Oxford Academy - Cypress, CA

Oxford Academy’s seventh through twelfth grade structure allows a successful vertically aligned instructional program that has strengthened teaching and learning practices and has provided students with meaningful learning experiences throughout the content areas. Departments have enhanced instructional strategies across grade levels allowing for a learning continuum from grades seven through twelve. Collaboration among teachers facilitates the development of delivery of more challenging learning experiences. Students’ knowledge base is scaffolded through the years they are at Oxford Academy to prepare and best support them for the rigorous nature of the Advanced Placement curriculum.

Our need to vertically align curriculum as a school stems from the fact that our students come to us from five feeder elementary districts, 71 feeder elementary schools and a 64-square mile district boundary, preventing us from articulating effectively with elementary schools. Because of this, students come to Oxford Academy with a wide variety of experiences, background knowledge and content mastery. But what makes this even more challenging for Oxford Academy and the students, is our rigorous curriculum. Oxford is a college-prep school offering only college-prep, honors or Advanced Placement courses. When students enter our school with large gaps in knowledge, it is imperative we eliminate those gaps in learning as quickly as possible. The success of our curriculum lies in the fact 99% of our students qualify for four-year universities, and 100% of our students graduate from high school.