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Oregon Episcopal School — Power for Good

Power for Good

Our mission

Oregon Episcopal School educates students to realize their power for good as engaged citizens of the world.

Rooted in Oregon. Open to the World.

As Portland’s leading Pre-K–12 independent, college-preparatory, day and boarding school, Oregon Episcopal School empowers students to become architects of their own learning. Guided by our inquiry-driven philosophy, our vibrant campus serves as a living laboratory for real-world exploration. Within our welcoming community, students strive for excellence, build strength of character, and experience the kind of transformational growth that prepares them to change the world.

Outdoor Ed

Grow With OES

We invite students to learn through doing, with opportunities that broaden their perspectives and deepen their understanding of themselves and others. From the pond and wetlands on campus, to full-days spent in the woods, spending time with Mother Nature is an essential part of the OES experience.

59-Acre Campus

Set in the woods, wetlands, and wildlife of the hills of Southwest Portland, OES occupies a beautiful 59-acre campus. Our location gives students daily access to two wetland areas, nature trails, a ropes course, a greenhouse, gardens, and multiple indoor and outdoor athletic facilities. More than a beautiful backdrop, our campus is an intentional extension of the classroom, giving students space to move, explore, observe, and connect with the natural world around them.

At OES, learning happens beyond four walls. Our students are out of their seats and into the field. They collect water samples in the wetlands, study owl habitats in the woods, tend the garden, research environmental sustainability, gather for community activities, and spend time outside throughout the school day. Our campus invites students to ask questions, make discoveries, and develop a deeper connection to the place they call home.

Academics

Inquiry in Action

At OES, inquiry-based learning drives education across every discipline, from math and science to the humanities and beyond. Students are encouraged to ask questions, make connections, tackle meaningful challenges, and build the knowledge and confidence to think independently.

8th Grade Inquiry

As one example of how students dig deep into a passion project, eight graders have a semester-long Inquiry class. Students use the OES Inquiry Cycle to address a problem related to the driving question: How can you harness your agency to realize your power for good? Throughout the quarter, students have dedicated time to reflect and uncover their passions, talents, and skills. In doing so, they extend their focus beyond themselves, actively engaging and contributing to community betterment.

Boarding

You Belong Here

For many, boarding is a central part of the OES experience. Within the beautiful natural landscape of the Pacific Northwest, students from around the world gather to live and learn in a vibrant, close-knit environment. With exceptional care and support, OES boarding offers unparalleled opportunities for leadership and exploration.

A man in a suit leans over a pool table in the foreground, aiming his cue at a ball, while a decorative tree with blue leaves stands in the blurred background.

Dorms

In addition to a warm and supportive living environment, residential life includes frequent outings to explore the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Surfing at the coast, rock climbing in Central Oregon, and hiking in the Columbia Gorge are all favorite activities. Students and dorm parents venture together to the Portland restaurant scene, featuring cuisine from many different cultures. The annual dorm retreat allows students to share insights and experiences, along with time to relax and recharge.

Athletics

Be a teammate. Become a champion.

We believe sports help students develop self-confidence, sportsmanship, and discipline. Our no-cut athletics policy grants every student the right they deserve to grow in this unique way. With a tradition of excellence and outstanding coaches and facilities, OES Athletics helps students develop into leaders in life.

A group of female runners in green and white uniforms race on a grassy course with trees and a fence in the background.

A young soccer player in a green uniform kicks a ball on a bright green field with trees in the background.

State-of-the-Art Athletic Facilities

OES’s best-in-class athletic facilities reflect our commitment to transforming lives, fostering community, and enhancing education through sports. The Athletic Center (built in 2020) offers room for growth, a homecourt advantage, and a space to inspire future leaders. Our turf and track, both updated in 2025, feature sustainable, high-performance materials—grass-like traction turf that protects athletes and the environment, and a gel track made from 84% renewable and recycled materials for speed, consistency, and joint health. The Sports and Recreation Center (SPARC) adds versatile amenities, including indoor and outdoor tennis courts, a basketball/volleyball court, racquetball courts, and a fencing facility—together creating an unparalleled environment for student-athletes and the wider community.

Arts

Meet Your Inner Artist

Every day at OES, our arts program helps students explore their talents and discover new interests. Whether on stage, in the studio, or in the rehearsal room, students find meaningful ways to make their mark and express their creativity.

Student-Led Arts

At OES, students are the guiding force behind our arts program. In theater, they are actors, directors, writers, designers, costumers, prop masters, producers, and tech wizards, taking an idea from the first spark of inspiration to a fully realized production.

That student ownership comes to life each spring with the Upper School Spring Student Extravaganza, an extraordinary labor of love created and produced by students, for students. Led by our graduating Performing Arts seniors, the celebration showcases student work across dance, theater, and video. This showcase embodies our dedication to student agency by giving students the creative freedom and responsibility to shape something entirely their own.

Sustainability

Sew the Seeds of Stewardship

Caring for the environment is part of how students learn to live thoughtfully in the world. Surrounded by woods, wetlands, and gardens, students experience sustainability firsthand—building a lasting connection to nature and discovering how their everyday choices can shape a healthier future.

The OES Greenhouse

The OES Greenhouse engages Pre-K-Grade 12 students in collaborative projects, fostering curiosity, innovation, and environmental stewardship. The greenhouse is a classroom for inquiry employing techniques from physics, chemistry, biology, and more.

Hands-On Learning: Students apply science and engineering principles through hands-on experiments, as well as designing and refining sustainable agriculture systems.
Broader Community: By growing plants for food banks, campus use, and leading sustainability initiatives, the greenhouse strengthens community connections and promotes real-world impact.

Pre-K Through Grade 12

We educate students to become informed, compassionate, and engaged citizens of the world. As the academic curriculum evolves through the grade levels, this core value of developing well-rounded young minds remains our guiding principle.

Lower School

Two young girls, one with a bright smile, engage in a science experiment with a small pulley system in the foreground, while lush green plants hang in the softly blurred background.

Middle School

Upper School

Two young men in the foreground are engaged in conversation over laptops, while blurred figures and a classroom setting form the background.

Boarding

Five young women pose for a photo in front of a tree and a wooden fence.

Stories That Shape Our School

We are surrounded by stories that shape our students, our school, and our community. Explore the latest news for a glimpse into OES life. Explore the latest news.

OES Community Welcomes the New School Year

On August 26, the entire OES community gathered around the Belltower to ring in the return to school. It was a joyful time as students hugged and chatted with each other, and parents, teachers, and staff looked on with smiles.

Fourth Graders Explore the Power of Community at Black Futures Farm

Fourth graders connected Oregon history, community, and stewardship through hands-on service at Black Futures Farm, discovering how young people can make a meaningful difference.

What They Take With Them: The Lasting Impact of Teacher Mentorship at Oregon Episcopal School

Five graduates from the class of 2026 share how their teacher-mentors helped build their confidence and the wisdom they will carry with them into their college years.

OES Spotlight: Interim Upper School Chaplain Jeremy Innis

Get to know Jeremy Innis, who has been a substitute music teacher at OES and is now the interim Upper School chaplain.

A Spring to Remember for OES Athletics

This spring was a great season for OES Athletics, with the BoysTrack & Field team capturing the OSAA State Championship for the first time in school history and Boys Tennis also winning the state championship.

Former Boarding Student Featured as Graduation Speaker

International dorm student turned successful entrepreneur Yunha Kim '07 returned to OES to inspire the class of 2026 with a heartfelt message about resilience, self-awareness, and finding worth beyond achievement.

Understanding AI, Affirming Our Humanity

Using AI with integrity requires a careful balance between efficiency and creativity. Discover how OES is teaching students to use AI thoughtfully while strengthening the critical thinking, creativity, and human connection that technology cannot replace.

Nick Slenning Named Oregon Coach of the Year

OES Head Cross Country Coach Nick Slenning has been named the Oregon U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Coach of the Year, recognizing his outstanding leadership and the remarkable achievements of the programs.

OES Head of School The Rev. Michael Spencer

Head of School Reflects on Belonging in Community

In "Finding Our Way Home," Oregon Episcopal School Head of School The Rev. Michael Spencer explores how schools can transform today’s polarized world by fostering true community and belonging.

OES by the Numbers

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Faculty with Advanced Degrees

85%

Boarding Students from

24

Countries in the Past Six Years.

25+

Honors and AP Courses in the Upper School

Students Play at Least One Sport

85%

Students Participate in 3 Upper School Plays Each Year

150+

60+

State Team Championships in 10 Sports

Students Receive Financial Aid

23%

7:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

Identify as Students of Color

46%

The Power of People

Beyond all the wonderful facilities, academic achievements, and athletic accomplishments, there is one thing that truly sets OES apart: the people.

Don-Pharinho Cuffy

Class of '25

As a boarding student, the campus quickly became my home, my peers became like family, and the residential life staff offered constant guidance and support. The boarding program is the backbone of OES's identity through its connectivity and involvement across the school.

Lucy H.

Class of '34

The Earth is a steward of us. So we should be a steward of it.

Carmen Torres Boyle

World Languages Department Chair

I tell everyone who comes into my class, you’ve got to be kind—you’ve got to be kind to yourself and be kind to others, and the students lean in.

Jacob Peizner

Class of '26

The arts at OES, especially music, are a special opportunity for students to showcase their new talents, but also to bring the school together.

Jia B.

Class of '28

Having the chance to hear Malala Yousafzai speak was incredibly meaningful to me. What resonated the most was the way she challenged everyone to remain resilient, even when faced with intense negativity.

Catherine Gewecke

Class of '25

At OES, I learned how to think critically, going beyond surface answers to really understand how and why something was happening. OES’s academics have made me confident to tackle college courses independently.

Malia Wilkins

Middle School Social Studies Teacher

We encourage students to be more curious than certain. I’m not here to tell the kids what to think, I’m here to try to teach them how to think—how to think for themselves and weed through all the messages that are coming to them in our world.

The Power of You

Reach your potential with OES.