We are a high school for grades 9 through 12. Generally, students are between 14 and 18 years of age.
All international students must be boarding students. They live in the dorms.
We are in a rural setting in a small town in Ohio. During their free time, students may walk or borrow a bike to ride to a nearby grocery store, a drugstore, a dollar store, or a fast-food restaurant. On some weekends, we offer shopping trips to a nearby mall.
We have 50-60 students from about a dozen US states and about a dozen countries.
No, but these tests are very helpful to understand your level of English preparation. Our TOEFL reporting code is 2020.
All classes are taught at the college preparatory level. You will need at least intermediate-level English language skills to succeed at Olney Friends School. Your listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills must all be strong before you apply for admission.
No, we do not. Ours is an immersive program — all classes are taught in English.
International students take a paper-based TOEFL exam. This exam covers reading comprehension, writing fundamentals, and listening skills. Based on the results of this exam and our own assessment, students may be required to take a supplementary course in ESL for quarters 1 and 2. Dependent on the student’s progress, they may continue in ESL for quarters 3 and 4. Students that have an acceptable level of reading comprehension and listening skills may process during quarters 3 and 4 to a Writing through Grammar and/or a writing laboratory course.
In 2012-2013, we have students from Japan, China, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, South Korea, the Ukraine, Ethiopia, Serbia, and Russia. Some of these students also have family background in India and Viet Nam.
We are a small, diverse school that can only accept a limited number of students from any one country to maintain the balance of our student body. The admissions director can answer your question in more detail.
Our curriculum is evolving to center on the natural resources of Appalachia, the region where we live. Students who enjoy being outdoors, working hard at their studies, and making friends from all over the world will thrive here.
We accept new students in February/March for the next school year that begins in August.
We also admit a small number of new students at the beginning of quarter 2 (in October), and quarter 3 (in January). For both international and US students, financial aid is available on a limited basis to those who apply early in the admissions cycle for the fall. To receive the best consideration for aid, please apply by February 1.
The number fluctuates annually; we are a small school, and one student’s score can significantly affect the average. Often, our average is a bit higher than the national average. In three of the last five years, one of our students has been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for academic achievement.
We have 100% placement in a four-year college or university in the US.
In 2012-2013, we offer physics, calculus, and history. Our offerings depend in part on the specialties of our teachers. In recent years, we have offered literature and psychology.
Class size varies from 3 to 20. The average class size is around 10.
Students may take a course to prepare for the SAT. The college counselor works with each student individually to complete their college applications.
Our students attend a wide range of highly-regarded liberal arts colleges as well as regional universities. A list of recent college acceptances is here.
Yes, in fact it is a requirement of admission that you must have contacts in the United States, family or friends with whom you can stay during breaks. School breaks are 20 days in December/January and 10 days in March/April.
Every Olney student does chores, such as housekeeping or dish crew, in addition to their regular studies. Also, students are required to do community service projects of their choice.
This is our 176th year. Olney Friends School was founded in 1837.
61830 Sandy Ridge Road, Barnesville, OH 43713 | mainoffice@olneyfriends.org | (740) 425-3655 | (800) 303-4291
