Education and Economic Development Project

The Council is exploring the relationships between economic development and education, especially the links between loss of student enrollment and the lack of affordable and family size housing in the city.

Declining Enrollment in the Oakland Unified School District

The District’s enrollment has dwindled from 53,000 students five years ago to 39,700 currently and could shrink to 26,200 in just five years. The District's declining enrollment has a substantial effect on the district's financial health as funding is tied to average student attendence. Declining student enrollment is a significant issue in discussions about economic development, redevelopment and the supply affordable and appropriate family housing in Oakland.

• The Demographic Update for Oakland Unified School District by LAPKOFF & GOBALET DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH, INC. (PDF, 277 KB)
• Long Term Enrollment Projections by the OUSD demographer (PDF, 311 KB)
• OUSD Demographic Trends and Downtown Development: Power Point Presentation outlining OUSD's year to year trends.

District Real Estate Sale News

Oakland Unified School district and the State Administrator considered a proposal by TerraMark LLC and Urban America to buy school district land occupied by five schools (Met West Small High School, Dewey Alternative High, La Escualita elementary school, Yuk Yau Annex Child Development Center and Centro Infantile Child Development Center) and the central administrative offices. If sold, the money would have been used towards paying back the $100 million dollar debt.

• End of Land Sale Negotiations State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell announces halt to negotiations over proposed sale of district property. Download the official press release from the California Department of Education click: here (PDF, 94KB)
• End of the Exclusive Negotiation Period The Exclusive Negotiation Period between OUSD and developers regarding the sale of district land expires March 12, 2007.For more information about the expiration of the Exclusive Negotiation Period please click here (PDF, 68 KB) - March 12, 2007
• Letter of Intent Signed: OUSD signs Letter of Intent to negotiate sale of the downtown property. Read Letter of Intent and Press Release.
• Oakland Unified School District
• Developers: TerraMark LLC & Urban America LP
• Terra Mark / UrbanAmericaProposal (PDF 15,308 KB)
• Public Hearings: State Administrator, Dr. Kimberley Statham and the Board of Education completed a 3 part public hearing to discuss the sale of district land. Public hearing materials provided:
  • September 6, 2006: Minutes District Presentation
  • August 16, 2006: Relocation Matrix District Presentation
  • July 7, 2006: New Student Estimate Relocation Option 1 &
    Option 2
• Board Resolution Opposing the Sale of District Administrative and Related Property and Offering An Alternative Proposal (PDF 1,129 KB)