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Oakland Unified


At a glance
1194thof 1,543 California districts▼ 54
Better than 22% of California districts
1011 Union St
Oakland, CA 94607-4099
·(510) 879-8000·All California district rankings →
Statewide performance 2016–2025
2025: better than 22.6% of districts
89
Schools
33,736
Students
2
5-star schools
Top rankedCrocker Highlands Elementary476th of 5,857 California elementary schools
Biggest riser
Emerson Elementary up 1,482 spots statewide this year
Smallest classes
Kaiser Early Childhood Center 8.5 students per teacher
Newly ranked this year
Dewey Academy High and 1 more
SchoolDigger ratings
4★
2★
1★
0★
15 schools without a SchoolDigger rating (too few tested students)
Summary:

The Oakland Unified School District is a large, diverse system of 81 schools serving roughly 48,000 students from kindergarten through 12th grade, but it functions like two separate districts with extreme disparities in performance and student poverty levels.

On one hand, the district includes several standout schools that rank among the best in the state, such as Oakland Technical High with its 94% graduation rate, and top elementary schools like Crocker Highlands Elementary and Chabot Elementary, which boast proficiency rates over 70%. On the other hand, many schools face severe challenges, with some like Lockwood STEAM Academy Elementary and Frick United Academy of Language Middle ranking in the bottom 1st percentile statewide, with proficiency rates below 12% and nearly all students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

Key issues across the district include a chronic absenteeism rate far above the state average and a clear disconnect between per-student spending and academic results, suggesting how resources are used matters more than the amount. While the district overall underperforms state averages, the success of high-poverty, high-performing schools like Oakland Tech demonstrates that strong outcomes are possible, highlighting the critical importance of school culture, quality instruction, and effective programs.

Ranking:
Map legend
E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private




Districts nearby

See the top CA California districts
SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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