Updated September 2021
I hope 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 is sometimes tricky. 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.
John Swett Elementary School
John Swett Elementary School was constructed in 1926, opened in January 1927, and closed in 2004.
The school was named for John Swett (1830–1913), who is considered the “Father of the California public school” system. He served as the 4th California State Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1863-1867.
Boys Build Amphitheater
John Swett Today
The school is now a K-8 community school called Roses in Concrete.
“Our mission is to develop youth committed to lives characterized by self-discipline, integrity, love, and hope in the pursuit of justice and equity for all communities.“
Roses in Concrete – Website
More Info:
John Swett Elementary School – Oakland Local wiki
Located at 4551 Steele St, Oakland, CA, 94619
Parker Elementary School
Updated
In 1925 a new small school was being constructed at 78th Avenue and Parker Avenue near Foothill Blvd ( now MacArthur Blvd.) The Oakland school board ordered the new school be named the “Francis W. Parker” school. I have only seen it being called the Parker Avenue School or just Parker School.
Dedication
Parker School was opened and dedicated in February of 1926.
New School
Parker School was to be the first permanent building to be constructed from the 1945 school bond.
Bids for a new two-story school at the corner of Ney Avenue and Ritchie Street in April of 1948.
Dedication ceremonies were held in November 1949
Parker Today
More Info:
Located at 7929 Ney Street
- Parker School Dedicated – Oakland Tribune February 11, 1926
Roosevelt High School
Groundbreaking for a new school at 19th Avenue and E. 19th Street occurred on November 11, 1922. The cornerstone was placed on March 24, 1923. The school costs $917,452.43 to build. The school was named after Theodore Roosevelt.
The school would house about 1500 students. The dedication took place in September 1924.
In 1934 the main school building was closed (I assume due to it being unsafe).
Roosevelt Today
Roosevelt is now a middle school.
More Info:
1926 19th Avenue
- Roosevelt Dedicated – Oakland Tribune September 21, 1924
- 260 Roosevelt High School Graduates – Oakland Tribune May 21, 1930
- Roosevelt Middle School – The New Living Deal
- Roosevelt Middle School – OUSD website
Tompkins School
Tompkins School opened on January 7, 1878, at 5th and Linden Streets in West Oakland, named after State Senator Edward Tompkins. There were 231 students enrolled.
C.H Clement was the first Principal from 1877 to 1881.
Edwin Markham was the principal from 1891-1900.
Observation School
In October of 1894, Tompkins became an observation school under the supervision of the University of California Department of Pedagogy.
Many Firsts
Tompkins school was known for its many “firsts.”
- First Kindergarten – in Oakland
- First American Flag to fly – in Oakland
- First Scientific Child Study Club
- First Health Study Club
- First Observation School
- First Parents and Mothers Club
- First of the Experimental playgrounds
The first American Flag to fly over an Oakland School was raised over Tompkins in 1890.
Experimental Playground
In 1909 the first two experimental playgrounds were set up at Tompkins and Prescott Schools.
Fire Destroys Tompkins
In August of 1914, the school was destroyed by a fire. Arson was suspected. There were seven school fires in four weeks during July and August.
Plans for a new school were put in place at once. The new school opened on October 11, 1915. There was a $96,000 six-room addition added in 1924. In 1954 another addition costing $148,000 was added.
No More Schooldays
In 1965 the school was razed to make room for the Acorn Projects.
More Info:
- Fire Destroys Tompkins – Oakland Tribune August 21, 1914
- Founding and Growth of Tompkins – Oakland Tribune March 1, 1942
- Tompkins to Close – Oakland Tribune May 27, 1964
- Tompkins School Threatened – Oakland Tribune August 16, 1964
- Historic School Doomed – Oakland Tribune September 16, 1965
- Public Notice – Oakland Tribune Oct 1965
Woodland Elementary School
Woodland Elementary School started as Lockwood-Highland School. It was built to relieve the overcrowding in Lockwood and the Highland Schools.
On January 4, 1960, the school opened with 540 students. The one-story school with 14 classrooms, a kindergarten, a library, an administration office, and a teacher’s lunchroom. It was the 29th of 51 school projects proposed in the 1956 school bond election. The school costs $432 296 to build.
Dedication
A new multi-purpose building was dedicated in November of 1961. Then Municipal Judge Lionel Wilson spoke on “The Role of the Parent in the Eyes of the Judge.”
Woodland Today
Today the school is called Acorn Woodland Elementary (AWE)- At ACORN Woodland Elementary (AWE), we employ various strategies to ensure that a solid base of grade-level skills is mastered while fostering creative and critical thinking among our students.
Acorn Woodland Website – OUSD
More Info:
1025-81st Avenue Oakland
- School Opens – Oakland Tribune January 4, 1960
- Dedication – Oakland Tribune April 26, 1960
- Multi-Purpose – Oakland Tribune Nov 1961
- Woodland FIre – Oakland Tribune Jan 1969
- Woodland School – Oakland Local Wiki