Home

sticky-buttons

hero-cta-nav

cta-nav

splash-screen

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.

The Power of OES

At OES, we take pride in a thriving environment built on connection, respect, and shared humanity. We empower students to fulfill their potential and lead with purpose. Promoting excellence, character, and community, we hope to spark transformational change within our students, so they can transform the world.

Excellence

The Power of Excellence

Excellence at OES is about more than achieving high test scores and winning awards. It’s about going beyond individual striving to embrace global citizenship, creativity, ethical leadership, and collaborative, problem-based learning. At OES, we believe that excellence is the realization of potential, lived in harmony with others and in service of the common good.

A student in a white t-shirt and glasses works on a laptop in the foreground, while a teacher in a grey shirt and glasses leans over to assist him, with a classroom wall featuring posters and cabinets in the background.

The image shows a group of students in a science laboratory setting, working on an experiment together. They are wearing lab coats and safety goggles, and the background includes various scientific equipment and supplies.

#1 Best High School for STEM in Oregon

The national school ranking and review platform Niche has recognized Oregon Episcopal School as one of the Best Schools in America and ranked the #1 Best High School for STEM in Oregon.

Across multiple indicators, including academics, activities, college preparedness, student experience, and data from the U.S. Department of Education, OES earned exceptional marks and stands among the top schools in the nation.

In addition to this category-leading ranking, OES received an overall grade of A+, driven by excellence in academics, STEM programming, and opportunities for inquiry-based learning, innovation, and exploration. These results include input and reviews from students, alumni, faculty, and families.

OES continues to demonstrate what bold, student-centered learning looks like. Through hands-on inquiry, interdisciplinary thinking, and real-world application, OES empowers students to ask big questions and to pursue meaningful answers. This approach builds scholars, problem-solvers, and students who are prepared to excel at a college level and use their power for good as engaged citizens of the world.

Place

The Power of Place

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.

A paved driveway curves past a building with a green awning and lush landscaping, leading towards a backdrop of colorful autumn trees under a cloudy sky.

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.

Heart

The Power of Heart

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.

Inquiry

The Power of Inquiry

At OES, we cultivate students who are seeking more questions, rather than just looking for answers. Every day, we see students honing their observation skills, practicing intentional investigation, and reflecting on what they’ve learned to enhance their understanding.

A group of people in wetsuits are gathered in shallow, clear turquoise water, working on a white rectangular structure on the seabed, with rocky shores and a distant coastline under a bright blue sky in the background.

Two girls are working on a project at a table in a classroom with posters and supplies in the background.

Inquiry in Action

During Winterim, a pivotal experiential education experience in Upper School, students often use scientific inquiry to deepen their understanding of the natural habitats and human communities they visit. One such project was studying coral restoration at a marine preserve in Mexico. While on Isla Espíritu Santo, each student worked on their own science research project. They collected coral samples, examined their findings, and created reports that they discussed with their classmates and local students.

A highlight of the seventh grade Middle School experience is the annual Vark Tank competition. Students create their own inventions and present them to a panel of Vark Tank judges, who decide which project they want to invest in. The students’ inquiry process involves brainstorming, designing, and building prototypes, fine-tuning their prototypes as they progress through their creative journey.

Lower School students used the inquiry process to learn more about yellowjackets on their playground. The children observed the insects, made notes, and shared their theories about where the yellowjackets nested and what they ate. Teachers encouraged collaboration among the students, which evolved naturally during recess. In the end, the children learned a lot and, most importantly, had fun.

Innovation

The Power of Innovation

The EC3 Design Center is a vibrant, collaborative hub devised to bring inquiry and project-based learning to life through its interconnected THINK, MAKE, and MOVE spaces. Students are encouraged to experiment, reflect, and create, embracing mistakes as essential steps toward innovation and growth.

Students work at tables in a brightly lit makerspace with colorful banners overhead and large windows revealing greenery in the background.

A young woman works on a shoe in the foreground while a man looks on, with mannequins and sewing equipment visible in the blurred background.

EC3 Design Center

The EC3 Design Center provides an ideal setting for the students to apply the OES Inquiry Cycle: Explore, Connect, Create, Commit, and Reflect. Students learn how to collaborate and move an idea forward as they share materials, tools, inspiration, and approaches, and bring their solutions to life through iterative prototypes.

Everyone who comes into the EC3 Design Center is there as an active problem solver, from the youngest learners giving form to their most imaginative ideas, to Upper School classes that focus on creative coding, music production, engineering design, and creative collaboration.

Creativity

The Power of Creativity

At OES, students are encouraged to unleash their imaginations and let creativity be their guide. In Middle School, seventh-graders conceptualize and build a prototype of their own invention, designed to mitigate the effects of climate change. They practice their presentation skills before a panel of Vark Tank judges, who offer feedback to help the students refine their creations.

Two young men in formal attire hold a large cardboard tube in the foreground, while a green poster with text is visible on the wall in the background.

Hands are shown folding a piece of white fabric on a green cutting mat, with scissors and a pincushion in the foreground.

Sustainability

Each year in the Middle School, Vark Tank focuses on a topic, with the current topic focused on environmental sustainability. OES is committed to educating its students about how to be conscientious stewards of the Earth and learning how to protect the environment, now and in the future. This includes advocating for actions that reduce greenhouse emissions, promoting sustainable energy, and supporting communities impacted by environmental racism and a lack of environmental stewardship.

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.

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.

Lower & Middle School Spring Sports Recap

Spring Success for OES Lower & Middle School Athletes

Hundreds of lower and middle school student-athletes took to the field and track this spring, building skills, confidence, and lasting friendships along the way. Read how OES Lacrosse and Track & Field athletes embraced teamwork, growth, and competition throughout a memorable season.

OES Head of School Joins NWAIS Board of Governors

We are proud to share that OES Head of School The Rev. Michael Spencer was recently appointed to a three-year term on the Board of Governors for the Northwest Association of Independent Schools.

A young woman with dark hair smiles gently in the foreground, with a softly blurred outdoor background.

OES Spotlight: Eunseo O. ’27

Eunseo O. ’27 enjoys science, writing poetry, and getting out for fun activities with her friends in the dorm.

Two swans form a heart shape with their necks, their beaks touching the Earth, while a bright sun shines in the cloudy sky above a body of water.

Fifth Graders Teach Us What It Means to Be Leaders

The study of leadership is a capstone experience of the Lower School. Students share their reflections on becoming leaders.

A diverse group of five young singers in formal attire with blue sashes stand on a stage with a purple backdrop.

Upper School Celebrates Fine Arts Night

Visual art displays and performances by band, choir, and advanced strings were all part of Fine Arts Night.

OES by the Numbers

decorative line

Faculty with Advanced Degrees

82%

35+

Honors and AP Courses in the Upper School

Students Play at Least One Sport

85%

55

Boarding Students from 12 Countries

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

47%

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.

Sarah G.

Class of '32

It feels like even the smallest actions can make a huge difference to people in our community.

Anthony Villaseñor

First Grade Teacher

As responsive educators who understand children, we are here to keep them safe, keep them loved and nurtured, but also make sure they build their capacity for learning.

Madison Bradley

Class of '21

What really stood out to me at OES was the close connection between teachers and students and the emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning. That environment really prepared me for success in college, both academically and personally.

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.