Quality Education

Over the last 10 years Oakland's education landscape has been transformed by the creation of over 40 new small schools. The OCO small school movement arose in the late 90's from long-standing community frustration with the quality of education serving Oakland's flatlands.  

 Schools were over crowded and deteriorating. Student achievement was rock bottom, dropout rates high, and school violence on the rise. There had not been a new school built in Oakland for over 30 years. Frustrated with what was going on in their communities, OCO leaders, parents and advocates promoted and created new small schools where teachers could better educate youth by knowing the student better; their families, communities, cultures and personal academic needs.  

Multiple external evaluations of Oakland's small schools and found new small schools have a positive impact on student achievement, and student and family satisfaction.  Achievement is on the rise,  thanks to dedicated staff and parents who have designed schools that meet the academic and personal needs of their students.