chavez Blvd. Portland, OR 97232 (503) 236-6205
7.5
PK-8
494
School Reviews
5.00 out of 5(3 reviews)
56/24/2022
My child attended OES from Pre-K to 12th grade. Overall, I am super impressed with how OES creates a sense of community and belonging for everyone on campus. Teachers are experts in their subject areas, but more importantly, they are experts in knowing their students. It was easy for my child to form strong connections with her teachers and she always felt comfortable asking for help when she needed it. The small class sizes at OES and the school`s dedication to gathering together really allowed my child to feel safe and known at the school. I credit OES for giving her a desire to try new things, ask questions, and step out of her comfort zone. Thank you, OES!
- Posted by Parent - Happy Parent
56/6/2022
OES is a fantastic school. A large and amazing campus with a wonderful new Lower School and Athletic Center with plans to invest further in the coming years into additional facilities. The school invests heavily into creating community across faculty, parents, and students and is supported by a well-organized and substantial parent volunteer system. No cut sports which is great. OES invests heavily in its teachers ensuring a low teacher-to-student ratio. We're in the Lower School and we've been impressed with the quality of the curriculum, the experiences, and the specialty classes our girls take. It's a nationally recognized school with an amazing reputation.
- Posted by Parent - OES Parent of 2 girls
512/15/2021
OES is a very good school--both academically and in terms of its culture. The students are bright, and they are given significant agency in their learning. Rather than stressing APs or other standardized tests, OES focuses on true inquiry-based learning. In doing so, the school cultivates curiosity, helps students pose questions and design solutions, and allows them to create new understandings. The students are independent and have a voice--exactly what we are looking for as parents. They are also very well prepared for college. (For example, the "average" SAT score is around 1370; OES students also write a TON and do a lot of independent research, especially in science, which gives them experience in what they will do in college.) The sports are good, and they just opened a BEAUTIFUL new Athletic Center. All in all, we are really happy at OES. No school is perfect, and I would love to see them improve their art facilities (though word on the street is that a new Arts, Design, and Innovation Center is in the works), but our child is happy, balanced, and pushed to reach her potential. That's a pretty good combination!
- Posted by Parent - OregonLuver
Endorse Oregon Episcopal School. Endorsements should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:
Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
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The average private school tuition in Portland, OR is $11,203 for elementary schools and $14,527 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
