The Delphian School

Summary

Delphian School is a co-ed K–12 private school operated by Delphi Schools. It uses study techniques created by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, known as Study Tech.[5] It is located on a 720-acre campus[6] in unincorporated Yamhill County, Oregon, near Sheridan.[7][8] Most students live on campus either full-time or five-day (going home for the weekends). The school also accepts day students; boarders must be at least eight years old, while day students can be as young as five. As of 2024, most of the school's 204 students were in grades 8-12.[3]

Delphian School
Address
Map
20950 SW Rock Creek Road

, ,
97378

Coordinates45°06′26″N 123°26′53″W / 45.107282°N 123.44801°W / 45.107282; -123.44801
Information
TypePrivate
Opened1976
CEEB code381071
NCES School ID01161668[3]
Head of schoolTrevor Ott
GradesK–12[3][4]
Number of students204 (2024)[3]
Campus typeRural
Color(s)Green and white   
Athletics conferenceOSAA Northwest League 2A-1
Team nameDragons
AccreditationNWAIS,[1] AdvancED[2]
AffiliationsDelphi Schools, Applied Scholastics
Websitewww.delphian.org Edit this at Wikidata

Campus and history edit

In the fall of 1976, Delphian School opened on the site of a former Jesuit novitiate near Sheridan, Oregon.[9][10] The main building on campus is a four-story, Art Deco-style building with a brick exterior designed by Poole & McGonigle and built in 1933 for the Jesuit house.[11]

In 1974, the order sold the building and surrounding acreage to Delphian. The former novitiate was then converted to a boarding school, as it already featured dorm rooms, classrooms, and a dining hall with a commercial kitchen.

Opening in 1976, Delphian School created a curriculum for grades K-12. There were about 60 students in the school's first year.[12] Two years later in 1978 the school had 120 students; tuition was $4,500 for boarding students and $2,800 for non-boarders.[10] In the mid-1980s the campus was considered as a possible location for a federal prison. The Sheridan Federal Correctional Institution opened in 1989 in another location in the area.[13][14]

The headquarters for Delphi Schools, Inc. are located at Delphian School, which is the founding school.[15]

During school closures due to COVID-19, Delphian School offered free online classes.[16][17]

Academics edit

Delphian School uses a proficiency or competency-based education model. The school does not have letter grades, report cards, or traditional grade levels. Students advance through the curriculum by demonstrating proficiency or competence rather than at a set time.[18]

Delphian School is operated by Delphi Schools using L. Ron Hubbard's study techniques, known as Study Tech. The Study Tech teaching methodology is licensed through the Scientology-related group Applied Scholastics.[5] The school is also the location of Heron Books, which published textbooks and materials using Hubbard's educational philosophy (the Delphi Curriculum).

Delphian School is a member of the Oregon Federation of Independent Schools (OFIS),[19] an organization that works to limit government influence on school choice.[20] The OFIS's current director, Mark Siegel, also acts as the school's assistant headmaster.[21] The school is an accredited member of the Northwest Association of Independent Schools, and an accredited member school of Cognia, a standards-based accreditation body.[1][2]

Activities and athletics edit

Delphian School's sports team is known as the "Dragons". The school participates in the Oregon School Activities Association's (OSAA) Northwest League, 2A classification, for girls and boys sports: basketball, tennis, cross country, track and field, boys soccer, volleyball, and cheerleading; and for such other activities as speech and debate, solo music, and choir.[22]

Delphian School started its cheerleading squad in 2013. In 2016, they won the Class 3A/2A/1A state cheerleading title with an overall judged score of 160.70.[23]

In 2013, a student was chosen as the youth delegate to Youth for Human Rights International, a Scientology-related organization.[24]

In 2014, the Delphian choir tied for the OSAA Choir State Championship. That year three school soccer players were named to the All-State team.[25][26]

Notable alumni edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "NWAIS: Delphian School, The". www.nwais.org. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
  2. ^ a b "Institution Summary". AdvancED. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d "Search for Private Schools – School Detail for Delphian School". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  4. ^ "Oregon School Directory 2008-09" (PDF). Oregon Department of Education. p. 128. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 26, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  5. ^ a b ""THE DELPHI SCHOOLS"". Applied Scholastics. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  6. ^ Insight, Newsweek Educational (2020-01-29). "What Can A Private Education Do For Your Child?". Newsweek. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  7. ^ "Contact Us Archived 2011-04-17 at the Wayback Machine." The Delphian School. Retrieved on 27 December 2010. "Delphian School 20950 SW Rock Creek Road, Sheridan, Oregon 97378"
  8. ^ Wright, Lawrence (14 February 2011). "The Apostate". The New Yorker.
  9. ^ Friedman, Ralph (1990). In Search of Western Oregon. Caxton Press. pp. 175. ISBN 978-0-87004-332-1. jesuit novitiate sheridan.
  10. ^ a b Associated Press (3 January 1978). "Delphian School sets sights high". Register-Guard. pp. 3B. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  11. ^ "St Francis Xavier Novitiate". Oregon Historic Sites Database. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  12. ^ "The Delphian School Celebrates 30th Anniversary (press release)". iNewswire. 8 February 2006. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  13. ^ "Delphian School inspected". Register-Guard. 2 November 1984. pp. 5A. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  14. ^ Mortenson, Eric (21 May 1989). "Sheridan becomes a prison town". Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  15. ^ "About Delphi Schools, Inc. Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine" The Delphian School. Retrieved on December 27, 2010.
  16. ^ "Oregon school offers free YouTube classes amidst closure".
  17. ^ "Delphian School offers free online classes for kids".
  18. ^ Siegel, Mark. "A New Paradigm - Putting All Students in the Driver's Seat". AdvancED. The Delphian School. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  19. ^ Oregon Federation of Independent Schools
  20. ^ "Home". Oregon Federation Of Independent Schools. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  21. ^ Delphian School: about Mark Siegel
  22. ^ "Delphian School". Oregon School Activities Association. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  23. ^ Husseman, Robert (2023-05-02). "Delphian, McMinnville cheer teams bring it on". NewsRegister.com. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  24. ^ "Delphian student to represent USA at youth summit in Brussles, Belgium". Newspaper Archive of The Sun. SmallTownPapers, Inc. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  25. ^ Rastrelli, Thomas (8 May 2014). "Delphian choir nails it, ties for first at state". Statesman Journal. Gannett Satellite Information Network. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  26. ^ "Area Highlights". Statesman Journal. Gannett Satellite Information Network. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2015.

External links edit

  • Official website