Q. What is the mission of the school?
A. OSA’S mission is to provide students with intensive pre-professional training in the arts while maintaining a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum.
Q. How old is the school?
A. Oakland School for the Arts was chartered in May 2000 and opened its doors in September 2002.
Q. Is the School accredited?
A. Yes. Oakland School for the Arts received accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges in June 2004. The school underwent a Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) review and was re-accredited in Spring 2008.
Q. Where is the school located?
A. OSA is housed in Oakland’s historic Fox Theater, in downtown Oakland. This central location allows students access to the stimulation of a vibrant metropolitan hub, and is easily accessible by public transportation (including BART and AC Transit).
Q. When does the charter expire?
A. OSA was chartered by the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) in May 2000. The charter was renewed in January 2005 for another five years, through December 2010.
Q. How do students gain admission?
A. Students are admitted grade-blind, through an audition process. Auditions are scheduled periodically throughout the academic year. Please contact OSA at 510.873.8800 to reserve an audition slot.
Q. What is the school’s attendance rate?
A. Presently, OSA’s attendance rate is 94%. This is among the highest in the City of Oakland.
Q. What academic programs does OSA offer?
A. English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science and Romance Languages (French and Spanish) are required. OSA offers additional support programs such as Saturday School and Peer Tutoring. All juniors have an opportunity to attend an SAT Preparatory class, and all seniors participate in college preparatory programs as part of their academic day.
