Genera description

Oxford Academy, located in Westbrook, Connecticut, is a private college preparatory boarding school offering individualized one-on-one classes to boys who wish to accelerate their high school programs or who want an alternative to a traditional classroom setting.

Why choose us

The school was founded in 1906 in Pleasantville, New Jersey, by Dr. Joseph M. Weidberg, a psychologist. Weidberg was concerned that many students were falling through the cracks of traditional education systems and therefore were not living up to their potential due to academic learning differences.

In founding the Academy, Weidberg looked to the great educators of the past: the lessons of John Dewey and Socrates were central to the creation of the Oxford Method. The Oxford Method was also based heavily on the tutorial system of Oxford University: Weidberg believed that a unique curriculum personally designed for each student would allow academic and social success. By utilizing the Socratic method of question-and-answer education, these students were observed to display remarkable talent.

In 1941, school enrollment was limited to a maximum of 15 students but has since grown to 48 students.[1] In 1947 Dr. Edward R. Knight was selected to succeed Dr. Weidberg as Headmaster followed by Frank Effinger in 1973, Dr. Jonathan A. Woodhall in 1975, and Philip H. Davis in 1983. In 2010, Philip B. Cocchiola was appointed Head of School.