Oregon Episcopal School

History

Established in 1869 by the Rt. Rev. Benjamin Wistar Morris, Bishop of Oregon, OES is "the oldest Episcopal school west of the Rocky Mountains." Known as St. Helen's Hall at the time of its founding, it was originally a boarding and day school for girls. The school's original site at 4th and Madison is now the location of Portland's City Hall. A new, larger site was purchased in 1890 and a new school opened the following year. The school moved again in 1964 to its current location in Raleigh Hills and Bishop Dagwell Hall was added, expanding the academic program to boys. In 1972 the two institutions were merged into Oregon Episcopal School. Currently, the school serves children from prekindergarten to 12th grade and includes day-school and boarding programs.

Academics

The Beginning, Lower, and Middle schools consist entirely of day students, but the Upper School includes a large boarding program. Approximately one fifth of the Upper School's student body resides on campus, and around three fourths of those boarding students hail from outside the United States.

In 2007, the Portland Monthly magazine named the school one of the best in Oregon.

In 2014, Oregon Episcopal School was ranked the best high school in the state of Oregon and the 13th best private school in the United States.

Science research

OES' research-based science program is one of the best in the United States and has a long history of success in science research competitions. Over the years, many students have placed highly in prestigious competitions such as the Intel Science Talent Search, the Siemens Competition, the Google Science Fair, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, and the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. Since 1995, 19 students have been named Intel National Semifinalists and National Finalists with one senior National Finalist contestant placed 2nd nationally among 40 national finalists in 2003 and one senior National Finalist contestant placed 3rd nationally in 2004. Since 2002, 36 students have been named Siemens National Semifinalists, Regional Finalists and National Finalists with one junior duo placed 1st nationally and won the Siemens Competition in 2010. In 2013, sophomore Vinay Iyengar, as one of the five students competing in Intel International Science and Engineering Fair from OES, won the Best in Category award in Mathematical Sciences at the 2013 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair and was also named the National Finalist for the Google Science Fair with research titled "Efficient Characteristic 3 Galois Field Operations for Elliptic Curve Cryptographic Applications," .

Mascot

OES's official mascot is an Aardvark, chosen by the student body to replace their previous mascot, a falcon. At one time an eagle was also a mascot at the school.

In 2013, the mascot placed second in the West in USA Today's High School Sports' Best Mascot competition.

State championships

Disaster on Mount Hood

One of the worst climbing accidents in U.S. history occurred in May 1986 when seven sophomore students and two faculty froze to death during an excursion on Mount Hood. Of the four survivors, three had life-threatening injuries; one had his legs amputated. The school commemorates this event by engaging in a day of service for the Portland community in gratitude for their support. All students and faculty go out to help others in a variety of ways, from serving food to taking care of hiking trails.

The OES disaster spurred the development of the Mountain Locator Unit, an inexpensive transmitter which helps searchers find climbers in distress.

Notable alumni

Rivals

Catlin Gabel