What Oakland Unified School District does

Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is a public K-12 school district serving students across Oakland, California, operating 77 schools over 78 square miles. The district delivers free public education from preschool through 12th grade, structured around four strategic initiatives: Strong Readers by Third Grade, Empowered Graduates, Creating Joyful Schools, and Growing a Diverse and Stable Staff. OUSD operates as the only Full Service Community District in the United States, integrating education with health, mental health, and family engagement services through school-based health centers and community partnerships. The district is governed by a seven-member elected Board of Education and leadership transitioned to Interim Superintendent Dr. Denise Saddler in July 2025.

OUSD's core programmatic surface spans Linked Learning career pathways, dual enrollment with Laney College (1,634 students across 14 sites), the Build.AI program (with Hack the Hood), an AI literacy curriculum pilot for middle schoolers, early childhood education, adult and career education, special education, and the Reparations for Black Students initiative anchored by the Black Thriving Plan. Operational platforms include the public ousd.org website, the Oakland School Finder (chooseousd.org) for enrollment, ParentSquare for family communication, i-Ready for diagnostic literacy assessment, and a public Superintendent's Dashboard tracking LCAP-aligned KPIs.

Revenue derives primarily from California's Local Control Funding Formula on a per-pupil basis tied to Average Daily Attendance (ADA), with supplementary funding from voter-approved parcel taxes (Measures G, G1, N), bond measures (e.g., $92M McClymonds High School modernization), federal categorical funds (Title I, IDEA), and philanthropic grants from Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation ($25M), Kaiser Permanente ($9M), Salesforce ($5.5M), and others. The board-approved 2026-27 budget totals $1.2 billion and faces structural pressure from declining enrollment ($9.4M lost in 2024-25), expiring pandemic relief funds, and a tentative teacher contract adding an estimated $50M in costs.

Name

Oakland Unified School District

Legal name

Oakland Unified School District

Website

https://ousd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Oakland Unified School District operates 77 public K-12 schools across Oakland, California, delivering tuition-free education, Linked Learning career pathways, dual enrollment, and wraparound health and community services to Oakland students and families, governed by an elected board.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

District Student Services Administration (Special Ed, Counseling, Health) (EDADABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

District-Run Virtual Academies & Online Programs (EDAJADAB), Credit Recovery & Alternative Adult High School (EDAAABAC), Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Schools & Life Skills Programs (EDAKAAAD)

Keywords

• Public K-12 education
• Early childhood education
• Special education services
• Adult and career education
• College and career pathways

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil Funding (State LCFF): Primary funding source based on Average Daily Attendance (ADA) and per-pupil allocations from California's Local Control Funding Formula. Declining enrollment has reduced funding by $9.4 million in 2024-25.
2. Parcel Taxes (Measures G, G1, N): Local parcel taxes approved by voters provide sustained revenue for specific purposes including Linked Learning pathways and general district operations.
3. Bond Measures: Capital funding for facilities modernization and improvements, such as the $92 million McClymonds High School modernization project.
4. Federal Funding: Title I, IDEA (special education), and other federal categorical funds. OUSD lost $9.4 million in state funding due to declining enrollment.
5. Grants and Philanthropy: Private foundation grants including $25 million from Eat. Learn. Play., $9 million from Kaiser Permanente, $5.5 million from Salesforce, and corporate sponsorships for specific programs.
6. Pandemic Relief Funds (Expiring): State and federal pandemic relief funds ($23.4 billion statewide) that have been expiring, contributing to budget deficits across California districts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is a public K-12 school district operating 77 schools across 78 square miles in Oakland, California. It provides free public education from preschool through 12th grade, including early childhood education, transitional kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school programs, special education services, and adult and career education. The district also delivers college and career pathways via Linked Learning, dual enrollment, and work-based learning programs.

Product overview

Oakland Unified School District operates as a Full Service Community District providing comprehensive K-12 educational services through 77 schools. The district's offerings include core academic programs (Strong Readers by Third Grade initiative, Empowered Graduates pathways, Creating Joyful Schools, Growing Diverse Staff), college preparation through Linked Learning Pathways and Dual Enrollment (serving 1,634 students), technology education via AI literacy curriculum and Build.AI program, and specialized initiatives like the Reparations for Black Students with its Black Thriving Plan. The district also provides family engagement tools including an interactive Oakland School Finder, data dashboards for progress monitoring, and community support programs through partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OUSD: Common abbreviation for Oakland Unified School District used throughout communications and branding.

Products and services

• Strong Readers by Third Grade Initiative A literacy initiative providing evidence-based reading instruction, one-to-one tutoring, and literacy coaching for K-3 students across OUSD elementary schools.
• Linked Learning Pathways

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduation rate increased from 70.7% to 79.5% since 2017
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hack the HoodcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2026Oakland-based nonprofit operating Build.AI, a 12-week AI skill-building program beginning summer 2026 for Bay Area youth. Hack the Hood operates in partnership with OUSD and Laney College through a dual-enrollment program allowing high school students to earn transferable college credits in computer science. Over 90% of graduates report meaningful gains in technical skills and career readiness.
• GENYOUthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 February 2026GENYOUth operates the Super Schools initiative in partnership with OUSD, providing nutrition equipment grants and NFL FLAG-In-School kits. The 2026 Taste of the NFL event raised $1.5 million to expand access to 75 million school meals across 500 schools nationwide. The Super Schools initiative delivered approximately 9 million school meals annually and physical activity opportunities for over 33,000 Bay Area students at 60 schools including Grass Valley Elementary.
• NFL FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 February 2026NFL Foundation collaborates with GENYOUth and OUSD on the Super Schools initiative, providing funding and resources for school meal equipment and NFL FLAG-In-School kits benefiting Bay Area students.
• Amazon AccessminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 February 2026Corporate sponsor of the Super Schools initiative contributing to expanding school meal access and physical activity opportunities for Bay Area students.
• Domino'sminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 February 2026Corporate sponsor of the Super Schools initiative providing resources for school meal expansion in Bay Area schools.
• Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 February 2026Corporate sponsor of Super Schools initiative contributing to Bay Area school nutrition and physical activity programs.
• PepsiCo FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 February 2026Corporate sponsor of Super Schools initiative supporting expanded school meal access for Bay Area students.
• Bay Area Host CommitteeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 February 2026Collaborated with OUSD and GENYOUth on the Super Schools initiative in celebration of Super Bowl LX.
• Kaiser PermanentecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Kaiser Permanente granted $9 million over three years (2023) to OUSD, sustaining 16 school health centers and broadening services for mental health, social-emotional learning, and wellness programs. This partnership is core to OUSD's health and wellness programming in schools.
• Laney CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity college partner with OUSD and Hack the Hood for dual-enrollment program allowing high school students to earn transferable college credits in computer science while participating in tech education programs.
• Eat. Learn. Play. FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$25 million investment in OUSD literacy programs including one-to-one tutoring for 600 students at 18 schools, schoolyard transformations (17 completed), and summer internship support. Foundation funding tutors from Ignite, Hoot, and OpenLiteracy providers.
• Kenneth Rainin FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation providing funding for literacy coaches supporting OUSD's early literacy initiatives.
• Oakland Literacy CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner working with OUSD on Oakland Reads initiative for families, promoting OUSD literacy academic milestones and offering support. The coalition co-executive director noted OUSD stands out as a leader in adopting evidence-based curriculum.
• Linked Learning AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide organization supporting OUSD's established Linked Learning pathways in high schools, praising Oakland's commitment to high-quality college and career preparation through pathways that are having huge impact on advancing equity and educational justice.
• 49ers FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected OUSD's African American Female Excellence (AAFE) program as a legacy partner with annual commitment of $100,000 to empower young women leaders in Oakland.
• Oakland REACHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing professional development support and offering Literacy and Leadership fellowships for over 80 families in partnership with OUSD's strategic initiatives.
• Alameda County First 5minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding early education pathway programs in OUSD through the Early Childhood Educator Pre-Apprenticeship Program for 11th and 12th graders.
• Oakland Teacher ResidencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne-year paid mentorship program for gaining specialized teaching credentials with critical help with affordable housing, helping aspiring teachers enter the profession.
• TeslaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner70 students from 7 OUSD schools participated in robotics scrimmage and engineering demonstration at Tesla Fremont factory, culminating summer IT internship program that provided exclusive factory visit and hands-on technology experience.
• TRiO PlusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting teacher pathway programs. In 5 years of partnership with OUSD, teacher residents tripled and teacher residents of color more than tripled.
• ZumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing zero-emission school bus services for OUSD's fleet of 74 zero-emission buses, making OUSD one of three California districts to achieve 100% zero-emission school bus fleet as of May 2024.
• The Teaching ChannelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership showcasing exemplary teaching practices and supporting peer learning among OUSD educators.
• CURYJminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner collaborating with Fremont High School on violence prevention program and support services through the City of Oakland's VIP Teams initiative.
• Family Violence Law CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner collaborating with Fremont High School and CURYJ on violence prevention and support programs.
• East Oakland Track GemsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit focusing on track and field training and mentorship with OUSD elementary student-athletes ages 5-10 who debuted at Junior Olympics in Iowa.
• Youth BeatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternship program providing filmmaking opportunities for OUSD students, including Skyline High senior Eva Turner who developed camera work and acting skills.

Scale indicators33 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• San Francisco Unified School District: Public K-12 district serving San Francisco; closest geographic and demographic peer to OUSD with similar enrollment size, urban charter-competition dynamics, and California LCFF funding model.
• Long Beach Unified School District: Large urban California public school district operating under the same LCFF/ADA funding framework, serving a racially diverse student population with comparable Linked Learning-adjacent career pathways.
• Sacramento City Unified School District: California public school district of similar scale serving a diverse urban population; comparable governance, funding pressures, and student-support programs.
• San Diego Unified School District: Second-largest California public school district, useful benchmark for district-run student services, dual enrollment, and community-school models similar to OUSD's FSCD approach.
• Boston Public Schools: Urban public school district of comparable size and demographic profile, providing a peer benchmark for community schooling, ELL services, and budget management under enrollment pressure.
• Denver Public Schools: Mid-size urban public school district with comparable student-services and portfolio-program models, useful peer for evaluating OUSD's instructional initiative outcomes and funding dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• Los Angeles Unified School District: The largest U.S. public school district and dominant California incumbent; a much broader operator whose student-services and equity initiatives overlap with OUSD's Full Service Community District model.
• New York City Department of Education: Largest U.S. school system; broad incumbent whose student-services, equity and dual-enrollment programming overlap with OUSD's strategic priorities.
• Chicago Public Schools: Large urban public school system facing similar structural funding and enrollment pressures; relevant peer for benchmarking budget, special education, and equity-program outcomes.

Emerging players

• KIPP Bay Area Public Schools: Bay Area charter network that competes with OUSD for Oakland students; useful emerging peer for evaluating OUSD's enrollment-retention and differentiated programming strategies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/OUSDNews
• Facebookfacebook.com/ousdnews
• Instagraminstagram.com/ousdnews
• TikToktiktok.com/@ousdnews
• Xx.com/OUSDNews
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oakland-unified-school-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oakland Unified School District