Alternatives in Action: Top Charter High School in Oakland (2026 List)

About Alternatives in Action

Alternatives in Action is a public charter high school in Oakland, California, that focuses on helping students in grades 9 through 12. It has about 165 students. It has a student-teacher ratio of about 15:1, which is one of the best in the country for community-based learning. The school has a very diverse student body, with 100% of its students being minorities and 94% of them being economically disadvantaged. Alternatives in Action reports that only 23% of their students are good at reading and 4% are good at math. They focus on youth leadership and social and emotional growth. The school makes it easy for students to take college entrance exams like the SAT and ACT so they can have more chances in the future. With about $17,440 in funding per student, the school creates a supportive environment that focuses on real-world experience and giving students control over their own lives. In the end, Alternatives in Action is known as one of the best schools because it is committed to helping every student in the Oakland community find non-traditional paths and get all-around support, and it is one of the best high schools in California.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 4%

Reading 23%

State average proficiency is 4% in Math and 23% in Reading.

8

Full-time Teachers

16 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

5

Teachers In First Or Second Year (yrs)

132

Total Students

$58409

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 0%

Asian 0%

Hispanic 93.94%

Black 6.06%

Two+ Races 0%

Native Am. 0%

White

0%

Asian

0%

Hispanic

93.94%

Black

6.06%

Two+ Races

0%

Native Am.

0%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 132

55.3%

73 Female

44.7%

59 Male

Student Population

132 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 16 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

132 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Alternatives in Action Contact Information

Address

6221 East 17th St., Oakland, CA, 94621

View on Map

Phone

(510) 748-4314

Call Now

Website

http://www.alternativesinaction.org

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 8:15 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Alternatives in Action High School has teamed up with Oakland Unity High to offer spring sports like baseball, flag football, and girls' soccer, which gives students more chances to play sports. The school is focusing on a co-created approach to education, where students work closely with staff "coaches" on real-world social action projects to build confidence and leadership skills. Recent efforts have also been focused on making the school a more welcoming place. Community partnerships and small group work have both led to a clear rise in student engagement and academic progress.

FAQ

Q1. Can students take AP classes at Alternatives in Action?

Ans. Yes, students can get ready for college-level work by taking Advanced Placement classes and tests.

Q2. How does Alternatives in Action help students get ready for their careers?

Ans. Alternatives in Action helps students explore and plan their careers by giving them advice, internships, and programs that connect them with career exploration and planning.

Q3. Are there any programs that are creative?

Ans. Yes, students can be creative through practical activities music, drama, and visual arts.

Q4. How does Alternatives in Action encourage a good environment?

Ans. To make the space safe, welcoming, and open to everyone, people are told to be respectful, work together, and be responsible.

Q5. Do students get help getting ready for college?

Ans. Yes, of course! Students can take the SAT and ACT and get help planning for college.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

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What Parents Say