Oxford Academy (California)
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| Oxford Academy College Preparatory School |
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| Established | 1998 |
| Type | Public Secondary Selective |
| Principal | Kathy Scott |
| Faculty | 63 |
| Students | 1,200 |
| Grades | 7-12 |
| Location | Cypress, California, USA |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Colors | Red, White, and Blue |
| Athletics | 15 sports |
| Mascot | Mr. Patriot |
| Website | Oxford Academy Website |
Oxford Academy College Preparatory School is a college preparatory school serving 7th-12th grade in Cypress, California. It is renowned for its excellent test scores, currently the highest in the Anaheim Union High School District. The school is rigorous and highly competitive. Oxford's Academic Performance Index or API score, based on yearly state administered standardized tests, consistently is the second highest in the state of California.
It has approximately 1200 students, 200 in each grade from 7th through 12th.
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[edit] Admission
Although Oxford is not classified as a Magnet School, an entrance exam is required for all students. Potential students must achieve a minimum GPA in elementary school to take the exam. Entering seventh grade students compete for 200 spots. These spots are divided among the 8 districts in the Anaheim Union High School District, with each district sending 25 students. Oxford mandates minimum GPAs(2.5 for junior high, 2.7 for grades 9-10, and 3.0 for grades 11-12) for all students and if students fail to stay above the minimum for 2 semesters, they are dismissed from Oxford and enrolled in their home district's middle school or high school. Because students inevitably drop out because of poor performance or other reasons, admissions tests are also administered each year for the empty spots in 8th and 9th grades. These spots are not restricted by home district. After ninth grade admissions is closed, meaning that no new students can enter. In the past, the senior class has been seen to shrink from 200 in freshmen year to less than 100. However, recently more students are staying longer at the school, resulting in slightly higher numbers for the upper classmen.
[edit] Dress
Students are required to follow a semi-strict dress code, which generally includes polo shirts or blouses embroidered with the "OA" logo, and slacks or corduroy pants. The polos may be red, white, navy blue, or gray. Bottoms can be red, navy blue, gray, khaki, or black. Denim is not allowed. These rules have been amended many times. While wearing black was previously prohibited, students are now permitted to wear black pants. Violating the dress code is punishable with a citation, and students may be required to change clothes. Until recently, an untucked shirt was reason for a citation, but the administration changed the policy in 2004. Wearing denim is considered to be a privilege and is sometimes allowed on "Non-academic attire" days. However, students are allowed to wear class t-shirts every Friday. Recently, additions to the dress code have been made, including the restricted wear of headbands, jewelry, and colored shoes (anything other than solid white, black, or blue). Junior High students are required to wear uniforms to dances unless otherwise stated.
[edit] Courses
Oxford offers exclusively Honors and Advanced Placement classes where possible. This is in line with the mission statement to "provide students with a rigorous educational program in a collaborative setting, with emphasis on mastery of academics, critical thinking, effective communication skills, and character development."
Oxford Academy imposes a "UC system" approved course listing, meaning that all required classes meet the standards and recommendations for entrance in a University of California college. Most students do consider attend a UC after graduating. In addition to the UC course listing, Oxford requires all students to choose the Business or Health pathway in their sophomore year.
Although students must take more required courses than other AUHSD schools, Oxford offers an even less array of electives, including AP European History, AP Computer Science, Band/Choir, and the opposite pathway class. Recently, Oxford has added Sports Medicine and Oceanography as health pathway electives.
In 7th grade, students take English 7 HP, World History/Geography HP, Science 7 HP, Pre-Algebra HP (or Algebra 1 HP, depending on entrance exam score) Computer Skills I, and Physical Education 7 as their core classes. Students must also take a foreign language C/C (culture and conversation) class. Only French and Spanish (Japanese) are offered at this time.
8th graders take English 8 HP, United States History/Geography HP, Science 8 HP, Algebra 1 HP, Art I, and Physical Education as their core classes. Students can change their foreign language course from their 7th grade year. However, 8th grade begins with Foreign Language I, so students are required to continue that language in high school, unless they switch to Japanese I (however, Japanese is in a test run, meaning that it may or may not continue after Japanese III) or incoming freshmen have not yet taken foreign language at their home school.
The high school curriculum is designed to specifically satisfy the entry requirements for the University of California system, satisfying Oxford's primary mission statement "to prepare students to be ethically and academically focused for entrance into college or university post-secondary education." All students are required to take at least a few AP classes (usually when an AP class is offered, an Honors version is not offered for those who do not wish to take the AP class). The only instance where students are not required to take an honors class is if they fail their math class and must retake it as a regular class. Students are also required to take the end-of-year AP tests.
English: Students take English class all four years of their High School Career. In 11th grade they take AP Language and Composition and in 12th grade, AP English Literature. In the past, students were able to take Honors 11th and 12th grade English classes, but enrollment was low and by 2003, only AP English classes were offered.
Mathematics: The ideal sequence for Math is Geometry in 9th grade, Algebra 2/Trigonometry in 10th grade, Pre-Calculus in 11th grade, and Calculus AB or Calculus BC in 12th grade. However, if students perform poorly in Algebra 2/Trigonometry, they are not allowed to take Pre-Calculus and instead take Trigonometry. Similarly, students in Pre-Calculus are divided into three levels. The lowest performers take remedial math classes. The mid level takes Calculus AB, and the best students take Calculus BC. As of 2003, students who receive less than a C in any math class second semester, they must retake the entire year without an honors tag and must follow a separate pathway. This means that if a student receives less than a C in first semester, but receives a C or higher in second semester, they are not required to repeat.
Starting with the class of 2012, the new math sequence, given that students pass all classes, is Algebra I and Geometry in junior high, Algebra 2/Trig. in 9th, Pre-Calculus in 10th, Calculus AB in 11th, and Calculus BC in 12th. This is tentative to change.
Social Science: Students do not take history in 9th grade. In 10th grade, they take World History/Culture/Geography HP. In 11th grade they take AP US History (called APUSH appropriately by the students), and in 12th grade they take AP US Government and Politics.
Science: In 9th grade students take Biology Honors. In 10th grade, Chemistry Honors. In the remaining 2 years, students have the choice to take any (or all) of 3 science courses: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, and Physics HP. Students in the health pathway must take at least 2 of these extra science classes, one each year.
Physical Education: Students take PE in 9th and 10th grade. 10th graders are allowed to take the class as 0 period (before the start of the normal scheduled day), and may be excused from the class if they participate in after school sports only if they take an elective. 11th and 12th graders do not take physical education, but are still encouraged to stay physically active in their spare time.
Language: Language courses taken in 7th and 8th grades together qualify as a first year course (for example, Spanish C/C in 7th grade and Spanish I in 8th grade count only as Spanish I). In 9th and 10th grades, students generally take second and third year courses to fulfill the University of California requirement of 2 years of foreign language. AP Spanish and French IV are offered, but not required. Most students drop language after Foreign Language III. Only one class of about 30 Spanish students (or those who pass the basic qualifying test) continue to AP Spanish. Generally, most students take Spanish over French. In 2006, a new language class was added and students can now take Japanese 1 as an elective.
Visual and Performing Arts: In 9th grade, in the absence of history, students choose which music class to take. Students interested in choir are enrolled in Freshmen and Friends, unless girls want to join an all-girl choir, which is Beg. Girls Ensemble. Band students can choose between Concert Band or String Orchestra if they have no or little experience. However, they are allowed to join, by audition and approval, for the advance classes Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Band. In general, most students drop out of music after 9th grade to pursue other electives. Those who stay usually attend the higher classes (Jazz Band and Symphony Orchestra for band, Show Choir and Adv. Girls Ensemble for choir) by audition or stay in the beginner classes as intermediates. Choir offers students who are more advance than beginning class, but not able to join the advance class, take an intermediate called Musical Productions. Recently, the art department has authorized that students can take music instead of art to fulfill the requirement in 8th grade. In correlation, high school students can now take Drawing and Painting classes. 8th grade students take beginning classes or audition for advanced classes for orchestra, and all choir students go to Junior High Ensemble. Recently, band has added a fifth group, Adv. Woodwinds. Both groups hold 4-5 major performances, including a joint Christmas concert for the advanced groups and perform at certain events, such as senior graduation. Their trademark performance is Show Choir and Adv. Girls Ensemble combining to sing Handel's Hallelujah Chorus with instrumentation by the Symphony Orchestra. Music is also known to participate in the rigourous festival competitions.
Career Preparation: In ninth grade, students take a college and computer preparatory course (often referred to as "CP squared") in which they learn about college, general business and computing skills, and hopefully begin to plan their careers after high school.
In tenth grade students choose to take either the business or health pathways, a series of classes over the next 3 years related to those fields. Those who choose the business pathway take courses such as Accounting and Virtual Enterprise, a class for seniors simulating a company. Health pathway students take classes such as Exploring Health Careers, Anatomy and Physiology, (formerly) Forensics, and extra science classes (see Science). The pathway system has been criticized as being too restrictive for students who are not interested in either field, and thus useless to them.
As of 2006, the pathway system has been modified inclining students to take sophomore classes in their freshmen year.
[edit] Clubs
There are also many clubs available at Oxford. Among them are Future Business Leaders of America, ASB (Associated Student Body), BOB (Bunch of Believers), Red Cross Club, Key Club, Health Occupation Students of America, National Honor Society, Forensics Club (Speech and Debate), Kids for Wish Kids, International Club, Junior Statesmen of America, Computer Club, Table Tenis Club, Math Club, Publicity Team and many others.
The school newspaper is called The Gamut. It is run by high school students who are taking the Journalism elective, which is taught as a class. The editor in chief is a student.
Yearbook is also another elective, which selects students who apply.
As of the 2007 school year, the Senior Video project exists as an unofficial club. It is not sponsored by any faculty member, but it is actively working on a full-length documentary on the Class of 2007. The project is expected to be repeated in future years, in which its status as a club may be made official.
Recently, a permanent morning announcements crew had been added to the campus. Previously, anyone who wanted to be on the morning announcements had to turn in one slip for the day they wished to be on the announcements.
[edit] School Activities
The Junior High ASB is in charge of planning events such as dances, class activities, and fundraisers. The largest event the Junior High ASB holds is the Eighth Grade Promotion Dance.
As for high school activities, ASB, which is run by about 30 students, is in charge. Each grade in high school has its own president and vice-president who run their own class committee. These class officers are in charge of planning their own fundraisers, creating t-shirts and class cheers, and activities which include movie nights and bonding events such as bowling, ice-skating, and bonfires.
The freshman class is in charge of planning the high school Cheap Dance. Furthermore, the sophomore class plans Sadies. The Junior Class traditionally organizes the Senior Prom. The senior class plans Mr. Patriot, a contest in which Oxford's finest seniors compete for the title "Mr. Patriot".
In order to bring a guest to a school dance, students must get a guest form signed by their parents, administration, guest, guests parents, and guests administration. Recently the administration implemented a rule that guests must have a GPA of at least 2.7, although it has been revoked.
ASB as a whole plans such events as Homecoming, Winter Formal, Back to School Dance, Giving Tree, Clothing Closet, Club Rush Week, Class Committee Banquet, and much more.
The core ASB students are elected by students in the fourth quarter. After elections for President, Vice President, Spirit Commissioner, and other important jobs, they appoint jobs and positions to applying students for minor roles. These students help the officials carry out their plans.
In addition to elected ASB, they hold open applications for all high school students to apply to the ASB Senate, a representation of the student body appointed by ASB and led by the Vice President. ASB Senate functions in a similar way to ASB. They plan events, such as Random Acts of Kindness Week and the Talent Show.
Along with these successful activities, Oxford Academy also holds lunchtime activities, spirit rallies, and class competitions. Students are encouraged to participate in clubs and activities, and to start their own clubs if they find the selection lacking. Arguably one of the greatest spirit rally performances was performed by Whitney Fountas and Ryan Holleman in a brilliant homage to "The Cheerleader" skit, originally made famous by Will Ferrel and Cheri Oteri of SNL. A recent skit was the 11th grade English teacher, Mrs. Spencer, acting in a parody of the movie "Fight Club," engaging in a battle inside the locker room.
