Our History

Ooltewah Adventist Kindergarten and School was opened in 1978 by the Ooltewah Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Beginnings

Ooltewah Adventist Kindergarten and School was opened in 1978 by the Ooltewah Seventh-day Adventist Church for the purpose of providing a small school education option for the Collegedale and Ooltewah area. One teacher managed the instruction and operation of the school for students in grades 1-6. The second year grades 7-8 were added and kindergarten was added the third year in 1980.

Challenging Times

The school continued with two teachers and grades K-8 until 1989 when enrollment dropped to ten students and only one teacher remained. This time period was a crossroads for the Ooltewah Seventh-day Adventist Church as many on the operating board felt that the school should be closed. Others insisted that OAKS should continue to be funded and the Lord would send the students. The school remained open and by the spring of 1992, there were enough students to support three teachers.

Growth and Expansion

By 1993 there were four teachers instructing 68 students and the school was evaluated and certified for a 7 year term of accreditation. By the year 2000, OAKS was firmly established in the Collegedale/Ooltewah area as a viable Adventist school of choice and enrollment hovered around 100 students for many years.

In 2007, an extension was built on the front of the building and porches were added down the sides to update the entire building. Over the next decade, the enrollment at OAKS continued to grow steadily.

OAKS now has nine classrooms, two music rooms, a library, kitchen, and a main office and workroom. Ooltewah Adventist School (OAKS) now serves 160+ students on a yearly basis.