Our daughter started in Pre-K 4 at O'Neal and is now in the 8th Grade. She has never once said "I…read moredon't like school" or "I don't want to go to school". She loves the O'Neal School community and has thrived since the first day she walked into the Lower School building 10 years ago. She is as excited about the 120th day of the school year as she is on the first day of school - O'Neal is her home. The academics at O'Neal are challenging and yet the teachers work to convey a love of learning in the classroom and carry that commitment into extra-curricular clubs and activities and athletics. The classes are small, enabling every student to be highly involved and develop a strong confidence in public speaking and writing. The curriculum and style of teaching is directed toward preparing students for the rigors of college as they are encouraged to work independently, challenge ideas and develop the skills necessary for critical thinking - there is no teaching to the test. As there is attention on each and every student, there are no cracks through which a student could fall and be forgotten. From the moment one walks on the campus, one is aware of how much the faculty and staff love what they do, enjoy being with the students and genuinely strive to see them succeed. In addition to typical middle school and high school sports, O'Neal has 6 tennis courts and a beautiful newly renovated 4-lane 25 yard pool!! Swim lessons are part of the Lower School curriculum and the school fields a highly competitive high school swim team that has won multiple State championships. Middle School student athletes have the opportunity in several sports to either participate on a middle school team or on the high school junior varsity or varsity team. There is no other school in the area that provides that option of giving the younger athletes the opportunity to grow and play at the highest level in their respective sports. The school provides a well-rounded education, combining strong academics, competitive athletics and the arts. The vibrant and encouraging environment allows for children to explore different offerings that are not available in other schools in our area. In addition to the rigorous academics, the pursuit of success on the athletic field and creative expression in the arts, significant emphasis is placed on knowing each child and supporting each child's emotional stability. Through small class sizes, the students form deep and often long term friendships with peers and faculty members. The students learn the highly valuable life skills of time management, techniques to handle stress and tools to maintain good mental health. The supportive school environment fosters confidence and builds maturity while the challenging curriculum and alignment between the three divisions creates a cohesive learning experience. The Head of School, John Elmore, is highly involved and visible in the day to day life of the school, greeting students by name every morning, attending all home athletic games and attending all arts performances. Mr. Elmore is highly approachable and friendly, inviting students, parents and faculty to discuss concerns or just chat. Mr. Elmore's commitment to maintaining a healthy, supportive and safe, yet competitive environment in which to grow allows for students to challenge themselves and develop into confident, well-spoken and caring individuals. We have no doubt our daughter will be well prepared for college, grad school and whatever she decides to pursue in the future. We are so fortunate to have a school of this caliber in the Sandhills! Visit the school website, schedule a tour and form your own opinion of all that the school has to offer: https://www.onealschool.org/page

My family is very happy at the O'Neal School! We have a 2nd, 4th, and 6th grader and have found so…read moremuch to love for each one of them! Firstly the campus is beautiful, with so many trees, wonderful playgrounds and outdoor spaces, not just for elementary students but middle and upper school as well. There is ample time built into all of my children's' day to get outdoors and run around. We have been very impressed with all of the co-curriculars: Outdoor Science is a stand out, and so unique to the school; the art program for all of my kids has been phenomenal and well-designed; all of my kids LOVE their language programs, and PE and music have been wonderful as well! As an educator, I love that there is space for multiple co-curriculars per day. My son's middle school experience has exceeded expectations with multiple ways for him to get involved: after school sports, Battle of the Books, and even off-season strength & conditioning. He also really enjoyed the class trip at the beginning of the year! There is so much to be involved in, the only difficulty is narrowing it down! I have found the teachers, across the board, to be stand outs. They are excellent communicators, passionate about their subjects, and wonderfully engaging in a way that goes beyond the dreaded worksheets. I love how different disciplines work together to make the subjects come alive across multiple subject areas. I love the project-based learning I see with all of my kiddos. Additionally, I have been impressed with the school's engagement with families, and feeling welcomed in a new community. Admissions was wonderful to work with, and went above and beyond for our family to help get us situated. We are very pleased with our experience at The O'Neal School!