Oakland School for the Arts

530 18th St, Oakland, CA 94612, United States

OSA has faced several hurdles throughout its 19 years of existence, all of which felt insurmountable at the time. Each time, the OSA community has rallied to not just survive but also to keep the objective in focus. During this historic time, they are appealing to their community and supporters for assistance.

Their building is still closed due to the global COVID-19 outbreak. As a result, we've had to cancel a number of fundraising events, concerts, exhibits, and other traditional appeals, which account for almost half of our overall fundraising needs this year.

Changing arts before their shelter-in-place reality, bringing teaching and practice to the virtual world would have been unimaginable. After all, their design and visual arts rely on materials that can only be found at a school, and their performing arts are frequently physical and/or ensemble-based. But they're going to do it! Students are practicing their skill while being at the forefront of transferring the arts to a purely virtual realm through a combination of live virtual class sessions and guided remote courses.

Communication is critical during these times. OSA is dedicated to maintaining great connection with their community by sending weekly and monthly newsletters that include highlights from all departments, key announcements, and community awards.

During the month of June, a group of faculty members devised a remote learning strategy. They collaborated to give kids a balance of arts and academic class time, as well as options for support. Students with learning disabilities and English language learners will receive one-on-one and small group support. Online classrooms will be able to accommodate more support workers and teaching aides.

As we continue to participate in remote learning at the commencement of the 2020-2021 school year, OSA will continue to support the mental health and emotional wellbeing of students, families, and staff. Drop-in high school and middle school groups allow kids to discuss issues with their peers in a safe environment with the help of an adult facilitator.

Drop-In Family Support Groups give parents the opportunity to check in and chat about the challenges of parenting while pursuing a degree online.

Oakland School for the Arts is a top-rated public charter magnet school in Oakland, California. It has 749 students in grades 6 through 12, with a 19 to 1 student-teacher ratio. State exam results show that 54 percent of kids are proficient in arithmetic and 70 percent are proficient in reading.

Oakland, California is blessed with some of the state’s most diverse and high-achieving schools. Here’s a list of some of our favorites:

•     Oakland School for the Arts

•     East Bay Innovation Academy

•     Bay Area Technology

•     Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

•     Coliseum College Prep Academy

•     Madison Park Academy 6-12

•     Aspire Golden State College Preparatory Academy

•     LIFE Academy

•     Aspire Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy  

All of these wonderful schools are located just a short distance from our historic location at 4226 Piedmont Avenue in Oakland! Stop by for a visit anytime!