Oakland At a Glance
Oakland School is a small co-ed boarding and day school that enables bright children who have learning disabilities, ADHD or organizational difficulties to reach their academic and personal potential. Oakland’s mission is three-fold:
- To provide students with the tools to learn
- To instill in students the confidence required to reach their academic and personal potential, and ultimately
- To enable students to successfully transition to a traditional classroom at their appropriate grade level
Student Profile
- Boys and Girls ages 6-14 at admission
- Average to above-average intelligence
- Learning disabilities (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, non-verbal learning disabilities and visual as well as auditory processing disorders), ADHD or organizational difficulties
- School size: Our capacity is 85 boarding and day students during the school year and 135 students during the six-week summer program.
- Students are enrolled at Oakland for an average of 2-4 years.
- Oakland is not appropriate for behavior disordered or emotionally disturbed children.
Academic Program
- Ungraded curriculum through 9th grade so students can progress as fast as they can
- Individualized programs
- Overall student/teacher ratio of 4:1
- Daily one-to-one and small group instruction
- Emphasis on basic skills including reading, Oakland’s specialty, math and written language as well as study skills incorporated into a history or science curriculum
- Our own acclaimed Upward Lift Program, offered in the summer, immerses children who are reading below a fourth grade level in phonetic instruction and the structural analysis of words. Similar to Orton-Gillingham in its multisensory methodology, Upward Lift is an intensive and systematic program that can produce dramatic gains in word recognition, one of the first steps in reading.
- Comprehensive instruction in study skills to facilitate life-long learning
Student Life
- A very special, success-oriented environment featuring a beautiful country setting, a home-like atmosphere and a dedicated, nurturing staff that make this learning disabilities boarding and day school an exceptional place
- 450-acre grounds, the centerpiece of which is the pre-Revolutionary “Big House,” surrounded by a series of school buildings including the historic Old Kitchen
- Fully-equipped gym and recreation building
- Structured athletic and recreational program
- Intramural and team sports
- Access to rich cultural activities in nearby Charlottesville, home of the University of Virginia
- Strong, year-round horseback riding program offered at no additional cost
- Character development emphasis throughout the academic, recreational and residential program to instill in students the pillars of character including responsibility, respect, caring, trustworthiness, fairness and citizenship
- Supervised evening study halls
Oakland School is licensed by the Virginia Department of Education, accredited by the Virginia Association of Specialized Education Facilities (VAISEF) and is a member of the Small Boarding Schools Association (SBSA). All teachers are certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
