Oak Hall was founded in 1970, the same year that Gainesville finished desegregation of their high schools.[1] Founded by Drs. Billy Brashear and Harry L. Walker, the school was open to all "without regard to race, creed or color", but had a $1,100 tuition.[2]
Although technically a private school, the school was largely built with funds provided by industrial revenue bonds raised by Alachua County. It is a Pre-K through 12 school, but was not always that way. The school's elementary, or "Lower School", was originally a separate campus by the name of Martha Manson Academy. The Headmaster there gave the school to Oak Hall in 2001, creating the Pre-K through 12 campus that the school has today.[3]
The school is sited on a 44-acre (18 ha) campus and includes a 400-seat theater, art and photography center, media center, science labs, gymnasium, lighted soccer field, lighted football field, brand new tennis courts, an unlighted baseball field, a softball field, and as well as many other outdoor basketball, pickleball, tennis, and 4-square courts.
Lower SchoolCofrin Arts Center
Athletics and extracurriculars
Oak Hall has a Spanish program and was placed first in Division 1A at the Florida State Spanish Conference in 2010. It also has a Latin program and was placed first in the Senior Division and first in the Junior Division at the 2010 FJCL State Forum held between April 14, 2010, and April 17, 2010. The Senior Division won again in 2012, 2014.[4] 2015,[5] and 2016.[6] Its Certamen team has won multiple state and collegiate level tournaments.[7]
^ abBeckmann, Chris; Boucias, Judy (1994). A History of Gainesville and its people. Gainesville, Fla.: Oak Hall School. OCLC31069252.
^Davis Jr., Horance G. (August 3, 1970). "Do you, Governor Kirk?". The Gainesville Sun. Retrieved September 19, 2023 – via pulitzer.org. – He might ask about the embryonic Oak Hall Preparatory School founded by Dr. Billy Brashear and Dr. Harry L. Walker, open to all "without regard to race, creed or color" – with $1,100 tuition, of course.
