The intellectual journey is at the heart of the OES experience. Our philosophy leads us to value discovery and thoughtfulness at the center of learning. Homework, information gathering, and practice exercises are employed only in the service of a higher goal, so that students appreciate their purpose.

Offering a true liberal arts curriculum, OES is dedicated to scholarship and an enriched academic environment of "learning by doing" that strives to help each individual reach his or her fullest potential. Our small class sizes provide intimate learning environments that allow teachers to encourage strengths, strengthen weaknesses, and instill in each OES student a love for learning and the joy of discovery. Our faculty and administrators bring credentials, experience and a deep commitment to nurturing, inspiring and guiding young people.

Academics at OES benefit greatly from our online curriculum map. Teachers in each division can quickly understand what teachers in the previous grades have done and what skills will be needed by students when they reach succeeding classes. Teachers of seniors can more easily grasp how the groundwork has been laid for their instruction, and first grade teachers can understand how important the skills they are teaching will be in their students' future. Unlike almost all other schools that map their curriculum, OES freely shares this information with parents of current and prospective students by making the curriculum map available online without a password.