I plan to show Then and Now images of Oakland Schools in this series of posts. Along with a bit of the history of each school, I highlight. Some photos are in the form of drawings or postcards or from the pages of history books.
Note: Piecing together the history of some of the older schools can sometimes take time and effort. I do this all at home and online — a work in progress for some. I have been updating my posts when I find something new. Let me know of any mistakes or additions.
I didn’t have much luck with this group of schools. I figured I better share it now, as I was spending too much time on it.
Laurel Elementary School
Photo By Cheney Photo Advertising circa 1915
The Laurel School opened in February 1910. The school was a part of the Allendale School district.
Unique School
New School Building
In 1959 the wooden three-story school building was demolished to make room for a new school building.
Google Maps
School Bell
For almost 50 years, the ringing of the bell in the wooden three-story building played an essential part in the neighborhood around the school.
The area residents were determined to save the bell as a local shrine. It was the last public school bell used in the city.
The bell is mounted and on display in the hallway by school offices.
Laurel School Now
3750 BROWN AVE, OAKLAND, CA, 94619,
Laurel Elementary School website – OUSD
More Info:
- Laurel School Opens – Oakland Tribune February 05, 1910
- Earth Turned for New School – Oakland Tribune January 07, 1928
- The ground was broken for new school – Oakland Tribune January 09, 1928
- Laurel School Completed – Oakland Tribune August 26, 1928
- School Dedicated – Oakland Tribune November 07, 1928
- Contract to Remove Old School – Oakland Tribune July 08, 1959
- Old Bell Stays On – Oakland Tribune June 12, 1960
James Madison Junior High School
Sobrante Park Junior High, as it was first called, opened on February 01, 1960, and was the 27th project to be completed, paid for money from the 1958 bond issue.
The $1,425,525 school would eventually house 900 students. The school s campus is 14 acres and has the following. The school was designed by Mitchel Van Bourg & Associates.
- Eight General classrooms
- Two Science Rooms
- Two homemaking rooms
- Two arts & crafts rooms
- Two music rooms
- Three shops
- Two special ed rooms
- a library
- a gymnasium
- a multipurpose room
- offices
In May of 1960, the Board of Education approved James Madison Junior high school as the permanent name of the new Sobrante Park Junior High.
Madison Today
400 Capistrano Drive, Oakland, CA 94603
Today it is called Madison Park Academy of Engineering and Graphic Design. It has approximately 800 students in grades 6-12.
Madison Park Business & Art Academy Campus Expansion
The new 30,464-square-foot classroom building will feature:
- Fourteen classrooms equipped with modern classroom furniture
- Two science laboratories
- Four student restrooms will feature low water flow fixtures
- Six administrative offices and increased staff workspace, including a break room, conference room, workroom, and staff restrooms
- Exterior assembly area for student activities
- Renovation of kitchen shared by MPA and James Madison Middle School
- Restoration of the parking lot
Sobrante Park Elementary School
In 1956 a new school was proposed for the site on El Paseo drive that a group of portable buildings occupied.
The new school was designed by Ralph N. Kerr and Robert E. Riggs.
- Thirteen general classrooms
- Special Ed classroom
- A kindergarten
- A library
- A multipurpose room
- Offices
Sobrante Park Today
The school is located at 470 El Paseo Drive
Today the school is called Madison Park Academy (MPA Primary). MPA Primary serves students in grades TK-5. Our vision at MPA Primary is to educate, challenge, and nurture our students to succeed in secondary school and beyond.
Madison Park Academy – website
More Info:
- New Sobrante Park School – Oakland Tribune July 05, 1956
Stonehurst Elementary School
Wow, this school’s history was hard to put together.
Stonehurst School opened in 1915 as one portable school.
The citizens of the Elmhurst and Stonehurst districts attended a school board meeting in August of 1915. They demanded each area get a portable school, one north and the other south of the Southern Pacific and Western Pacific tracks.
“We have working men down in South Elmhurst, workmen have children!”
JA Halpruner August 1915
The Stonehurst people based their claim on growth, and the Elmhurst people based their claims on more children.
“The rich people in Stonehurst don’t have any.”
August 1915
Small or Not!
“Stonehurst is a small insignificant burg, but we have a big district and many children,” continued Sherwood. At the time, there were 78 students and 89 not yet in school in South Elmhurst and only 41 Stonehurst.
The meeting was adjourned!
The South Elmhurst school was located on Edes and Douglass Avenues.
New School
In 1916 it was reported in the “School Building Report” that they intended to purchase another site for a new Stonehurst school building to replace the portable one. The district was leasing the land the school was on.
Demand
After demanding a new school as promised in 1916, the residents were guaranteed by the school board the first money that was received from selling school bonds
“shall be used in the construction of the Stonehurst school.”
Oakland Tribune 1921
showing the 1922 school building with a proposed addition
Oakland Tribune November 07, 1926
Work began on the new school in late May of 1921. The new school consisted of eight classrooms and an assembly hall for about $50,000. An addition was added to the school in 1927, costing $60,000.
Grocery Store.
“The scene in the Stonehurst School grocery, where second- grade pupils are learning how to make play dollars go far.”
Unsafe School
In 1972 a $1.2 million project to replace the 50-year-old Stonehurst school building because it is an earthquake hazard was approved by the Board of Education.
Built before 1933, when California’s Field Act established new construction standards for earthquake safety, the building was surrounded by a cluster of 29 portables -10 were built before 1933. The school was built to house 380 students and had 973 enrolled in 1972.
Ratcliff, Slama, and Cadwalader architects designed the new $1.2 million school.
No Name Change
At different times, Madison Junior High and Stonehurst requested their school be renamed for Dr. Marcus A. Foster. They were turned down.
Stonehurst Today
10315 E Street, Oakland, CA, 94603
Fred T. Korematsu Discovery Academy is a public community K-5 elementary school in East Oakland with an integrated focus on academics, youth development, family support, health, and social services. KDA website – OUSD
Esperanza Elementary is a dual language school that prepares students to be college and career ready. Esperanza website – OUSD
More Info:
- Demand School – Oakland Tribune August 03, 1915
- Stonehurst and Elmhurst Argue for Schools – Oakland Tribune August 03, 1915
- Portable School Building – Oakland Tribune April 16, 1916
- School Report – Oakland Tribune April 28, 1916
- Stonehurst to Get School – Oakland Tribune April 07, 1921
- Bids for new School – Oakland Tribune April 19, 1921
- Work to Start on New School – Oakland Tribune May 04, 1921
- School Dedication – Oakland Tribune April 06, 1922
- Land Granted as Playground – Oakland Tribune July 02, 1942
- $1 Million Stonehurst School Plea – Oakland Tribune January 05, 1972
- New $1.2 million School – Oakland Tribune May 17, 1972
- Oakland School Gets Turned Down – Oakland Tribune December 05, 1973
Whittier Elementary School
On November 07, 1928, the new $116,000 Whittier School was dedicated. The first principal was R.S. Wheeler.
The school was named after John Greenleaf Whittier, an American Quaker poet, and advocate of the abolition of slavery in the United States.
In 1953 Whittier was closed after being declared an earthquake hazard.
The school reopened in 1956 after a $376,722 reconstruction project. Eleven thousand square feet of added space in the basement was converted into a cafeteria and a special education classroom.
Whittier School Today
Whittier school closed in 2012. It reopened as Greenleaf Elementary school in
More Info:
6328 E 17th St, Oakland, CA 94621
- New Whittier School Dedicated – Oakland Tribune November 07, 1928
- District Funds Used – Oakland Tribune July 06, 1956
- New Reconstructed Whittier to Open – Oakland Tribune April 04, 1957
- Greenleaf Celebrates Opening – OUSD
