FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Applications for the 2026-27 are on a case-by-case basis, and space is limited. Families interested in applying for the 2026-2027 year should contact Caroline Sarnoff, Director of Enrollment, at 707-261-4524.

The primary entry points are TK, Kindergarten and Sixth grade. The number of spaces available each year in grades 1-5 and 7-8 can vary from year to year.

Yes. Children applying for the Kindergarten program must turn 5 by September 1 of the year they enter Kindergarten at Blue Oak School.

Children applying for the TK program must turn 4 by September 1 of the year they enter Transitional Kindergarten year at Blue Oak School. 

Blue Oak School begins accepting applications for the following school year on October 1st. Families are strongly encouraged to visit the school between October and January. Choose your visit and register through the Visit Us page on this website. 

All applicants will participate in Assessment Day on the Blue Oak School campus on February 27, 2027. Times vary depending on grade level.

TK/Kindergarten Play Day, which allows us to observe children at play and interacting with others, also takes place on February 27, 2027.

Candidates for grades 1-8 also will be observed during their Shadow Day experience. 

Our comprehensive tuition for 2026-2027 is:

• $21,250 – Transitional Kindergarten
• $26,890 – Kindergarten – 5th Grade
• $33,360 – 6th – 8th Grade

Tuition includes all expenses related to the academic program at Blue Oak School. This includes books, supplies, the cost of field trips, and athletics. It does not cover our lunch program and afterschool care or after school enrichment programs.

Yes! Blue Oak School offers  $1 million dollars back to the community in the form of tuition assistance. Families who believe that they will need tuition assistance to enroll their child at Blue Oak School are encouraged to complete the process of applying for tuition assistance by completing the TADS application for assistance. For more information, refer to the Tuition & Affordability page.

No. All admissions decisions are made prior to reviewing a family’s request for tuition assistance.

Blue Oak School ulitilizes authentic forms of assessment to measure and track our students’ learning. Assessment takes many forms, including pre- and post- assessments in math, running records to monitor reading comprehension and fluencey, and skills checklists aligned with specific units of study. Rather than relying on internal standardized testing, our teachers use these ongoing assessments to understand each student’s progress and inform instruction.  We do not engage in standardized testing.

The 2026-27 student body is drawn from American Canyon, Calistoga, Fairfield, Green Valley, Napa, Rutherford, Sonoma, St. Helena, Vacaville, Yountville, and beyond.

40% percent of the families attending Blue Oak School self-identify as non-Caucasian.

35% percent of our students receive indexed tuition.

The average Lower School class size ranges from 12 – 20 students. Our Middle School grades vary from 16 – 28 students total, each section consisting of academic cohorts of 12 students or less. Middle School exploratory classes are multi-age and range from 8 to 12 students. Middle School Advisory groups average 10 students per advisor.

Day begins at 8:20am and ends at 3:20pm for both Lower and Middle School. Our Aftercare Program is available until 5:30pm.

Yes. The Aftercare Program is available for all Blue Oak students from 3:20pm to 5:30pm.

Blue Oak School also offers a rich selection of after-school enrichment classes for both Blue Oak School students and students from the community. Classes change every six to seven weeks.

Yes. Camps are offered during many holiday breaks and on all professional development days and conference days. 

Hot lunch is available on both campuses five days a week through our unique partnership with Shackford’s Kitchen, a local Napa Valley catering company. Families who select to participate in our hot lunch program directly order and pay Shackford’s Kitchen through their ordering app. Meals include fresh, locally sourced ingredients and are served on compostable products.

Blue Oak students eat snack and lunch at outdoor designed areas on both campuses. During the rainy season, lunch moves into our classrooms.

We strive to be “waste free” at lunchtime, asking students who bring food to school to utilize reusable containers.