Oakland School for the Arts

What Oakland School for the Arts does

Oakland School for the Arts (OSA) is a nonprofit public charter school founded in 2002 by then-Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown and chartered by the Oakland Unified School District. It serves approximately 800 students in grades 6-12 (with 120 incoming 6th graders annually) and is housed in Uptown Oakland's historic Fox Theater and Newberry Building. The educational model integrates college-preparatory academics with intensive arts training across 10 distinct arts pathways: Audio Production & Engineering, Dance, Fashion Design, Instrumental Music, Literary Arts, Media Arts, Production Design, Theatre, Visual Arts, and Vocal Music. The school is Silver Certified under the Linked Learning/CTE framework and operates as a public charter (no tuition). Founded in 2002.

Curriculum is delivered by a faculty of working industry professionals (e.g., Jean-Francois Revon, former Technical Director for West Bay Opera; Stephanie Verrieres, archived in the De Young Museum Couture collection; pianist Emily Tian) and reinforced by a network of 16+ internship partners spanning Bay Area theaters (Berkeley Repertory, African American Shakespeare Company, Oakland Theatre Project), media and recording partners (Another Planet Entertainment, The Reef Recording Studios, Flatline Productions), and higher education (Cal State East Bay). Student-run enterprises including KOSA Radio (founded July 2015), 1819 Records The Collective, The Telegraph online journalism site, and 510 MAG provide simulated operating experience. Outcomes include a 97% high school graduation rate and 100% college acceptance among applicants, with a student body mix (40% LGBTQIA+, 23% Black, 22% multi-ethnic, 11% Hispanic) shaped by the Step It Up Title 1 pipeline.

The business model is that of a publicly funded charter: per-pupil funding from state and federal sources dominates revenue, supplemented by donations and annual giving campaigns, Summer Arts Academy fees ($1,150-$2,300 per session, ages 9-16), and ticketed event revenue from Fox Theater showcases. Distribution is via the Oakland Enrolls lottery system with Oakland-residency priority; auditions have been phased out in favor of lottery-based access, signaling an explicit equity-over-selection GTM shift. Strategic initiatives include the Step It Up equity program for BIPOC youth from Title 1 OUSD schools, the summer fee-based program extending the addressable age range below 6th grade, and high-visibility community programming such as the March 2025 CIRCLE all-school showcase at the Fox Theater.

Name

Oakland School for the Arts

Legal name

Oakland School for the Arts

Website

https://oakarts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Oakland School for the Arts is a nonprofit public charter school serving approximately 800 students in grades 6-12 through 10 arts pathways integrated with college-preparatory academics under the Linked Learning/CTE framework. Founded in 2002 by Jerry Brown, it operates from Oakland's historic Fox Theater and is funded primarily by per-pupil state and federal sources.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Arts & Performing Arts Schools (EDAJACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts Education Instruction (Visual/Performing) (EDAJAFAK), Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater) (EDAJAJAE)

Keywords

• Arts education
• Charter school
• Secondary education
• Performing arts training
• Career technical education

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Public Charter School Funding: As a free public charter school chartered by Oakland Unified School District, OSA receives per-pupil funding from state and federal sources. No tuition charged to students.
2. Summer Arts Academy: Fee-based summer programs for students ages 9-16, ranging from $1150-$1275 per session or $2300 for both sessions, with reduced tuition available for qualifying students.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Annual giving campaign and donor support through the GIVING section of the website. Annual reports published showing fundraising activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Oakland School for the Arts (OSA) is a free nonprofit public charter school serving approximately 800 students in grades 6-12, delivering college-preparatory academics integrated with intensive arts training across 10 Arts Pathways: Audio Production & Engineering, Dance, Fashion Design, Instrumental Music, Literary Arts, Media Arts, Production Design, Theatre, Visual Arts, and Vocal Music. The school supplements its core program with a fee-based Summer Arts Academy (ages 9-16), an equity-focused Step It Up outreach program for BIPOC youth, year-long internships with arts industry partners, and student-run enterprises including KOSA Radio, 1819 Records, and The Telegraph publication.

Product overview

Oakland School for the Arts is a free public charter school serving grades 6-12, offering a portfolio of 10 distinct Arts Pathways as its core educational products: Audio Production & Engineering, Dance, Fashion Design, Instrumental Music, Literary Arts, Media Arts, Production Design, Theatre, Visual Arts, and Vocal Music. The school operates on a Linked Learning/CTE model integrating arts education with real-world work experience. Supporting programs include the OSA Summer Arts Academy (seasonal intensive for ages 9-16), the Step It Up equity outreach program, the Internship Program for career preparation, and student-run enterprises including KOSA Radio, 1819 Records/The Collective, and The Telegraph publication. The school is housed in the historic Fox Theater and Newberry Building in Uptown Oakland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Summer Arts Academy: Summer program providing immersive arts experience for students ages 9-16 years old
• Step It Up Program
• KOSA Radio
• 1819 Records The Collective
• The Telegraph
• 510 MAG

Products and services

• Audio Production & Engineering Pathway

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% High School Graduation Rate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fox Theater OaklandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 2025Historic venue partnership for major student performances. CIRCLE all-school showcase held at the Fox Theater. School is housed in Uptown Oakland's historic Fox Theater building.
• African American Museum and Library at OaklandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternship partner providing museum and gallery work-based learning experiences for OSA students in arts and media pathways.
• African American Shakespeare CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheatre department partnership with ongoing collaborations. Students work with professional theatre companies for training and performance opportunities.
• Berkeley Repertory TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheatre department ongoing partnership providing students exposure to professional regional theatre operations and training.
• Oakland Theatre ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheatre department partnership providing professional theatre training and work-based learning opportunities for students.
• Another Planet EntertainmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction Design students intern with Another Planet Entertainment at the Fox Theatre, gaining professional production experience.
• Flatline ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm and media internship partner for Media Arts students.
• The Reef Recording StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudio production internship partner for students in Audio Production & Engineering pathway.
• Joyce Gordon GalleryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisual arts internship and gallery exposure partner.
• California State University, East BayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partnership for college research and career exploration through internship program capstone classes.
• Oakland Style WeekminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFashion design internship partner providing industry exposure in fashion styling and production.
• Proper Fashions LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFashion design internship and mentorship partner.
• Musically Minded AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic education internship partner for instrumental and vocal music students.
• McSweeney's PublishingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiterary Arts department partnership - department chair Jordan Karnes previously worked for McSweeney's Publishing in San Francisco.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA): Public tuition-free county arts high school serving grades 9-12 in Los Angeles with conservatory-style arts training across multiple disciplines. Direct comparable to OSA as a public-funded, audition/lottery-based arts high school with college-prep academics.
• San Francisco School of the Arts (SOTA): San Francisco Unified School District arts-focused public high school offering multiple arts pathways integrated with college-preparatory academics. Closest geographic peer with nearly identical mission and lottery-based public charter structure.
• Baltimore School for the Arts: Maryland public magnet high school grades 9-12 specializing in visual and performing arts with rigorous academics. Direct comparable to OSA as a publicly funded urban arts high school with audition-based admissions and professional arts training.
• Duke Ellington School of the Arts: Washington DC public magnet high school (grades 9-12) offering college-prep academics alongside conservatory-style arts training across multiple disciplines. Comparable mission, public funding model, and notable alumni roster.
• Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts: Dallas ISD public magnet high school (grades 9-12) with rigorous academics and pre-professional arts training across dance, instrumental music, vocal music, theatre, and visual arts. Comparable public-school arts-magnet structure with lottery/audition admissions.
• Professional Performing Arts School (PPAS): NYC public middle and high school (grades 6-12) integrating college-preparatory academics with intensive pre-professional arts training across multiple disciplines. Direct grade-range and mission comparable to OSA.
• Frank Sinatra School of the Arts: NYC public high school (grades 9-12) founded in 2001 specializing in visual and performing arts with college-preparatory academics. Comparable public-school arts-conservatory structure and age profile to OSA.
• Interlochen Arts Academy: Premier private boarding arts high school in Michigan serving grades 9-12 with comprehensive arts and academic programs. Differs in residential and tuition-funded model, but offers nearly identical pathway structure (music, theatre, visual arts, dance, creative writing) and notable alumni network.

Broad incumbents

• Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts: Iconic NYC public specialized high school (grades 9-12) with conservatory-style arts training and college-prep academics. Larger and more established than OSA, but the closest national analogue for a public-school arts conservatory model.

Emerging players

• Idyllwild Arts Academy: Private boarding arts high school in California serving grades 9-12 with multiple arts disciplines and college-prep academics. Comparable arts-pathway structure but private/residential rather than public charter, making it an adjacent peer rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/osaschool
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/OaklandSchoolFortheArts
• Facebookfacebook.com/osaschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/oakland-school-for-the-arts
• Instagraminstagram.com/osaschool

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Oakland School for the Arts