School History

A Brief History of an Exemplary Charter School

2021 Unity schools resumed in-person instruction after one year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 Unity High received the California Distinguished School recognition by the California Department of Education.
2019 Launch of the Information, Technology, and Digital Media Pathway, with all students enrolled in an aligned course as part of a four-year sequence.
2018 Received Measure N funding to develop a technology pathway.
2017 Unity High’s charter was renewed by OUSD. The charter is valid through 2022.
2016 Unity High was again considered as a top bay area public school for underserved students by Innovate Public Schools.
2015
  • Unity High was considered as a top bay area public school for underserved students by Innovate Public Schools.
  • Unity High’s sister school, Oakland Unity Middle School, opened and enrolled the first cohort of 80 students.
2012 Numerous international educators visited Unity High to observe the implementation of Khan Academy in our math curriculum.
2011 Unity High’s charter was renewed by OUSD. The charter is valid till 2017.
2010 Members of Unity High’s first class graduated from universities such as UC Santa Cruz, Mills College, University of San Francisco, and San Jose State.
2008 Unity High is selected by the California Department of Education to receive Proposition 1D funding to develop a new school facility.
2007 Unity High conducted its first admissions lottery due to high demand for entrance to its 2007-08 9th grade class
2006
  • First graduating class had a 94% graduation rate with 65% accepted to four-year universities/colleges.
  • Unity High received commendation from the California Charter Schools Association for its improvement in Academic Performance Index scores, increasing from 565 in 2004 to 580 in 2005 and 654 in 2006.
2003 Unity High opened for its first cohort of 100 9th and 10th graders.

Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Certified by the California Charter Schools Association.

Awards and Distinctions

2021- Unity High School received the California Distinguished Schools recognition by the California Department of Education.

2021- Unity schools resumed in-person instruction after one year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020- For the fifth consecutive year, Oakland Unity High School is ranked in the top 5% of more than 23,000 high school in the United States by US News and World Reports. Unity was ranked #94 in California High Schools and #130 in Charter High Schools. Additionally, Unity matriculated our first student to Stanford University. Unity was given the Innovate Award for Top Bay Area Public Schools for Underserved Students in English and Math. 

2019– For the fourth consecutive year, Oakland Unity High School is ranked in the top 5% of more than 23,000 high school in the United States by US News and World Reports. Unity was ranked #172 in California High Schools and #202 in Charter High Schools

2018– Oakland Unity High School is ranked among the best schools in Oakland, California and the United States by US News. Unity was ranked #56 in California High Schools and #105 in Charter High Schools.

2017-Oakland Unity High School is ranked among the best schools in Oakland, California and the United States by US News. Unity was ranked #64 in California High Schools and #94 in Charter High Schools.

2016- Oakland Unity High School makes it on the Innovate Public Schools‘ Top Bay Area Public Schools for Underserved Students list for the second year in a row.

2016- Oakland Unity High School is ranked among the best schools in Oakland, California and the United States by US News. Unity was ranked #48 in California High Schools and #88 in Charter High Schools.

2015- Unity is ranked #19 out of the top 25 High Schools in the Bay Area, and #37 statewide, by U.S. News and World Reports. Unity was also recognized by Innovate Public Schools as being a top Bay Area public school for achieving results with underserved students. Unity also continued to grow, with a large wait list of applications.