A Brief History of Oak Hill School
Oak Hill School, a nondenominational, college-preparatory school, was founded in the winter of 1993-1994 by Ed King III, a Eugene businessman and president of King Estate Winery. Through Timberking, an investment partnership, a former ranch was purchased and the site became the new home of Oak Hill School. In 2000 the school took over the ownership and now owns the property and buildings. The grounds consist of a 70-acre hillside site adjacent to Lane Community College, with extended views of the Cascade Mountains to the east.
Mr. King’s vision for Oak Hill School grew from his own education and from the climate of the Eugene community in the early 1990’s. He saw a need for a nondenominational, college-preparatory school like the one he had attended in his home town of Kansas City. Eugene’s public schools had suffered serious budget shortfalls as a result of voter passage of a property tax limitation measure in November 1990. Schools were overcrowded, teacher morale was low, and the once fine reputation of Eugene’s public schools was losing ground rapidly. Finally, Mr. King’s experience on the board of a local parochial school convinced him that his ideal school would be one where members of all faiths would feel welcome. At the time, many families were looking for better educational experiences for their children, and Oak Hill School would be in a unique position to provide this opportunity.
At the time of the original purchase, the grounds included a large ranch house and a few outbuildings. By the time Oak Hill opened its doors to 77 students in September 1994, the ranch house was remodeled to include both the elementary school classrooms and the “Gather Room,” which was soon to be used for music instruction, dances, celebrations, exhibits, and for staff, parent, and Board meetings. Two modular units arrived shortly after the opening. They offered another six rooms, including the school’s library, a science lab, and study carrels. Four small rooms housed the middle school classes.
According to early accounts, there was a high degree of idealism as Oak Hill began its first year. Even before any teachers were hired, a curriculum was designed to encourage students to follow their own interests. Innovative concepts included mini-courses taught by parents, a setting of technology as a high priority, and developing guidelines for disciplines in a way that included the students helping to establish rules, consequences, and restitutions.
Perhaps most striking in reviewing the early history of Oak Hill School were the adventuresome approaches taken by the founder; the first Head of School; the young, vibrant faculty, and the pioneering families in their effort to create a new educational experience and to raise the financial resources to support it. Once the faculty was in place, critical pedagogical decisions and the formation of the school culture required continual debate and adaptation, an exciting process that continues to involve the strong input of the faculty to this day. Much of the curriculum is, in fact, teacher-generated, with school-wide policies the subject of discussion by both faculty and administration.
Meanwhile, the campus facilities expanded. Subsequent auctions and fundraising efforts resulted in campus growth to include a new “3-4-5” building in the school’s second year, remodeling of the administrative offices in one of the original buildings as well as a new gym complex. At the time of our first accreditation, three years after the school began, Oak Hill School fulfilled a need for a new Upper School building that housed a science laboratory, four large classrooms designed for 20 students each, and an office for a counselor/college advisor.
As of the start of the new school year in 2007, Oak Hill School, again added appreciably to the campus layout. It now includes a newly-built, energy-efficient Lower School with four large classrooms. In addition, we refurbished an out building, now known as the Carriage House, to include the Development Office, a spacious Board Room, and studios to accommodate music instruction for all grades.