OES is an independent school. As a member of the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools (PNAIS) and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), OES takes its place among the nation’s leading “prep” schools.

The term “independent” refers to schools which are NAIS members: nonprofit organizations, governed by boards of trustees that represent no one particular interest group, independent of control by any government or church agency, and, therefore, not parochial schools. As such, independent schools are free to choose excellence, to establish their own goals, and to select curricula, teachers, and students.

NAIS membership is a privilege accorded only to private schools meeting specific standards of governance and operation. NAIS schools carry accreditation from an approved regional accrediting organization. In our case, this is the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges as well as PNAIS. There are only four NAIS member schools in Oregon and only a handful in the Pacific Northwest.

Such accreditation requires a school to undergo rigorous self-evaluations of curriculum, programs, employee procedures, facilities, and finances. Every eight years, schools in PNAIS are subject to evaluative scrutiny by peer educators. These schools are required to follow prescribed principles of good practice in administration and operation.

Members of NAIS are nondiscriminatory regarding race, religion, or ethnic origin in their hiring of faculty and staff, their admission of students, and their administration of programs.

NAIS schools pursue excellence in a number of ways. Most importantly, they elect to offer small classes, excellent teaching, and academics appropriate to the school’s mission. OES defines its mission in terms of educating in the Episcopal tradition college-bound students of above average to superior ability. OES strives to be an educational leader, embracing both innovative and traditional programs and respecting intellectual challenge and the full development of each child.