The Oak Hill School

The Oak Hill School has steadily improved its academic excellence in the past few years since the current head of school has taken over. We have been at the school for over 10 years and have experienced the leadership changes first hand. We are so pleased that the teachers are now collaborating on their curriculum between and across grades. The new head has made great strides to ensure excellence among the staff, and it has improved or weeded out those faculty that seemed satisfied with just being average. The increased focus on academic excellence has in no way affected the nurturing atmosphere and Christian character of the school. We have experienced an improved culture that is growing in diversity and acceptance. We are so pleased with the school's new direction and perspective. With gratitude for the current leadership, A parent
—Submitted by a parent

OHS is losing 13 faculty members this year. The trajectory of the school has significantly changed since the hiring of the current head of school in 2009. Christian principles and culture are primarily noted only in specific classrooms. Leadership's management style is questionable for a healthy school. Many master teachers have left. Academic standards have declined in many areas, as has the sweet nature of the school. Hiring practices for classroom teachers appear to not align with the Christian school's stated mission statement. In my opinion, Oak Hill's value has declined in recent years if your primary consideration is academic excellence in a Christian environment.
—Submitted by a teacher

I am a former student. Oak Hill was an awful school. it seems as if they discourage advancement or any type of diversity. my mother also taught there.she quit after one year due to the poor leadership by the administration. I left for public school and it has been the best decision of my life as it has more so prepared me for the real world. the public school education has also given me the opportunity to exams and grow into the person I want to be as opposed to the person I am modeled into. it is a waste of money. the only thing positive are about half of the teachers.

Great teachers. Terrible Head of School. Teachers complain about her leadership and being over worked with work outside the classroom. The long standing Christian base has rapidly departing since this Head took over. Many families that have been there for over 20 years have and are leaving. I have two kids that graduated from OHS but we are now taking the others out of OHS.
—Submitted by a parent

Don't know who the sour grapes people are but my experience of the Oak Hill School has been awesome. The teachers are so sweet and caring. The new head master, who is a wonderfully articulate woman, has brought accountability (and accreditation) to the school, which was long overdue. It indeed is a Christian oriented school where the kids raise the flag as a student body and a values lesson is given to start the day.
—Submitted by a parent

I disagree with the recent marginal reviews of Oak Hill School. This school has always been strong in this community, and those traditions have been enhanced and brought up to date with this current administration. Keeping abreast of Best Practices in K-12 education takes a lot of work and initiative, and I believe this is happening well at Oak Hill. The school continues to maintain it's family-oriented feeling. The Christian teaching at Oak Hill is so crucial and continues to be strong. The strongest part of this school is the incredibly hard-working teachers who pour their heart and soul into our children academically, spiritually, and emotionally. A school is only as strong as it's teachers, and this is definitely a strong suit of Oak Hill. Our children are incredibly happy there and so are we. We wouldn't be anywhere else in Nashville. The Head of School is fantastic, and I disagree that she discourages opinions from families or faculty. Instead, she is a leader, she encourages other people's ideas and input, and takes her job to keep Oak Hill strong academically and spiritually very seriously. Change is hard, but necessary.
—Submitted by a parent

Correct Information Please: There have not been 4 or 5 Heads of School in the last few years or 15 years. There have been 3 which is completely normal since our current Head has just been at Oak Hill for the last 2 years. Sissy Wade was Head of School from 1994-2001, Claire Wilkins 2002-2008, and Jennifer Hinote 2009-present. What is also normal and wise is to have an Interim Head during the year of the search process: Bill Campbell. This information is from Google and my knowledge of being there through each one. I feel that each year Oak Hill continues to improve from a very good school to an excellent one. We love Oak Hill as well as the faculty and staff. I hope that anyone who is concerned will realize that any change is hard, and for the school to continue in excellence there will always be molding and remolding of every part.
—Submitted by a parent

I would have to agree with the precious 3 posters about the current state of Oak Hill School. The powers that be who select these heads of school just cannot seem to get it right. The new head wants to control every aspect of the school and does not value the school's traditions enough to keep them. In her attempts to "fix" what she feels is wrong with the school she has stripped the school of its identity. Parents may as well send their children to Ensworth or Harding...fine schools both. What made us stand out before was a rich Christian tradition that was in the forefront but not crammed down our throats. We had a certain sweetness and gentleness AND a commitment to academic excellence. Profession of faith has not totally left the building, but it is certainly in the periphery. And with 5 heads in the past 15 years or so no one on the board would dare dismiss her as it would be more poor PR for the school.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is a top flight institution with excellent facilities and a rich tradition. I have been very pleased with our experience thus far and this school is clearly among the top 3 schools of its type in Nashville. I do wish that the curriculum was more demanding, but the school walks a fine line between exacting studies and placating the wealthy parents of not so bright children. Parental involvement at the school is great and widespread, but often excessive from a number of helicopter parents. Again, a high wire act for administrators worried about getting on the wrong side of influential donors and power brokers in the Nashville community.
—Submitted by a parent

Wonderful teachers but they are asked to do too much for too little. With the exception of one interim Head of School they have had a very poor selection of Heads. The present head has no appreciation for the pass traditions of the school and is wonderful at intimidating teacher and parents. The number of teacher and staff resigning after working with the new head is unusually high. When you have over 12 teacher leaving in one year there is a problem. If a parent of teacher disagrees with the Head they are dismissed. There is no freedom of speech at this school.
—Submitted by a parent

In the past years OHS has been through four Head of Schools. The latest selection has been the worse. She has done all possible to destroy the warm family environment the school use to have. After asking a family to withdraw their children from the school just because the parents voice an opinion it is clear that parents involvement has declined. Until this person became Head the parent involvement was outstanding. Now parents are afraid to express any dislike of anything. There is a high rate of teacher leaving. Teacher and staff that had been at the school for 10 or more years have left or been asked to leave. Sad to see what was a wonderful school decline so rapidly. The warm fuzzy has departed this school.
—Submitted by a parent

The great teachers, staff and Head of School along with the generous parents make this a wonderful school!
—Submitted by a parent

The small classes Are lead by dedicated teachers who are surrounded by supportive parents.
—Submitted by a parent

This past year at Oak Hill has been among our best (of 8 so far), largely due to the interim head of school. While this is not the school for your child if you do not want significant homework, the teachers do love the children and nourish the whole child. The Christian emphasis is especially important to us; these values undergird everything the school does. No, this school is not perfect, but no school is. And the class size is 16, but with enrichment teachers and support, the teacher/pupil ratio is even lower.
—Submitted by a parent

I am disappointed to read the review of September 6th. Obviously, a parent was disappointed to learn that the board unanimously voted to make a chage with our head of school. While I'm not excited to go through a transition either, there had to be firm reasons for their decision. Since that transition has taken place, the school has thrived. The Christian foundation which the school was built is so vivid now. Oak Hill School provides an amazingly well rounded atmosphere for all of its students. They are challenged academically, nurtured spiritually and are engaged in many enrichments such as foreign language, music, drama and art. The student teacher ratio of 16 to 1 allows the teachers to have differential learning for each student. The teachers truly have the children's best interest at heart and it is evident in the nuturing environment they provide each and every day.
—Submitted by a parent

This school without Claire Wilkins is a nightmare. I would recommend it if you want your child to be surrounded with no diversity, soul or creativity. The halls are not filled with laughter, I have found no joy in Oak Hill School only uptight control freak teachers. If you have a creative child this is probably not going to be a good fit. Academically, I have no complaints except be prepared they will send you home with mountains of paperwork to read and unclear instructions for every event. The pick up after school is completely disorganized. A handful of the teachers have a sense of humor and are down to earth but be warned a lot of them are so strict it will squelch the spirited child.
—Submitted by a parent

Oak Hill is a very fine academic school. It has wonderful children and teachers. The extracuricular activities are fabulous. My only complaint is the lack of diversity. The school is made up of solely wealthy white people.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent school. I have a second grader and pre-kindergarten school child at Oak Hill School. The school excels in academics, atheletics and character development. Class sizes are kept to 16 per class all the way through 6th grade. Math, reading and spelling curriculum is individualized to maximize child's learning. Much care is paid to the 'whole' child. Oak Hill School students are challenged appropriately and continue to excel academically and personally in top upper schools. Much opportunity for public speaking, physical educ., Spanish through 5th grade then Latin, art, music, technology and character development based on Christain values.
—Submitted by a parent

Oak Hill school is the type of school I wish I had gone to growing up. I currently have a daughter in 1st grade and have another daughter following in her footsteps. This school is so special, I cant think of any other school in Nashville I would rather have my children go to. The headmaster Clair Wilkens has been a dream to work with and no one in the school cares more for your child than her. My wife and I feel so blessed to have found this school. Your child will have music class, drama, foreign language, bible time, prayer and an over all balanced education. You will never regret your decision to send your son or daughter to Oak HIll School.
—Submitted by mike huth, a parent