Oldfields School


Oldfields School is a college preparatory school for girls in grades 8 through 12 in Sparks Glencoe, Maryland. It was founded in Baltimore County, Maryland in 1867 by Anna Austen McCulloch and is the oldest girls' boarding school in Maryland.
Oldfield's School has approximately 180 boarding and day students. The school's campus is situated in rural northern Baltimore County, and is located within walking distance of the Gunpowder River and the Northern Central Railroad Trail. Among the School's notable graduates was Wallis Warfield Simpson, who became the Duchess of Windsor.

Academics

Students at Oldfields take three 80-minute classes per day. There are no classes offered during 10–11 am daily, allowing time for students to meet with teachers for extra help or additional enrichment in specific subject material. Classes are year-long and one full credit.

Signature Program: The May Program

The May Program is a signature hallmark of an Oldfields education. Officially inaugurated in 1971, the May Program is a two-week experiential learning program where students partake in faculty-designed academic, cultural, and community service programs. Students participate in international, domestic, and local programs. The May Program offerings change each year; however, popular 2014/2015 offerings included:
The Lake Placid Olympic Experience
where students spend one week living and training at the United States Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, NY,
The Joy of Teaching
where students spend two weeks student-teaching at local public schools,
World War II
where students travel to Europe to study World War II by traveling to London, Normandy, Amsterdam, and Germany,
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
where students travel to Utah and spend two weeks working with rescue animals,
Boston College Tour
where students travel to Boston, MA to visit colleges and universities and to meet with college admission representatives.

Student body

Oldfields School enrolls students in grades 8-12. Each grade has approximately 30-40 students and the average class size is approximately 8 students. 80% of the students are boarding; 20% of the students are day. International students represent 16% of the campus population. Financial aid is offered to students who meet the guidelines and 28% of students receive financial assistance. 180 students come from an average of 26 states and 12 countries such as Canada, China, Ecuador, Germany, Jamaica, Korea, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia.

Athletics

Each student is required to participate in athletic activity for each of the three seasons. Participation can be in the form of a team sport, the equestrian program, or co-curricular offerings in theater, dance, fitness and conditioning, pilates or yoga. All offerings meet five days a week and are considered regular school commitments. Offerings by season include:
FallWinterSpring
Cross-CountryBasketballBadminton
DanceDanceDance
Field HockeyFitness & ConditioningGolf
RidingIndoor Track & FieldLacrosse
SoccerPilatesOutdoor Track & Field
TennisRidingRiding
TheaterTheaterSoftball
VolleyballTheater

In October 2014 and 2015 the Oldfields School Cross-Country team won the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland C Conference Championships. In 2014, the Oldfields School Badminton team won the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland B Conference Championships.

Facilities