Oakwood High School

Oakwood has a great school program! They encourage students to challenge themselves and many teachers show that they care about students both in and outside of the classroom. There are tons of opportunities for students to take advantage of. The two I enjoyed were the engineering program and rocket team! Both looked great on my transcript and resumes for college and contributed to my admittance to the Aerospace Engineering program at UC! Teachers have high expectations for students but I definitely feel like they have prepared me for my rigorous college major! Although students are afraid of getting teachers with a rep for high expectations, these are the teachers that have changed and inspired me the most. Oakwood allows students to be well rounded with various art, music, foreign language, engineering, and business classes available as electives. If I could give advice to any younger OHS students, I would say challenge yourself and don't be afraid to ask for help. My favorite two years were my most challenging where I started to take advanced placement courses and really provide myself with a great college prep tailored towards my college major.
—Submitted by a student

I attended this school from 5th-9th grade and I am now in tenth grade attending a different high school. Personally I was very displeased with the educational system in this school. I was not extremely successful here and not because I am unintelligent or uninterested in my education. I had no problem with lessons or tests or teachers in specific but my grades were well below average because of an outrageous amount of homework. I don't know if I coinsidentally was in the classes of the teachers that assigned the most homework but I had several friends that had the same problem. Oakwood is a friendly community but it is not as good an environment as the school district makes it out to be. Like other schools students in this system are just as likely to be subject to bullying as any other. Overall Oakwood is no better a school district than others but for some reason it is highly regarded.
—Submitted by a student

The teachers are not very educated and I did not learn much by going to school there. Also, the teachers give you a lot of homework.
—Submitted by a student

I'm an alumna from Oakwood who went through the whole K-12 system. While a lot of the teachers are young and somewhat inexperienced, there are still teachers there who taught my mother when she attended Oakwood. The only reason I give it 4 stars is because of the trouble myself and many of my friends had in college with math. If you're not on the Honors/AP math track you'll have a hard time getting through basic math in college. Also, I never learned to study. I really have to in high school and it was rough when the one-on-one student-teacher interaction wasn't there in college and I had to learn to study on my own. The English program, however, is beyond compare. I can't say how many people I knew in college who had trouble writing papers and reading novels. Oakwood is the only school I know of where being smart and getting good grades is cool. If I get the chance to move back to Ohio I will love to send my son to Oakwood.
—Submitted by a parent

Oakwood High School...where it is still cool to be smart. As a military family we've moved around to many different school systems. We always picked the best in the area. This time we picked Oakwood. After a few years in the system, our kids have blossomed in many ways. They stand up for their beliefs. They are not afraid to perform. They are comfortable in the safe-environment to try something new and fail. The students are supportive of each other and encourage each other for success. The positive peer pressure among the kids is unequaled in any of the "good" schools we've been involved with before. When my kids come home and say they are signing up for yet another AP course...I certainly can't complain about their level of performance and education.
—Submitted by a parent

Unbelievable quality of education-it isn't just a 10, it's a high 10 in ratings. It's cool for the children to be smart, bookish, in band, anything that other schools may perceive as 'uncool'. One of my children was a mediocre student who really had no interest in his education before we moved here, and the school has piqued his interest in doing well in school, being succcessful in life, and focusing on what is important. He would have been lost in the shuffle at a large school, and here, the teachers and admin have worked very hard to help him to succeed. He is very happy and looks forwards to school now. There is an air of success there, that you can be anything you want to be, and I find that is driven by the students as much as the parents. And the kids have all been friendly. The only people I have heard say bad things about the school are people who have no experience with the school, and have never even known anyone to attend. The rumor that they are snobbish is simply not true (and we are not rich). I really don't believe that anyone whose children have REALLY attended this school would give it 2 stars.
—Submitted by a parent

Oakwood is a fantastic school that focuses on a healthy balance of acedemics, sports and diversity of extra curricular activities.
—Submitted by a parent

After seeing many other school districts I feel the Oakwood schools system is outstanding. I do not have children in the high school, but am very pleased with the teachers and the quality of the education in both the grade school and junior high. The school system does not control the population and is not accountable for the make up of the student body. Oakwood does an excellent job educating all students who attend.
—Submitted by a parent

The School has no diversity at all. They are only focused on good grades and looking good.
—Submitted by a parent

I totally disagree with a 2 star rating of Oakwood. I am an alumni, pulled my kids from Catholic schools and moved to Oakwood this past August due to the high degree of education you recieve here. A teacher is as good as you the parent and student make it. And high school unfournately is clicky no matter where you are. Maybe it helps children learn to deal with diversity later in life.....not everyone in the real world gets along or is the same.
—Submitted by a parent

OK school, not always the best or most seasoned teachers for some classes. Extremely uniform preppy student body. Clicks.
—Submitted by a parent

I completely disagree with the parent that posted a 2 star review on April 1st. We moved in to the Oakwood community when My oldest daughter was entering Kindergarten and have enjoyed the schools from the start. The only concern we have ever had was with Parents never the school or the teachers. The System is one of the best. Both of My daughters 'normal' classes are ahead of many of the local schools in the area by 1-2 years. Each Year all the students get exposed to Spanish every week. My personal Favorite feature program is called ' Up With Art.' Each month every grade in the Elementary schools get a 1/2 hour lesson on a new artist or style of art. The Kids are encouraged to try their own way of creating something in that months style. This is in addition to the normal Art class they receive from the school.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent. One of the top public schools in the US and in Ohio. Small class size, low teacher-to-student ratio and a multitude of AP classes. This school rivals many expensive private preps. Always top ranked in the OH proficiency exams. Great Special Ed too. Beautiful campus. About 100-120 kids in each grade...no student is lost in the shuffle. Well-managed school district/budget.
—Submitted by a parent

Its o.K. They don't focus on education much, they only focus on getting good reviews. Rushes through classes too quickly for most, including teachers, to understand.
—Submitted by a parent

My sons have gotten a great education at Oakwood High School. It is a place where it is cool to be smart. Their academic teams are always state finalists or winners and the opportunities are endless for extracurricular activities. One of my sons, because of the large number of Advanced Placement tests offered, went into a presitigious college as a sophomore. At Oakwood High School, you get lower class sizes, a great campus, and administrators who care. In essence, a private school education at a public high school.
—Submitted by a parent