Orcutt Academy Charter

Posted: October 18, 2025

The BEST school! Family-oriented and college preparation. My son graduated and got accepted to UCLA.

Posted: October 18, 2025

Posted: October 18, 2025

Posted: October 18, 2025

Posted: October 18, 2025

Posted: October 18, 2025

Posted: October 18, 2025

Posted: October 18, 2025

Posted: September 1, 2022

My student has wasted time with her schedule in that she took classes she needed prerequisites for and they did not catch it. I believe a counselor should review each students class schedule to make sure the student is getting what she/ he needs in order to succeed. My student went against my advice and changed her class choices without my permission. She learned the hard way once she realized she was not prepared for the elective she chose she couldnt get out of it and was stuck in a class that was a total waste of her time for an entire semester.

Posted: September 1, 2022

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Posted: June 2, 2018

Posted: June 2, 2018

The K-8 campus has an ASB with elected student reps. They also have family groups with has one student from each grade as a family member. Students meet in family groups throughout the year to do group activities. Really wonderful to watch the 8th graders engage and act as leaders for the younger students. OAHS also has all the leadership activities that most high schools have.

Posted: June 2, 2018

Yes! The teachers work with students that may need additional resources and they make sure the students are getting the services that they qualify for. They make as much accommodations as needed to help the student succeed in their work.

Posted: June 2, 2018

Posted: June 2, 2018

I have had kids at both the K-8 in Los Alamos and the OAHS campus in Orcutt. As a parent that has had kids at both schools I can tell you that overall I am very happy with the teachers and staff at both schools. The teachers are willing to work with students that want to work. If your child is struggling they should go to the teacher for help. Parents that say that the school did not help their students probably were not communicating with the teachers until AFTER the grades posted. Homework is extensive in AP High school classes. At the K-8 campus you should expect to start getting homework in first grade.

Posted: June 2, 2018

Teachers at the K-8 campus are simply AMAZING. They are caring, and see all the students as being apart of the OAK8 family. The K-8 in Los Alamos has 132 students and is a TK-8th grade. Each grade has 14 students except TK which has 6 students. There are 5 teachers that teach combo classes. Teachers are really good about balancing a combination classroom.

Posted: June 2, 2018

I want to comment on the student that says that the school "has not respect for civil rights". There was an incident in Dec 2016 where a student wore a VERY disrespectful and offensive shirt to school. He was asked to change and he started touting his first amendment right to free speech. His shirt was not a positive or respectful message. It was a tool to gain attention, in a
sad attempt to get a reaction out of students and staff. My daughters attended school that day and said that he was boasting that he had a right to wear his very offensive shirt. I feel like I need to set the record straight on the very misleading post.
With that said, there are actually three campus in this charter. The Independent Study program is currently located in Casmalia, the TK-8th grade (referred to locally as OAK8) is located in Los Alamos and shares the campus with Olga Reed Elementary, and Orcutt Academy High School is located in Orcutt. OAHS currently has 600 students, OAK8 has 132 students, and the Ind Study Program does not have a set number of students in their program. If you have a student that you want to attend either OAK8 or OAHS then you have to enter them into a lottery that opens in November and closes around the last week of January for the next school year. Check their website for more information.
I have been involved on both campuses and have had kids in the school for about 7 years now. The posts from anything over 5 years ago stating that there are no programs in OAHS are outdated. I would have agreed with them 5 years ago, but since then the school has taken great strides in providing sports programs, clubs, and organizations. They also have many AP classes and concurrent enrollment programs through Allan Hancock College. I have had students at both ends of the spectrum. One who struggled to maintain her grades above C's and one who was very academically motivated and would not settle for anything short of straight A's. Both students had positive experiences at the school. For the kid that struggled we had good communication with the teachers and were able to keep her on track. The over achiever had all the opportunities to excel and was offered a great academic scholarship to her University of choice. Neither would have been possible with out teachers and staff that care about the students.
Overall great schools!

Posted: December 30, 2016

This school has not respect for civil rights.

Posted: December 30, 2016

Posted: December 30, 2016

Posted: December 30, 2016

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Posted: December 30, 2016

Posted: August 30, 2015

I say always: good teachers equal good students.
This is not a exception. My daughter always was in the top, teacher are very effective.

Posted: August 30, 2015

Because my daughter experimented all this characteristics from the teachers and staff members. I love this school.

Posted: August 30, 2015

All teacher & staff are the best.

I'm a proud parent of a 2015 graduate student. She is attending Dartmouth Private University in Hanover, New Hampshire. She got this opportunity because she worked hard and got support from all staff & teachers . Special thank you to Ms. Cedillo.

Posted: August 27, 2013

Orcutt Academy students are expected to maintain a 2.0 or above GPA. There is a program in place to help students who have slipped below the required GPA however, If a student cannot raise their GPA back up in the alloted time given, they will need to transfer to a local public school. A student cannot even enroll in the academy without a 2.0 on their grade check just previous to enrollment. Expections are made clear prior to attending. While attending a smaller school is beneficial for many, keep in mind that the school mostly offers higher level courses that may not meet the needs of students who struggle with their grades like a larger public school can offer.

Posted: May 22, 2012

I have two children at the Academy, a Freshman and a Senior. This is or first year, and we came from a private school background. I was a little nervous, but I honestly believe that we have the best of both worlds. The kids that are there want to be there. There is huge parental involvement. and if a student is struggling, there is extra help offered to any student that seeks it out ( I know of more than one teacher there that is available at school at 6:30am). The curriculum is challenging, grades are not given, they are earned. Any person who walks on campus during lunch will immediately notice two thing, the principal is outside in the lunch area, visiting with the kids, as opposed to some schools where the principal is on discipline duty all he time; and second, how polite the students are. Ask any one for help and they will give directions, or even take you where you need to go. There is a pronounced lack of cliques. My kids are involved in sports and clubs year round, and I feel that OAHS is the best choice we could have made for our kids. I would not say this school is for everyone, it is for kids who want to work hard and who want a pleasant learning environment.

Posted: March 24, 2012

My daughter went to OA as a freshmen. Her grades were borderline, (2.5) but she made it. Her sophomore year was a little worse, and her gpa slipped to an overall score that caused her to be ejected from OA. She was pretty happy, but I was sad. When the junior high teachers pushed so hard that OA was the only school I should consider, I did not believe the school would kick my daughter out. The reviews on here about how caring OA is makes me feel sick.

Posted: February 8, 2012

My daughter is a Junior at OAHS. Both her and I are madly in love with this school! My oldest went to RHS and my son to SMHS, and when I compare the experience I've had as a parent, I have to say that OAHS stands out way above the rest! She went from being a B student to a straight A's student, as well as being involved in 2 sports, ASB, is a class officer, CSF, NHS, she manages to juggle a heavy work academic load, keeps up with practices, club participation and still has a healthy social life! I would recommend this school to everyone!! You won't regret it if you choose to join, the staff and teachers go above and beyond! And the parent involvement is amazing! At least 1/2 the school is of academic honor standing(3.5 or higher), and more than 70% is involved in sports!!

Posted: September 19, 2011

This is our fourth year with the K-8 school. My two daughters love it there. The family type environment is perfect and the teachers and staff are dedicated

Posted: September 12, 2011

My son has made great strides since entering Orcutt Academy. I was skeptical at first, but I can't say enough good things about this school.

Posted: March 15, 2011

My son is a sophmore at OAHS. These kids are basically recieving a private school type education in a public school. Class sizes are small, sports programs are being added every year, and there is amazing parental involvement. In the two years my son has attended, there have been no gang fights, no drugs, just a fun wholesome learning environment with no bad influences. The kids will get out of it what they put into it.

Posted: January 3, 2011

My son is a Sophomore at Orcutt Academy High. He is on the swim team, and swims for the Santa Maria swim club. He loves the class sizes and teachers, the academics are advanced, my daughter goes to Nipomo high and is in all AP classes, my son is doing pretty close to the same work in his English 2 class as she is doing in Junior AP English. The are adding electives every year and new sports also. Keep in mind the school is only 3 years old, I would recommend this school to anyone who is looking for a solid school with great teachers and a good solid academic program.

Posted: April 12, 2010

great staff, small class size. family like environment