In the spring of 1992, a group of parents in Texas met together to discuss the need for a new alternative in education.  They shared the desire to be seriously active in carrying out their unique responsibilities as parents in the total education of their children, but their options were limited.  Their known alternatives were traditional public (including charter), traditional private, and home schooling.  Collectively, these parents had experienced all three and discovered that, while each had its positive aspects, all were in some way less-than-ideal for their family’s needs or life situations.  Prayerfully, they agreed to work together to begin a new school – one that incorporated positive aspects from the others while having its own set of distinctives.  If they succeeded in addressing their own concerns regarding active parental involvement, they wanted to begin sharing what they learned with other parents who, like them, were seeking better ways to educate and raise their children.  The result of their efforts was the opening of Grace Preparatory Academy in Arlington, TX on August 16, 1993.  From this humble beginning, University-Model Schools® are now located in more than ten states with more to come.  In 2005, Oaktree Academy became the fist certified University-Model School® in the state of Virginia. 

For the first nine years Oaktree Academy operated under the name Oaktree School and was a private school covering for home-educated students providing accountability, guidance, and support as parents taught their children at home.  Due to the growing needs of the community at large, we changed our name to Oaktree Academy in 2003, and in 2005 were certified under the National Association of University-Model Schools® (NAUMS).  Instruction is by certified teachers at Oaktree Academy and uses an educational format where middle school and high school students attend class three days per week with two days of off-site work.  Elementary students attend classes two days a week with three days of off-site homework with parents.  Oaktree Academy seeks to strengthen and validate the educational process by ensuring that families adhere to and abide by specified guidelines that are based on state requirements.  Accountability and partnership with the parents are paramount.  Additionally, Oaktree Academy aspires to broaden the overall educational experience by networking families to deliver information, services, and academics as well as vocational opportunities within the communities of our enrolled families.