The Oakridge School

My son has gone to Oakridge since he was four. He s now in middle school. We've enjoyed the care and quality of teaching staff, academic rigor, the life lessons through an encompassing educational experience, and a broad based curriculum with diverse students.
—Submitted by a parent

The students in this school are out of control. Particularly in middle school! None of the teachers seem to be able to handle them. Particularly subs. I think their are only a few truly good students. The students tend to be immature. DON'T LET YOUR KIDS GO HERE.

Bad leadership and poor sportsmanship. The teachers don't care what kind of things the students are into and really don't have much control over the classes.

My children entered Oakridge when they were three, and both are now in middle school. We have been thrilled with the manner with which this great faculty challenges and inspires our bright kids - for nine years now. No doubt our boys are being prepared for college and for life.
—Submitted by a parent

As a student at Oakridge I get the opportunity to participate in quality academics, athletics, and fine arts everyday. I have a great social life and I am friends with almost everyone. Our teachers are all very warming and easy to get along with. In athletics we have created a consistent system of improving our performance on the field by lifting weights and conditioning. Our football team lost in the finals this year and our powerlifting team won regionals. In fine arts I have learned alot about construction by building the sets used for the plays. On a previous review someone claimed that we recruit players... However there are athletes that are on financial aid, All of them contacted Oakridge asking for the opportunity to attend a great academic school to help them prepare for college. The only thing that would make our school better is giving more non-uniform dress days.

I've been attending Oak since Pre-K and still love going. I like the privelege in saying that I go to a nice, private school...Oakridge compared to other private schools has been called one of the nicest. Almost all the teachers I've had have been great and I continue learning something everyday. And not only school, but socially...I like the people at Oakridge and getting able to do things other schools may not have money for. The athletics for Oakridge teach a life lesson and I think overall Oakridge has many students making it big in college and out of college. I'll be glad when I'm called an alumni from Oak. (:
—Submitted by a student

As a parent of a student attending the Oakridge school. I'm extremely disappointed in the state of academics, the quality of students being accepted in the school, the lack of a diverse teaching staff. Although the school recruits diverse student athletes to play at the school the teaching staff does not. The students began the dating game as young as the 4th grade asking each other to the homecoming game, buy expensive mums and down right mean spirited to each other. The school does not prepare the students to enter a more diverse society and to accept others. My child is in the 7th grade and has witness since the 3rd grade the dating and social aspect of Oakridge. The parents of the students are extremely accepting of this kind of behavior.
—Submitted by a parent

I really like this school as a football player there during a time in whcih we probalbly have our best team ever we also have some of the best teachers in the state everyone there is welcoming when you first get here and the exposure to college recruiting and admittannce is great in fact just the other day we had a representative form UT Austin come to talk to us
—Submitted by a student

great school! the kids work very hard. oakridge encourages hard work. my kids love it!
—Submitted by a parent

As an alum who is very up to date on their facts, as far as area schools rank, Oakridge is among the best. I was raised up in the obvioulsy lacking AISD public system and had the opportunity to transfer later in high school. The differences are night and day. Oakridge has a comprehensive curriculum with often over qualified teachers. (My senior lit teacher had 2 degrees, a masters, and studied at oxford). As far as the question of character is concerned, some of the best connections and mentors imaginable were available for me at Oakridge. Also, the misinformation about state schools is quite troublesome, while true many did choose to go to state schools, it was not a forced decision but was due to current economic conditions, and severe lacking in the funding available for college. I am curently attending a top 30 school in the nation on scholarship.
—Submitted by a student

We are so disappointed with the direction of the school. The kids all receive vey god grades, however we are so concerned with the overall college admittance. Most students are attending state schools. At 15k for 13 years, the numbers do not add up. SAT's and test scores are relatively low as compared to student's grades. They are also low when comparing to other schools that cost the same. The leadership does tend to favor those with the money thereby lacking the moral ground to make tough decisions and develope and retain quality students. Overall, not a great bang for your buck!
—Submitted by a parent

This is an excellent smaller private school. the academics are very good and students regularly receive a significat number of scholarship opportunities. The focus is not on athletics programs, though the school is trying to address this with plans for additional facilities. The positive is that your child will be a big fish in a small pond. They can play on almost any team as opposed to not being on a team at all or sitting on the bench. The same goes for the charges of nepotism and political administration - you can be active in the school and that will be rewarded or sit on the sidelines and complain about others having their sway. Our children are smart and would do well at any school. At Oakridge, they have had the opportunity to go to school in a safe environment and be treated as individuals with truly caring teachers, administrators, parents, and
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has attended Oakridge for two years. As a past public school teacher of 11 years, I can honestly say that Oakridge has an outstanding academic curriculum that is accelerated that truly prepares their students for college. The math curriculum in the Lower School is the same curriculum I used to teach gifted/talented students and a large DFW school district. The teacher turn over rate is slim to none while most of the teachers have been at Oakridge for over 20 years plus. While most private school say they are a college prep school, Oakridge walks the walk. I am confident that my daughter will be fully prepared and will have her choice of colleges to choose from. The teachers and administration know the students first hand and are dedicated to ensuring student success. It's a great school!
—Submitted by a parent

My children went to Oakridge for many years. The academic programs are severely lacking. The math program is especially detrimental, and a writing program is basically nonexistent. The administration is very unresponsive when you question the validity of their academic programs and testing results. Nepotism prevails. Tons of homework which is basically busy work for the parent, with no benefit to the students academic development and test score results. The public school we now attend is more responsive than this expensive low quality choice.
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school the academics are pretty bad but other wise it is a challenging nurturing environment!!
—Submitted by a student

This school is very excellent. There is a strong emphasis in academics and good conduct. The teachers are very caring and very good at their subjects. I have two children and I drive 45 minutes each way everyday. There are many others like me. The children get high scores in standardized tests (Stanford, ISEE, and SAT in 7th grade), good grades in class, and are glad to go to this school. The administration makes it fun for the kids with so many activities and events. Sports is not emphasized, but there are enough variety for them to choose and take seriously. The principal is not popular for various reasons, but he does not really deal with the children. It's the Lower School head, Middle School Head, and the Upper School Head who really seem to know the kids and the kids love them. Great diversity also so everyone fits in.
—Submitted by a parent

I love going to my school. If students are lacking in a subject our teachers will help us. 5th grade to 9th grade is an annual class field trip. I am in the 6th grade and in a few days I am going on our class trip to MO Ranch in Hunt, Texas. We are staying there for two nights. Last year we went to Camp Grady Sprouse which was very fun and I am so excited about our class trip. I have been attending Oakridge for eight years. I have learned Spanish since I got there. In 5th grade they provide us with a new language French. That is if we want to take it. And in 6th grade we also learn Latin. In High School you can also pick Japanese. The teachers there are very educated. I think Oakridge is a good school in my opinion.
—Submitted by a student

There are some excellent teachers at Oakridge. Power structure is extremely political. Reputation of the school is paramount to administration.
—Submitted by a parent

Our family has experienced each division first hand over the years. The Oakridge School s reputation as an educational leader in North Texas continues to rise because of the strong and consistent leadership, a commitment to improving the facilities, and its investment in the faculty. Both alumni and parents continue to support the school to ensure that the mission and its benefits are passed on to the current student body, faculty, and local community as well as to future generations. The school s mission and honor code is affirmed even beyond the traditional school day. The administration is fair and thoughtful in its actions. Some of the criticism comes from a lack of understanding of the independent school philosophy of individualism. If you want policy and procedures you will be disappointed. If you want a partnership with individual attention you will love it!
—Submitted by a parent

Teachers in the high school are incredible. They have many years of experience and are very well qualified in their fields. Principal and administration leadership, not so great. Focused more on the tuition dollar and meeting the best interests of the school rather than the student. No opportunity for parental involvement once your child reaches high school - that is unless you have deep pockets!
—Submitted by a parent