Our Mission
Building on a foundation of Christian Faith, Oakbrook educates students to be independent and collaborative learners in a changing world.
Our Vision
Oakbrook’s vision is to educate and inspire our students to live their Christian faith, discover their gifts, and engage in their communities.
Our Core Values
The Oakbrook Story
Oakbrook began in 1992 with a large vision and a small school called the Village School founded by Rosemary Moore with 18 students in the basement of a church. Her vision was to create a cross-cultural school where children from various denominations were united by their willingness to work and to learn. The Village School began with the purpose of teaching children ideas that matter. Children are thinkers who thrive on a diet of challenging ideas and questions. This philosophical approach has worked for over one hundred years in England and forms one of the cornerstones of Oakbrook Preparatory School.
The curriculum is primarily influenced by the work of the great English educator Charlotte Mason, who established village schools in England at the turn of the century. Her academic emphasis was to put children in touch with nature and classics in literature, art, and music. She offered a classical, broad-based curriculum to all children, regardless of economic or social background. The children of farmers and shopkeepers were taught the same wide curriculum as the young lords in the manor.
When Mrs. Moore founded the school, she never intended for the school to continue beyond grade five. Due to the tremendous support and insistence from parents, it was decided that the Village School would become a true college preparatory school and continue through grade 12. Changing the structure of the school brought about a need to change the name of the school as well. The 2001-2002 school year was a year of transition. The Village School remained the name used for the preschool through fifth grade students, while the middle school students adopted the name Oakbrook. Beginning in August 2002, the name Oakbrook Preparatory School was adopted for all students in grades one through 12 at the main campus, and Oakbrook Preschool was adopted for K-4 through K-5 at the Covenant campus.
In 2005, six outstanding students became Oakbrook's first graduating class. The group averaged 1230 on their SAT's, received scholarship offers in excess of $150,000, and participated in independent study projects that kindled their imaginations and provided them with the motivation, leadership skills, and discipline to be successful in college and in life. Among them were a National Merit Scholar, A National Commended Scholar, and two Palmetto Scholarship recipients. Trips to Ireland, Charleston, or local retreats to Windy Gap and Awanita were other highlights of a year filled with enrichment opportunities. At the end of 2005, Oakbrook's founder, Rosemary Moore, retired and was given the honorary title of Director Emeritus.
Today Oakbrook continues to grow and thrive. Due to the generous support of school families and donors, the entire Oakbrook family is housed on a beautiful 33 acre campus on the west side of Spartanburg. Oakbrook alumni matriculate to top universities, play collegiate sports and serve in their communities. The core values of academic excellence, creativity, character, community and diversity guide Oakbrook Preparatory School's vision to be one of our nation's premier Christ-centered, college preparatory schools.
"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."
Psalm 1:1-3
Oakbrook Preparatory Christian Foundation
Oakbrook Preparatory School’s Statement of Faith outlines its foundational characteristics. This document will serve as a foundation with which the ongoing development of the school will be aligned. All governing, instruction, and activities that are a part of Oakbrook are covered by this statement of faith.
Statement of Faith
Oakbrook Preparatory School is a non-denominational Christ-centered School. We seek to provide a high-quality education for students in a safe environment of Christian faith and belief, following the truth revealed in the Bible. In all grades and in all subjects taught, we believe God’s truth can and should be revealed. We also believe that a Christian worldview is an essential element of a student’s education, and we desire each graduate to have the understanding and tools needed to make Christlike decisions in the future.
We believe that God is sovereign and through the Bible as His word to us, he has revealed the truths that we follow and teach. We believe that the Bible has authority, and that it was delivered from God to us without error. It shows us that God has existed forever and is uniquely three persons in one, the Father, his son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. It reveals how mankind was created, how sin came into the world, and how that has negatively affected our relationship with God.
We believe that God sent Jesus Christ to earth to provide the way to restore this relationship. Jesus was fully God and fully man, born of a virgin mother and given the purpose to provide saving grace to us before God. Through Jesus' death on a cross He provided atonement to God for our sins, and through His resurrection. We believe He is the way to salvation and eternal life through the Holy Spirit and God’s grace.
We are intentionally non-denominational to focus on these Bible truths over church doctrine, and to build a diverse student and staff community so we all benefit. As a complement to family and church teaching, we want all students to understand the importance of this grace and come together striving to live through faith in God. We want faith, learning and service to inspire students to strive to live, learn, and behave in a way that reflects the values of Oakbrook Preparatory School.
The Christian Community of Staff, Teachers, and Leadership Roles
All employees and all those in leadership positions must align with the school’s statement of faith.
The Christian Community of Students and Parents:
As a non-denominational and non-covenant school, students and parents must acknowledge the statement of faith and accept that the intention of the school is to integrate faith and learning. In addition to a rigorous learning environment, each student will be introduced to and expected to participate in activities that promote an understanding of our statement of faith.