Science · District
Oakland Unified
33,838 students enrolled in 2024–25: 22,284 fluent in English, 10,895 English learners, and 659 not yet assessed.
Oakland Unified's 2026–27 science pacing guides
The official curriculum from the State of California.
Oakland Unified Pacing Guide – the one-size-fits-all schedule of learning.
Grades K–5: OUSD publishes no science pacing guide for elementary grades; its science kits rotate between schools. More from Oakland Unified.
Grades 9–12: OUSD publishes no district-wide science pacing guide for high school. More from Oakland Unified.
Look at a few charts and you'll see the same thing: very little change. Each chart shows what the school system "wants", the results it is built to produce, plus the effects of circumstances from outside the school, like COVID and family income.
As long as the school system stays the same, there's no reason to expect results to rise above the upper limit, the top edge of the shaded band.
Once a school uses the Lead Out Method, that is what we expect to see: results climbing above the upper limit. It's the sign that the system now "wants" something different. What you want.
Each dot is one year. It shows how far the typical student's score was from the state's "meets standard" mark. Zero means right on it. Above zero is above standard; below zero is below.
Every school's results bounce around a little from year to year. A different group of students, a flu season, a new teacher: small things push the number up or down. That bounce is normal, and it doesn't mean anything has really changed.
The shaded band marks how far the bounce normally goes. We work it out from the school's own history: how much its result typically moves from one year to the next.
The small numbers under each year are how many students took the test. In a small school a few students make a big difference, so its dots bounce further and its band is wider.
- A dot inside the band is ordinary bounce. The school is doing what it has always done.
- A dot outside the band is a real signal. Something changed, for better or worse, and it's worth asking what.
A flat band with the dots inside it means the system is stable. It will keep producing about the same results year after year, however hard everyone works. Teachers aren't the reason the dots stay put. The way the school is organized is. Changing that is what moves the dots.
The little house in each year shows the share of students eligible for free or reduced-price school meals, a rough measure of family income. It sits on the same scale as the results: 0% at the top of the chart, 100% at the bottom. The fewer families with low incomes, the higher the house. Income moves results too, and it comes from outside the school.
Step 1 · Each year's result
For each grade tested, take the average (mean) scale score from the California Department of Education's results file, and subtract the lowest score that counts as "Standard Met" for that grade. That is the grade's distance from standard. Weight each grade by its share of the students tested, then add the grades up. Grades where the state hides the average because ten or fewer students tested are left out entirely.
2019 from cast_ca2019_1_csv_v1.zip
| Grade | Line in file | Average score | Standard Met | Distance | Students | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 556 | 194.6 | − 214 | −19.4 | × 3056 / 9052 | −6.5 |
| 8 | 557 | 390.0 | − 415 | −25 | × 2207 / 9052 | −6.1 |
| 11 | 559 | 586.1 | − 615 | −28.9 | × 1876 / 9052 | −6 |
| 12 | 560 | 584.0 | − 615 | −31 | × 1913 / 9052 | −6.6 |
| Sum, rounded to a whole point | −25 | |||||
2022 from cast_ca2022_1_csv_v1.zip
| Grade | Line in file | Average score | Standard Met | Distance | Students | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 696 | 195.1 | − 214 | −18.9 | × 2699 / 7098 | −7.2 |
| 8 | 697 | 393.2 | − 415 | −21.8 | × 2051 / 7098 | −6.3 |
| 11 | 699 | 590.3 | − 615 | −24.7 | × 1163 / 7098 | −4 |
| 12 | 700 | 592.3 | − 615 | −22.7 | × 1185 / 7098 | −3.8 |
| Sum, rounded to a whole point | −21 | |||||
2023 from cast_ca2023_1_csv_v1.zip
| Grade | Line in file | Average score | Standard Met | Distance | Students | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 698 | 196.0 | − 214 | −18 | × 2631 / 5968 | −7.9 |
| 8 | 699 | 393.9 | − 415 | −21.1 | × 2014 / 5968 | −7.1 |
| 11 | 700 | 590.7 | − 615 | −24.3 | × 1224 / 5968 | −5 |
| 12 | 701 | 578.6 | − 615 | −36.4 | × 99 / 5968 | −0.6 |
| Sum, rounded to a whole point | −21 | |||||
2024 from cast_ca2024_1_csv_v1.zip
| Grade | Line in file | Average score | Standard Met | Distance | Students | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 688 | 195.3 | − 214 | −18.7 | × 2658 / 6531 | −7.6 |
| 8 | 689 | 394.1 | − 415 | −20.9 | × 2080 / 6531 | −6.7 |
| 11 | 691 | 587.9 | − 615 | −27.1 | × 1312 / 6531 | −5.4 |
| 12 | 692 | 589.3 | − 615 | −25.7 | × 481 / 6531 | −1.9 |
| Sum, rounded to a whole point | −22 | |||||
2025 from cast_ca2025_1_csv_v1.zip
| Grade | Line in file | Average score | Standard Met | Distance | Students | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 696 | 195.8 | − 214 | −18.2 | × 2675 / 6679 | −7.3 |
| 8 | 697 | 395.0 | − 415 | −20 | × 2100 / 6679 | −6.3 |
| 11 | 699 | 592.0 | − 615 | −23 | × 1456 / 6679 | −5 |
| 12 | 700 | 594.5 | − 615 | −20.5 | × 448 / 6679 | −1.4 |
| Sum, rounded to a whole point | −20 | |||||
2026 from cast_ca2026_1_csv_v1.zip
| Grade | Line in file | Average score | Standard Met | Distance | Students | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 687 | 196.9 | − 214 | −17.1 | × 2574 / 7055 | −6.2 |
| 8 | 688 | 397.7 | − 415 | −17.3 | × 2072 / 7055 | −5.1 |
| 11 | 690 | 599.0 | − 615 | −16 | × 1888 / 7055 | −4.3 |
| 12 | 691 | 601.2 | − 615 | −13.8 | × 521 / 7055 | −1 |
| Sum, rounded to a whole point | −17 | |||||
Step 2 · The average and the normal range
- Average: add the yearly results and divide by how many there are. −25, −21, −21, −22, −20, −17 → −21
- Typical year-to-year change: how far the result moved from each year to the next, ignoring up or down. 2019→2022: 4 · 2022→2023: 0 · 2023→2024: 1 · 2024→2025: 2 · 2025→2026: 3 → average 2
- Normal range: multiply the typical change by 2.66, then add it to the average and subtract it. 2 × 2.66 = 5.3. Upper limit −15.7, lower limit −26.3.
Why 2.66? It is the standard factor from quality control, the work of Walter Shewhart and W. Edwards Deming. It turns "how much the result typically changes in a year" into "how far it can wander by chance alone".
Years with no result (no state tests were given in spring 2020) are skipped: the year-to-year change runs from the last year with a result to the next one.
Step 3 · Free or reduced-price meals
The share of enrolled students eligible for free or reduced-price meals — for a district, the total across its schools. From 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26.
Schools in Oakland Unified
Show by trustee area →50 Elementary schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- ACORN Woodland Elementary (291) −23
- Allendale Elementary (368) −31
- Bella Vista Elementary (349) −10
- Bridges @ Melrose Academy Elementary (389) −32
- Brookfield Elementary (133) −31
- Burckhalter Elementary (193) −16
- Carl B. Munck Elementary (151) −16
- Chabot Elementary (576) +7
- Cleveland Elementary (376) −11
- Crocker Highlands Elementary (415) +6
- East Oakland Pride Elementary (314) −32
- Emerson Elementary (354) −19
- EnCompass Academy Elementary (283) −24
- Esperanza Elementary (418) −32
- Franklin Elementary (499) −20
- Fred T. Korematsu Discovery Academy Elementary (180) −34
- Fruitvale Elementary (254) −35
- Futures Elementary no 2026 results
- Garfield Elementary (454) −30
- Glenview Elementary (476) −4
- Global Family Elementary (446) −31
- Grass Valley Elementary (182) −22
- Highland Community (457) −26
- Hoover Elementary (281) −31
- Horace Mann Elementary (200) −26
- International Community Elementary (301) −24
- Joaquin Miller Elementary (406) −4
- Kaiser Elementary no 2026 results
- La Escuelita (274) −19
- Laurel Elementary (473) −20
- Lincoln Elementary (664) 0
- Lockwood STEAM Academy Elementary (678) −31
- Madison Park Academy Elementary (241) −23
- Manzanita Community Elementary (335) −29
- Manzanita SEED Elementary (436) −10
- Markham Elementary (327) −33
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary (296) −35
- MLK / Lafayette Elementary no 2026 results
- Montclair Elementary (547) +1
- Oakland Academy of Knowledge Elementary (231) −24
- Peralta Elementary (355) +7
- Piedmont Avenue Elementary (310) −12
- Prescott Elementary (135) −25
- Reach Academy Elementary (425) −25
- Redwood Heights Elementary (374) +3
- Rise Community Elementary no 2026 results
- Sankofa United Elementary (216) −17
- Sequoia Elementary (452) −3
- Think College Now Elementary (253) −30
- Thornhill Elementary (370) 0
4 K–8 schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- Greenleaf (613) −24
- Hillcrest (393) +8
- Melrose Leadership Academy (722) −7
- Parker no 2026 results
13 Middle schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- Alliance Academy no 2026 results
- Bret Harte Middle (337) −30
- Claremont Middle (487) +1
- Edna Brewer Middle (785) −5
- Elmhurst United Middle (729) −23
- Frick United Academy of Language Middle (392) −29
- Montera Middle (695) −7
- Roosevelt Middle (512) −24
- ROOTS International Academy no 2026 results
- United for Success Academy Middle (347) −28
- Urban Promise Academy Middle (392) −23
- Westlake Middle (279) −32
- West Oakland Middle (165) −21
3 Middle and high schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- Coliseum College Prep Academy (861) −14
- LIFE Academy (436) −11
- Madison Park Academy 6-12 (676) −27
7 High schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- Castlemont High (719) −32
- Fremont High (1,166) −23
- McClymonds High (273) −31
- MetWest High no 2026 results
- Oakland High (1,579) −13
- Oakland Technical High (1,812) −9
- Skyline High (1,250) −7
8 Alternative and special schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- Dewey Academy High (125) −21
- Gateway to College High at Laney College (104) −13
- Independent Study, Sojourner Truth (481) −10
- MetWest High (199) −23
- Oakland International High (270) −39
- Ralph J. Bunche Continuation High (58) −30
- Rudsdale Continuation High (333) −36
- Street Academy Alternative High (77) −35
Charter schools in Oakland Unified
7 Elementary schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- Achieve Academy (537) −20
- Aspire College Academy (206) −26
- Aspire Monarch Academy (374) −21
- Aspire Triumph Technology Academy (217) −26
- Learning Without Limits (335) −16
- North Oakland Community Charter no 2026 results
- Vincent Academy no 2026 results
8 K–8 schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- American Indian Public Charter School II (617) no 2026 results
- ASCEND (493) −11
- Aspire Berkley Maynard Academy (515) −22
- Aspire ERES Academy no 2026 results
- Francophone Charter School of Oakland (324) −2
- KIPP Bridge Academy (520) −25
- Lighthouse Community Charter (549) −24
- Roses in Concrete no 2026 results
4 Middle schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- AIMS College Prep Middle (200) −6
- Downtown Charter Academy (305) +4
- Epic Charter no 2026 results
- Oakland Charter Academy (222) −33
6 Middle and high schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- Aspire Golden State College Preparatory Academy (405) −27
- Aspire Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy (392) −19
- Bay Area Technology (255) −19
- East Bay Innovation Academy (451) −9
- Oakland Military Institute, College Preparatory Ac (480) −18
- Oakland School for the Arts (828) −4
7 High schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- AIMS College Prep High (386) −21
- ARISE High (396) −14
- Conservatory of Vocal/Instrumental Arts High no 2026 results
- Lighthouse Community Charter High (281) −17
- LPS Oakland R & D Campus (173) no 2026 results
- Oakland Charter High (330) no 2026 results
- Oakland Unity High (295) −9