Neskowin Valley School History
Neskowin Valley School was founded in 1972 by George and Margot Thompson. Their vision of creating a natural, place-based education model led to the transformation of a 1940s dairy barn into a comfortable and purpose-built learning space. Originally founded as a Preschool/Kindergarten program to serve families of the Central Oregon Coast, Neskowin Valley School has grown to include elementary and middle school programs through Grade 8. The building
itself also continued to expand over the years, with the addition of a spacious
art room and a multi-purpose room.
Neskowin Valley School is set on five lush
acres surrounded by meadows and woods, with a creek meandering through the property. This idyllic location inspires teachers to incorporate lessons of regeneration, abundance, diversity and balance into their daily instruction. A school garden provides space for sustainability classes and a covered play area allows outdoor recess time regardless of the weather. There is truly a sense of wonder in this space, and countless visitors have exclaimed, “I wish I had gone to a school like this!”
Place-based education
promotes learning that is
rooted in the local environment--
the unique history, culture, economy, ecology, literature, and art of a particular place.
Neskowin Valley School was thoughtfully designed to have spacious classrooms surrounding a two-story great room with a large, central fireplace. The great room quickly became the heart of the school and continues to be a welcoming gathering space for the NVS community. Following the early years' tradition, staff, students, and parents still come together weekly for Gather ‘Round to sing and share community news.
