Founded in 1924, Oak Knoll's roots go back to 1846, when Cornelia Connelly founded the Society of the Holy Child Jesus and opened her first school in England. The Provincial Council of the Society of the Holy Jesus responded to a need identified by the Bishop of Newark for a Catholic School for girls.
Oak Knoll's establishment is linked to the historical context of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, founded in 1846 by Cornelia Connelly to provide education for girls. The Provincial Council of the Society of the Holy Jesus responded to a demand identified by the Bishop of Newark for a Catholic school for girls.