Charter High Schools: Building Skills for the Future with STEM Pathways

Oakland Military Institute students utilizing real-world scenarios to further their education

Still looking for a public high school for your student next year? Charter public high school students in Oakland are building skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through hands-on projects, workplace internships, college-level coursework, and career-focused pathways. These programs connect classroom learning to real-world situations while preparing students for college and careers in science and tech fields. Visit Oakland Enrolls to explore all the available high school options.

Oakland Unity High School: Oakland Unity High School offers a Computer Science Technology pathway with digital video film classes. Students participate in internships at a range of organizations, including Clif Bar and Olive Street Agency. The school has a college and career counseling center with counselors who provide support through advisory starting in 9th grade. Senior year at Oakland Unity includes a transition class that helps students apply to colleges and explore trade schools and other pathways. Students have been accepted to Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and other top UC campuses. AP scores are consistently among the top five high schools in Oakland.

Oakland School for the Arts: Oakland School for the Arts (OSA) integrates STEM learning into its creative curriculum through arts pathways that emphasize technical and engineering skills. In Audio Production and Engineering, students receive training in sound engineering, recording, music production, and live sound. The Media Arts pathway offers Career Technical Education in animation, filmmaking, graphic design, and web design. Fashion Design features a project-based curriculum for students beginning in the 6th grade. Students also complete traditional mathematics and science courses as part of their academic program. The school maintains a 99% college acceptance rate. The Summer Arts Academy occasionally offers technical workshops in areas such as woodworking, where students practice measuring, cutting, and assembling.

Oakland Military Institute: Oakland Military Institute (OMI) combines rigorous academic instruction with a leadership model built on discipline and character. OMI was founded by Mayor Jerry Brown to help students gain admission to top universities. OMI graduates have gone on to attend UC schools, Ivy League schools, and service academies. The school’s dual enrollment program, called the Governor’s Baccalaureate Program, begins in 9th grade, with half of the senior class expected to have completed at least a year of college upon graduation. The Cadet Corps program includes a STEM focus, with cadets pursuing drone certifications and Type 1 Wildland Firefighting certifications through CAL FIRE. OMI maintains a 94% A-G completion rate for high school graduates. “My child is thriving at OMI,” a parent noted. “With a 6 to 1 adult to cadet ratio, there is so much support and care! OMI’s campus is calm, friendly and well behaved.”

LPS Oakland R&D: LPS Oakland R&D is centered on integrating rigorous academics with career and technical education through a Design and Multimedia Arts Pathway. The program includes a vertically aligned sequence of year-long CTE courses, dual enrollment opportunities through Berkeley City College, and internships through a Work-Based Learning Career Practicum course. Industry partners serve on a Pathway Advisory Council, and the curriculum aligns with workforce expectations. Organizations like Next Wave STEM provide equipment and training for technologies such as 3D printing. Students have earned over $30,000 in internship stipends through programs such as the REEL Oakland Apprenticeship and the Web Design Internship. “They encourage us to think critically, ask questions, and always aim to get better,” a student said. “Even when it’s tough, I know that this is all helping me prepare for high school, college, and whatever comes next.”

Envision Academy of Arts & Technology: Envision Academy’s high school program is designed around A-G requirements, meaning any student who fulfills graduation requirements is eligible to enter a Cal State or UC. Envision Academy is in transition to a Design, Visual, and Media Arts pathway and has artists on staff to support it. Students can take concurrent enrollment classes at Peralta Colleges. The school’s College and Career Center provides exceptional support for finding scholarship opportunities and identifying the right college fit for each student. In 2024, five students received full rides to UC Berkeley, and Envision students were honored at the African American Regional Educational Alliance awards ceremony. The school actively involves student voice in decision-making. Students complete a portfolio defense in 10th and 12th grade, modeled after a graduate school dissertation defense.

Education for Change – Latitude 37.8 High School: Latitude High School offers an immersive, real-world learning pathway program where every student gains increased responsibility and ownership over their high school career. In 9th grade, students participate in career exploration visits, going to at least 6 different work sites. In 10th grade, students can sign up for job shadow visits, with approximately 600 opportunities available each year. The program culminates in 11th grade with a month-long immersive internship, and in 12th grade, every student takes a college class and completes an internship. One student interned at Pinpoint Training in 11th grade, was hired, and returned as an employee to recruit new interns. The school grew from 50 internships in 2023 to 100 in 2024, with 100% of students completing at least one internship and 100% completing at least one college class.

East Bay Innovation Academy: East Bay Innovation Academy provides a hands-on, STEM-focused education with an engaging, project-based learning environment. The high school pathway is computer science and design, including a popular robotics class, cybersecurity, AP Computer Science, and an applied design innovation class focused on 3D modeling and printing, as well as architectural engineering assignments. EBIA is the only Oakland public school to offer the AP Capstone program, in which students take AP Seminar in the junior year and AP Research in the senior year, culminating in an extensive research project, paper, and presentation assessed by the College Board. Students intern through their pathway at organizations such as Chabot Space and Science Center, and some advance to NASA internships. Other internship partners include the Oakland Zoo, KQED Youth Advisory Board, and the Bay Area Mural Project. The school participates in a green jobs cohort with the Alameda County Office of Education. EBIA has a 98% graduation rate and a 98% rating on the state dashboard for college and career readiness.

Bay Area Technology School (BayTech): BayTech focuses on direct, interactive instruction, personalized for all students, while using adaptive technology in classrooms so students learn at their instructional level. BayTech has a medical pathway where students have studied biology, nursing, chemistry, and pre-med in college. BayTech maintains a 100% UC A-G graduation rate, and last year’s graduating class of 51 students received $4 million in academic merit-based scholarships. The school partners with organizations including Youth Empowerment Partnership (YEP), High Ground, St. Mary’s College, Oakland Genesis, and Oakland Promise. BayTech celebrates 22 years as one of Oakland’s oldest charter schools and has a brand new, state-of-the-art building.

Aspire Public Schools (Aspire Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy 6–12): Aspire’s high schools focus on college, career, and life readiness through career pathways and internship opportunities. The schools partner with organizations, including BUILD, Junior Achievement, and Project Lead the Way for curriculum support, and work with One Goal, Earn/Learn, and the Peralta Colleges to host events like College Summit and work-based learning trips. Students have interned at the Center for Youth Development through Law and Alameda Health Systems. Through a partnership with Junior Achievement, seniors attend tours and career presentations at companies like Southwest Airlines. Students have received acceptance into highly competitive QuestBridge and POSSE scholarships.

ARISE High School: ARISE High School offers two career pathways: Public and Community Health and Education for the People. Through a partnership with the Bay Area Medical Academy, students in the Public and Community Health pathway can earn their Phlebotomy Technician license, including a one-year course, a summer externship, and a national exam. Previous ARISE graduates have received their license and are qualified to work in clinical settings. All 11th graders complete a semester-long internship during school hours. Public Health internships include placements at Highland Hospital through their HEAL Program, La Clinica, and the Alameda County Community Food Bank. Students also have strong relationships with Berkeley City College and Merritt College, which offer multiple dual-enrollment college classes aligned with their pathways. “The teachers at ARISE are more than educators, they are mentors, supporters, and advocates who care deeply about our growth and well-being,” an ARISE student said.

Alternatives in Action: Alternatives in Action High School emphasizes “learning by doing” through a Media Arts pathway. The school partners with PilotCity to train students for internships with local businesses. Berkeley City College offers a Media Production class on the Alternatives in Action campus. Internship partners include Highland Hospital and Oakland Public Libraries. The school has a restorative justice team, mentorship programs, an advisory system, multiple mental health counselors, and a health and wellness center. The school saw a double-digit increase in its College and Career Indicator and is expanding its AP program, including adding a new AP English offering for all grade levels. “Alternatives In Action is a small school where my child is seen and heard,” one parent shared. “They get the attention they need to be successful.”

AIMS College Prep High School: AIMS College Prep High School integrates college-prep courses and career-connected learning through STEM-focused pathways. Students have opportunities for dual-enrollment programs at local colleges where they can earn college credit while still in high school. AIMS partners with organizations to support student-led initiatives, such as a podcast program that amplifies student voice. Through partnerships with industry professionals, students gain exposure to leading organizations such as NVIDIA, Salesforce, and the Oakland Roots, expanding their understanding of professional STEM environments. “Before AIMS, I didn’t see college as a possibility,” a student said. “Through the internships and college prep support here, I not only know I can go to college, but I already have college credits. It changed my life and my goals.”