In the past, many parents avoided Oakland Public Schools.  The schools had a horrible reputation, worsened by budget controversies and the eventual takeover of the school district by state authorities. However, local control has returned to the district and test scores have shown continual improvement at many schools.

Last week, the 2010 California Standards Test showed that the number of Oakland elementary students testing as proficient or advanced rose by 8 percent in both English Language Arts and Math, while the five-year growth in those categories totals 15 and 20 percent, respectively. In addition, due to the economy, many families are removing their kids from private schools and giving Oakland public and charter schools another look.

Need a school calendar from OUSD? We have'em in 4 languages--download right here.

School calendars:

On August 23, 2010, the students in OakTechRep sent this description of their travels in England and Scotland as winners of the American High School Theater Festival.   Each student describes a slightly different aspect of their trip; read the whole piec

Did you miss Oakland Lost+Found Photo Show at Woody's this summer?

In Oakland’s Laurel District are paintings and mixed media pieces that represent the joy, hope and love that is expressed through strong familial bonds, music and hospitality. 

"IMAGES: Another Side of Me" is Valerie Brown-Troutt’s art exhibit at Conscious Collective, 4148 MacArthur Blvd., between 39th Avenue and Maybelle. The show, which opened July 30, runs through Sept. 9.

“It’s sort of a folk art feel to it,” explained curator Dvora Gordon. “There’s a lot of strength of emotion in her pieces and when you look at them you react. It’s very evocative.”

Being one of a few women in a male-dominated rap music industry - in one of the most independent music capitols of the world - can be overwhelming. Not for singer-songwriter Netta Brielle.

One of the raddest, baddest art collectives - Taller Tupac Amaru

Read the whole story...

A few weeks ago, I was an extra in the movie Money Ball - starring Brad Pitt - which was being filmed at the Oakland Coliseum. 

After a successful run at the San Francisco Main Public Library, the exhibit "Coloring Outside the Lines: Black Cartoonists as Social Commentators" comes to the Laney College Library, 900 Fallon St. in Oakland.

Prescott Joseph Center for Community Enhancement continues to present The Lower Bottom Playaz in  "Mama at Twilight: Death by Love" by playwright Ayodele Nzinga at The Sister Thea Bowman Memorial Theater.Don't miss this last weekend of a terrific play by an Oakland talent.

This Thursday, Aug. 19, at Oaksterdam Tattoo at 815 Washington in Oakland, photographer Curtis Jermany will debut The MooD-ology Art Reception, featuring original photos related to the Johannes Mehserle verdict. Mehserle is the former BART officer who was convicted of fatally shooting Oscar Grant on Jan. 1, 2009.

Thousands of people visited the 11th annual Laurel Street Fair on Sunday, thronging the streets to snack on treats, visit local merchants, and listen to an exciting line-up of professional musicians perform, all of whom live in the Laurel.