Alternatives in Action
Alternatives in Action is a tuition-free public charter high school in East Oakland, California, serving grades 9-12 with a youth-initiated, project-based model that combines college preparation, career pathways, and community impact projects for a predominantly student-of-color population.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersOakland, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Alternatives in Action does
Alternatives in Action is a tuition-free public charter high school operating in the Seminary neighborhood of East Oakland, California. Founded in 2001 as the Bay Area School of Enterprise by ten youth working with adult experts, it became the first youth-initiated charter school in the United States after receiving unanimous approval from the Alameda Unified School District Board of Trustees on May 16, 2001. The school serves grades 9-12 with a student body that is 97% students of color, including diverse economic and English language learner backgrounds, drawn from the broader Bay Area region. The institution is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and has had its charter unanimously renewed three times (February 2006, February 2011, November 2015).
The educational model centers on youth voice and leadership, structured around Leadership Teams meeting twice weekly with an adult coach, Community Impact Projects (over 50 since founding), year-end Presentations of Learning, and a Learning Lab offering after-school tutoring four days per week. Career preparation is delivered through three named pathways: Multimedia & Digital Arts (led by an Arts, Media and Entertainment CTE credential holder), Child Development, and Youth Development & Education. College preparation is embedded throughout, with A-G requirements, concurrent enrollment through Peralta Community Colleges, SAT/ACT prep, college tours, and after-school tutoring. The school added an Athletics Program competing in Oakland Section sports, and published a "7 R's Framework" (Realness, Risk, Rigor, Respect, Responsibility, Resilience, Relationships) as the philosophical backbone of adult-youth partnerships. The technology stack is entirely composed of standard EdTech and SaaS tools: PowerSchool for the student information system, Schoology as the learning management system, ParentSquare for family communication, Paylocity for HR/payroll, and Squarespace Checkout for donation processing.
As a public charter school, Alternatives in Action is funded primarily through per-pupil allocations from the Alameda Unified School District based on average daily attendance, supplemented by government grants and private foundation support from sources including the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, The San Francisco Foundation, Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, Kaiser East Bay Community Benefits, Oakland Fund for Children & Youth, Alameda County HCSA, and 21st Century/ASES after-school funding. Enrollment is managed through the Oakland Enrolls unified lottery platform, with applications accepted November through February for the following school year and rolling admissions when space allows. The school operates from a single campus at 6221 East 17th Street, Oakland, with administrative offices at 6212 East 17th Street, and is led by Executive Director Daniel Zarazua with Jason Richard serving as Interim Site Director. Governance is provided by an independent Board of Directors holding regular public meetings.
Alternatives in Action firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Alternatives in Action
- Legal name
- Alternatives in Action High School
- Website
- https://alternativesinaction.org
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Alternatives in Action is a tuition-free public charter high school in East Oakland, California, serving grades 9-12 with a youth-initiated, project-based model that combines college preparation, career pathways, and community impact projects for a predominantly student-of-color population.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Alternatives in Action industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Charter High School Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Independent Charter Schools (Single-Site) (EDAJACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools (EDAJACAK), Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ), Charter Alternative & At-Risk Schools (Continuation, Credit Recovery, Juvenile) (EDAJACAE)
Keywords
Where Alternatives in Action is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oakland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Alternatives in Action business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Public Education Funding: As a public charter school, Alternatives in Action receives per-pupil funding from the Alameda Unified School District based on average daily attendance. Additional revenue comes from government grants and private foundation support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | — | Free public education |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Alternatives in Action product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Alternatives in Action operates a tuition-free public charter high school in East Oakland serving grades 9-12. The school delivers college preparation aligned to A-G requirements, concurrent enrollment with Peralta Colleges, SAT/ACT prep, three career pathways (Multimedia & Digital Arts, Child Development, and Youth Development & Education), Leadership Teams with adult coaches, Community Impact Projects, and athletics, all within a youth-driven learning model. Founded in 2001, it was the first youth-initiated charter high school in the United States.
Product overview
Alternatives in Action High School is a single, unified educational institution providing a comprehensive high school program (grades 9-12) in East Oakland, California. The school integrates college preparation, career pathways (Multimedia & Digital Arts, Child Development, Youth Development & Education), Leadership Teams, Community Impact Projects, Presentations of Learning, and Learning Lab support services within a youth-driven, project-based educational model. The institution operates as a tuition-free public charter school with a unique focus on youth voice and social action.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Alternatives in Action High School A tuition-free public charter high school serving grades 9-12 in the Seminary neighborhood of East Oakland, CA, providing personalized, hands-on learning with youth voice and leadership at its core.
- Multimedia & Digital Arts Pathway Career pathway in media studies and multimedia production, led by an Arts, Media and Entertainment CTE credential holder, offered to students as part of the Career Pathways program.
- Child Development Pathway Career pathway in child development offered to students as part of the Career Pathways program.
- Youth Development & Education Pathway Career pathway in youth development and education offered to students as part of the Career Pathways program.
- AIAHS Athletics Program Interscholastic athletics program including baseball, boys' flag football, girls' soccer, and volleyball, competing in Oakland Section athletics.
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% of students are students of color with diverse economic and English language learner backgrounds
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Alternatives in Action
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Alternatives in Action technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Alternatives in Action partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.
- Alameda County Office of EducationcoreInstitutional partner providing oversight and support for charter school operations.
- Alameda Unified School DistrictcoreAuthorizing district for charter renewal and institutional partnership.
- Oakland Unified School DistrictcoreInstitutional partner in the Oakland education ecosystem.
- Peralta Community CollegescoreConcurrent enrollment partnership allowing students to earn college credits.
- East Bay College Access NetworkmoderateNetwork supporting college access and success for East Bay students.
- Lawrence Hall of SciencemoderateSTEM education partnership providing science programming access.
- Destiny ArtsminorArts programming partner for student creative development.
- Children's Hospital OaklandmoderateHealthcare partnership through Chappell Hayes Health Center.
- La Clinica de la RazaminorCommunity health partner providing student health services.
- Native American Health CenterminorHealthcare partner serving diverse student population.
- Linked LearningmoderateCareer pathway program integration supporting career preparation.
- Fremont High SchoolminorPast school partnership for community collaboration.
- Life Academy of Health & BioscienceminorPast school partnership for community collaboration.
- McClymonds High SchoolminorPast school partnership for community collaboration.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Alternatives in Action competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- East Bay Innovation Academy: Oakland-area public charter high school focused on college preparation with STEM/career pathways, overlapping in target student profile and program model.
- Envision Schools: Bay Area charter network operating small public high schools with a portfolio-based, college-prep model and similar underserved-student focus.
- Lighthouse Community Charter School: Oakland-based public charter school serving grades K–12 with a similar equity-driven, project-based, college-prep mission serving a comparable Oakland student population.
- Oakland Unity High School: Oakland public charter high school with a college-preparatory mission and similar demographics, competing for Oakland Enrolls lottery students.
- Making Waves Academy: Richmond-based public charter high school with a college-prep mission serving a similar diverse, high-need Bay Area student body.
- Life Academy of Health & Bioscience: Oakland public charter high school with a health/biotech career pathway focus and similar Linked Learning-style model; named as a past AIAHS community partner.
Broad incumbents
- Aspire Public Schools: Large California charter management organization with Bay Area campuses, offering similar college-prep, CTE-anchored pathways to comparable student populations.
- KIPP Bay Area Public Schools: Established regional charter network operating multiple Bay Area schools serving similar communities; competes in Oakland Enrolls and represents a scaled alternative to AIAHS's single-site model.
- Summit Public Schools: Bay Area-rooted charter network known for personalized, project-based high school model and college-prep outcomes for similar demographics.
Regional players
- Bay Area Technology School: Bay Area charter high school with a STEM/technology focus serving similar demographics, providing a comparable alternative for Oakland-area families.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Alternatives in Action social profiles
Digital presenceAlternatives in Action compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Alternatives in Action financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Alternatives in Action leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Alternatives in Action funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Alternatives in Action M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Alternatives in Action
What does Alternatives in Action do?
Alternatives in Action operates a tuition-free public charter high school in East Oakland serving grades 9-12. The school delivers college preparation aligned to A-G requirements, concurrent enrollment with Peralta Colleges, SAT/ACT prep, three career pathways (Multimedia & Digital Arts, Child Development, and Youth Development & Education), Leadership Teams with adult coaches, Community Impact Projects, and athletics, all within a youth-driven learning model. Founded in 2001, it was the first youth-initiated charter high school in the United States.
Is Alternatives in Action a public or private company?
Alternatives in Action is a public company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Alternatives in Action founded?
Alternatives in Action was founded in 2001. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Alternatives in Action based?
Alternatives in Action is headquartered in Oakland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Alternatives in Action make money?
One revenue line is on record: public Education Funding.
Who are Alternatives in Action's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are East Bay Innovation Academy, Envision Schools, Lighthouse Community Charter School, Oakland Unity High School, Making Waves Academy and Life Academy of Health & Bioscience. Broad incumbents are Aspire Public Schools, KIPP Bay Area Public Schools and Summit Public Schools. Bay Area Technology School is listed as a regional player.
Does Alternatives in Action have an API?
No public API is recorded for Alternatives in Action.
What industry is Alternatives in Action in?
Alternatives in Action's product category is Public Charter High School Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJACAB, Independent Charter Schools (Single-Site), with a secondary code of EDAJACAK, Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.