In the autumn of 1976, the founding families and educators of Oakcrest started a new all-girls, independent school in a large house on Idaho Avenue in Northwest Washington, D.C. intended to educate young women in mind, body, and soul and prepare them to be a force for good in society. The original school had 22 students and six teachers. Guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church and the spirituality of Opus Dei, the school focused on building a challenging liberal arts curriculum, one-on-one mentoring, a flourishing parent-school partnership, and a leadership development program grounded in service to others. In its second year, Oakcrest moved to a former French international school on Yuma Street in Washington, D.C. Over the next 23 years, Oakcrest established its programs and reputation in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas, as well as attracting students from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. In 2000, the school moved to the former McLean Bible Church in Northern Virginia. With this move, Oakcrest added a sixth grade class and expanded its athletics, fine arts, and co-curricular programs. In the fall of 2017, Oakcrest opened the doors to its permanent home at 1619 Crowell Road, Vienna, Virginia. Designed in the tradition of a Virginia manor house, the campus is set on 23 acres and features home athletic fields.
Oakcrest offers a liberal arts curriculum spanning the arts, the humanities, mathematics, science, and technology. The curriculum is designed to help students explore their intellectual strengths, interests, and creative abilities and master the skills and the knowledge base that foster lifelong learning. The school has a 7:1 student teacher ratio, with an average class size of 18. It offers 16 Advanced Placement Courses and is home to five academic honor societies. Middle School students learn to develop clarity of thought and expression, build organizational skills and study habits, practice self-advocacy, and build self-confidence. The Upper School emphasizes communicating effectively, developing clear reasoning and rhetoric, greater abstract thinking, and an increased appreciation of speculative knowledge and the nature of reality. To graduate, all students complete four years each of Upper School-level English, Mathematics, Science, and History and three years of a single foreign language. Students are also required to take Music and Arts Appreciation, Logic and Rhetoric, three years of Theology, one year of Philosophy and four semesters of Physical Education. All seniors research, write, and defend a thesis paper.
Mentoring
The cornerstone of Oakcrest's educational program is its mentoring program. Mentors meet regularly one-on-one with students and girls can seek them out for encouragement in academics, friendships, and service to others as they work on their own personal growth.
Athletics
85% of Oakcrest students participate in athletics. Oakcrest has an all-female coaching staff and offers 17 different sports. After over 30 years as a member of the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference, Oakcrest now competes independent of a conference in all sports but Swimming, where they swim competitively in the Washington Metro Prep School Swim & Dive League. Oakcrest has won over 50 PVAC banners, was the PVAC Conference Champion for Track and Field in 2019 and for Soccer in 2017.
Campus facilities
Oakcrest's 23-acre property includes a three-story Manor House with a full-sized chapel; fully dedicated teaching and advising spaces; up-to-date flexible classrooms, science labs, art and music rooms; a light-filled, spacious lobby for informal and community gatherings; a large dining/multipurpose room; a library complete with an array of media resources and fireplace; soccer, lacrosse and softball fields and ample outdoor grounds.
