Choosing an elementary school is about finding a place where your child belongs and their natural curiosity is ignited. Oakland Enrolls has many elementary school offerings with diverse and dynamic learning environments. There are many vibrant school options on Oakland Enrolls, each with a distinct approach to fostering a love of learning.
It’s about the joy a student feels at Yu Ming Charter where, even though “the work is so hard,” they are just “having such a good time” with friends in Mandarin immersion. It’s a student at AIMS K-12 who discovers the word “proud” to describe their own hard work. It’s the sense of community in Education for Change schools, where every day educators and staff ensure every student feels seen and reflected.
Oakland Charter Elementary Schools on the Oakland Enrolls platform host family learning nights, cultural celebrations, parent leadership councils, and send out regular newsletters so families can stay in the know. Parents are encouraged to volunteer and stay actively involved in their child’s education and are regularly updated on their student’s progress and attainment.
This guide highlights the unique programs that make Oakland’s public charter school elementary schools exceptional, helping you find the community where your child will flourish. Choose from Oakland charter schools that provide programs that include language immersion, hands-on learning, rigorous college-prep and project-based learning.
Here are some examples of what you can find on our platform:
AIMS K-12, ranked among the top schools in the state, prepares students for college and career through rigorous academics and a focus on critical thinking, leadership, and community engagement. AIMS focuses on students developing a deep love of learning that is embedded across all grade levels through project-based learning, such as designing community maps or conducting science experiments. AIMS also provides dedicated ELD instruction and integrated classroom support.
Aspire Public Schools Elementary Schools (Aspire College Academy, Aspire Berkley Maynard Academy, Aspire Monarch Academy, Aspire Triumph Technology Academy) provide a high-quality public education focused on preparing students for college, career, and life. The program builds strong foundational skills in literacy and math through project-based learning that ignites student curiosity. With a supportive and innovative learning environment for students, Aspire ensures children develop by integrating social-emotional learning with high academic expectations. These intentionally small, community-based schools empower scholars to become confident, independent thinkers, and staff work in close partnership with families to so every child can build a fulfilling future.
Community School for Creative Education prioritizes a love of learning by bridging the head, heart, and hands of children. CSCE’s approach proves that children hold on to what they learn at school when they understand the ways it is interconnected. CSCE also fosters students’ curiosity with spaces including gardens where children can connect lessons learned in science and math to the real world.
Education for Change Public Schools (a network including Learning Without Limits, Cox Academy, Achieve Academy, ASCEND, and Lazear) is built on a foundation of belonging and accelerated learning. At EFC schools, every student is set up for success and the staff works hard to ensure young learners feel they belong and can see themselves reflected in the school community and curriculum. EFC schools’ approach encourage accelerated learning to prepare students for success right away. EFC schools provide support for students learning English through small group learning. Young students engage in project-based learning, and some schools present “Expos” that are structured so parents can see what their child will learn in the next grade.
“Belonging comes first,” said Areli Porros-Pozos, the Student Recruitment Manager for EFC. “Students must see themselves reflected, and feel like they belong to the larger community. We emphasize that. It’s the number one factor.”
EFC believes in empowering parents as partners in their child’s education, especially for multilingual families. As Porros-Pozos explained, “We empower parents so they can engage in the conversation in their language,” she said. “That helps and supports their student.”
Francophone Charter School provides a tuition-free, immersive French education for elementary students. Francophone offers a rigorous curriculum where core subjects are taught entirely in French, beginning in kindergarten. This proven immersion model helps students achieve high levels of proficiency in both French and English, with research showing that immersion students often exceed their peers on standardized tests. The school creates a vibrant, inclusive community that celebrates diverse cultures within the francophone world, preparing students with the linguistic and academic skills for future success in a global society.
Yu Ming Charter School is a full Mandarin immersion public school that supports students to become global citizens.The school’s rigorous academic model is designed to achieve high outcomes across all subjects, with a nearly nine out of ten second graders reading on grade level. Many Yu Ming parents find that their students thrive when challenged to learn Mandarin, while finding joy and making friends in the process. Yu Ming has extensive experience supporting dual-language learners.
“Our students love learning Chinese,” said Yu Ming CEO Stacey Wang. “There’s something magical about us helping students reach their potential in joyful, creative ways that brings them joy, and they’re learning to work hard through it.”
“Our mission is not just that everybody learns Chinese,” Wang said, “it’s that everybody becomes a global citizen.”
These are just a few examples of the exceptional charter schools available in Oakland! Explore all your options and find the perfect fit for your family on the Oakland Enrolls platform.
