On Saturday, Oak Hill Academy Hosts Open House

Oak Hill Academy of Lincroft is hosting an open house for prospective students and their families on Saturday, from 1 - 4 p.m. 

Students will give tours and answer questions about subjects like the school day, the indoor pool, the cafeteria food, and the prized, rigorous academic program at the independent school.  

"You can look at the website but the best way to get to know our school -- or any school for that matter, is to just come. Come visit," said Patrice Murray, the director of personnel and administration. 

Four hundred students attend Oak Hill Academy in the distinctive navy blue and neutral dress code with ties for the guys (except for first Fridays, thanks to a special decree from the student government.)

The students come from 40 different towns in Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex County, and primarily from Middletown Township, Holmdel and Colts Neck, and towns in and around Spring Lake. 

There are taught by 55 faculty members, and supported by 20 staff members. In addition to the award-winning academics, the school offers extra-curricular activities in the arts, music and drama. 

The campus is situated on 20 acres. One of the newest buildings is the $3 milion Soler Science Center, which has five equipped labs, rain garden and a greenhouse. A dedicated director of security oversees safety. 

Tuition, the school says, is relatively reasonable as compared to what other private schools charge and appropriate for the high level of education offered. Grades K-8 tuition for the 2012-2013 year runs $15,900, and the annual fee charged to cover school trips, after-school clubs, extra help, and athletic participation is $870.

Every year, nearly 50 8th graders continue to onto about 20 different high schools. 

Murray said some get coveted spots at the limited-enrollment Monmouth County Vocational School career academies. Some continue onto parochial and public high schools, and some continue in private boading and day schools like Peddie School in Hightstown, The Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, CT, and Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, NH.  

Oak Hill Academy will hold two more open house events on Friday, February 22 and Saturday, March 16.