Oak Hall School is a private school in Gainesville, Florida, that was founded in 1970 as a segregation academy.[1]

Oak Hall School
Address
Map
1700 SW 75th Street, Gainesville, FL 32607

, ,
Florida
Coordinates29°38′19″N 82°25′47″W / 29.6387416°N 82.4297057°W / 29.6387416; -82.4297057
Information
School typeIndependent preparatory
MottoScholarship, leadership, service
Established1970
HeadmasterDr. James Hutchins
GradesPre-K through 12th
Enrollment~750
Color(s)Burgundy and Gold
MascotEagles
RivalSaint Francis Catholic Academy
Websitewww.oakhall.org

History

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Oak Hall was founded in 1970, the same year that Gainesville finished desegregation of their high schools.[1] Founded by Drs. Billy Brashear and Harry L. Walker, the school was open to all "without regard to race, creed or color", but had a $1,100 tuition.[2]

Although technically a private school, the school was largely built with funds provided by industrial revenue bonds raised by Alachua County. It is a Pre-K through 12 school, but was not always that way. The school's elementary, or "Lower School", was originally a separate campus by the name of Martha Manson Academy. The Headmaster there gave the school to Oak Hall in 2001, creating the Pre-K through 12 campus that the school has today.[3]

The school established a sister school relationship with the Changzhou #2 Middle/High School.

Facilities

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The school is sited on a 44-acre (18 ha) campus and includes a 400-seat theater, art and photography center, media center, science labs, gymnasium, lighted soccer field, lighted football field, brand new tennis courts, an unlighted baseball field, a softball field, and as well as many other outdoor basketball, pickleball, tennis, and 4-square courts.

 
Lower School
 
Cofrin Arts Center

Athletics and extracurriculars

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Oak Hall has a Spanish program and was placed first in Division 1A at the Florida State Spanish Conference in 2010. It also has a Latin program and was placed first in the Senior Division and first in the Junior Division at the 2010 FJCL State Forum held between April 14, 2010, and April 17, 2010. The Senior Division won again in 2012, 2014.[4] 2015,[5] and 2016.[6] Its Certamen team has won multiple state and collegiate level tournaments.[7]

 
Edith D. Cofrin Theater

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ a b Beckmann, Chris; Boucias, Judy (1994). A History of Gainesville and its people. Gainesville, Fla.: Oak Hall School. OCLC 31069252.
  2. ^ Davis Jr., Horance G. (August 3, 1970). "Do you, Governor Kirk?". The Gainesville Sun. Retrieved September 19, 2023 – via pulitzer.org. – He might ask about the embryonic Oak Hall Preparatory School founded by Dr. Billy Brashear and Dr. Harry L. Walker, open to all "without regard to race, creed or color" – with $1,100 tuition, of course.
  3. ^ "RESOLUTION NO. 99-18" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  4. ^ "2014 Forum Results". Florida Junior Classical League. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  5. ^ "2015 Forum Results". Florida Junior Classical League. Archived from the original on May 11, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  6. ^ "2016 Forum Results". Florida Junior Classical League. Archived from the original on June 5, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  7. ^ "Oak Hall School -> Latin Certamen Meet". www.oakhall.org. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
  8. ^ Wells, Kevin (August 1, 2022). "Gainesville sprinter Tamari Davis sets world Under 20 record in 100m". www.wcjb.com.
  9. ^ "Ellington's long road to Miami". Gainesville.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  10. ^ "Kevin Maris back to where career started". Gainesville.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
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