The Oaks was conceived in the autumn of 1985 by a small group of parents whose children attended a progressive preschool in Hollywood. Unable to find a good program in the neighborhood, they decided to start their own Kindergarten on the premises of St. Thomas Church.  Under the leadership of Deborah Wyle as the first principal and program director, Gail Draper as kindergarten teacher and Tinker Beatty as Board Chair, The Oaks School opened in September 1986, with eleven children from various local preschools.  In 1986 The Oaks School incorporated as a non-profit educational institution and moved to the historic First United Methodist Church, renting two classrooms for a kindergarten and first grade in 1987.

In July 1990, Chloe Eichenlaub became Head of School, and in 2000, Mary Fauvre, Ph.D. became the school’s third Head of School.  Now in its 24th year and with full enrollment at each grade and successful graduating 6th grade classes, The Oaks School has become a respected elementary school, matriculating twenty to twenty-two students into a wide variety of independent and public middle schools in the Los Angeles Area.  

The Oaks is fully accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools.  The Oaks board of trustees has grown from 7 to 19 members and is a blend of parents, educators, and community representatives.

The history of The Oaks continues to write itself, and every year the dream expands.