The Oxbow School

The Oxbow School is a semester program in Napa, California focusing on studio artmaking and interdisciplinary humanities.
This program provides sophomores, juniors, seniors, and gap-year students the opportunity for an intensive art experience and thought-provoking academic instruction. The atmosphere at Oxbow is one of artistic and social exploration combined with rigorous academics designed to prepare students for college and beyond. Oxbow alumni often go on to earn distinguished art and writing awards, and earn offers of admission and win scholarships at top colleges and universities.
We invite students to enlarge their artistic vision and enhance their technical skills in an environment dedicated to supporting artistic inquiry.
Take this opportunity to further your education, expand your social horizons, explore your passion for art, and create a new foundation for your future! Oxbow also offers a spirited and engaging 6-week Summer Art Institute for rising juniors, seniors, and gap year students. Oxbowschool.org

Quick Stats (2024)

  • School Type: School with Special Program Emphasis
  • Grades: 10-12
  • Enrollment: 45 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $33,000
  • Average class size: 15 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

School Overview

Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades 10-12
Offers Post-Graduate Year
Yes
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Year Founded
1999
Summer School Offered
Yes
Summer Program Details

Student Body

Total Students
45 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
15%
State avg.: 51%
Students by Grade
The Oxbow School Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers
8 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
6:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
80%
Average Class Size
15 students
List of Courses Offered
Matriculation DataMatric. Data
Classroom Dress Code
Casual

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline
None / Rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost
Tuition Notes
Tuition is all inclusive. Room & board, food, books, supplies, field trips and many other costs are included. Need and merit scholarships available.
Summer Program Cost
$16,000
Summer Program Cost Notes
Tuition is all inclusive. Room & board, food, books, supplies, field trips and many other costs are included.
% on Financial Aid
48%
Admissions Director
Jason Tucker

Sports

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
5 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
After School Art Program Mentor, Garden Crew, volunteer club - Pet Shelter

Arts and Music Programs:
Figure Drawing, Mural Projects

School Notes

  • The Oxbow curriculum is designed to matchthe requirements of the nation`s best public and private high schools and is as committed to academics as it is to art making. All of the courses at Oxbow are accredited, honors level, and college preparatory.The Oxbow School is a private, independent and not for profit organization.The Oxbow Schoolis located in Napa, California,forty-five minutes from San Francisco, one hour from the Pacific coast, and within a few hours of exceptional state and national parks.Students enjoy an inspirational campus settingwhile still having access to all the amenities of downtown Napa, which is just a short stroll from campus. At Oxbow, studio art practice is not about waiting for inspiration; we believe that artists design problems and then solve them, opening up new ideas and possibilities while responding to materials that re-shape the originating question. Students leave Oxbow with a set of skills that can be reconfigured to meet the challenges of ever-changing goals and environments.
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does The Oxbow School cost?
The Oxbow School's tuition is approximately $33,000 for private students and $16,000 for summer students.
Does The Oxbow School offer a summer program?
Yes, The Oxbow School offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.
What sports does The Oxbow School offer?
The Oxbow School offers 7 interscholastic sports: Climbing, Cycling, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing and Ultimate Frisbee.
When is the application deadline for The Oxbow School?
The application deadline for The Oxbow School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

School Calendar

View the The Oxbow School yearly calendar below. Note key dates such as:

Event
Date
OS50 Spring 2024 Students Depart for Spring Break
March 29, 2024 (Friday)
OS50 Spring Break
March 30, 2024 (Saturday)
OS51 Fall 2024 Fall Break
November 22, 2024 (Friday)
OS52 Spring 2025 Spring Break
March 28, 2025 (Friday)

School Reviews

  5.00 out of 5  (4 reviews)
5  
This school is absolutely amazing. It has exceeded our expectations in every way. We are so happy that our daughter got to spend a semester here.
- Posted by
5  
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.
- Posted by
5  
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.
- Posted by
5  
We are so grateful for the Oxbow School for providing an environment where students feel safe to delve into subject areas deeply, to look outward with an open mind, inward with introspection, and to create, thoughtfully! Our daughter had an incredible semester there (OS34, Spring 2016, second semester Junior Year). She really pushed her own boundaries, and grew so much in maturity and confidence as a result. Before the Oxbow experience, she wasn't sure about what direction or what colleges she want to apply to; but after the Oxbow School, she has become more certain of what she wants. Oxbow is like a little piece of paradise, thanks to the incredibly nurturing and supportive staff and environment, not to mention the amazing food cooked with love! I highly recommend the Oxbow School to any young person who feels that the conventional school environment doesn't satisfy them, and that they are yearning for more "learning that's not divided into 7 period days."
- Posted by

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • School Type: School with Special Program Emphasis
  • Grades: 10-12
  • Enrollment: 45 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $33,000
  • Average class size: 15 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Napa, CA is $10,255 for elementary schools and $15,150 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).

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