ARISE High School, a new Oakland charter school, is the result of a unique partnership with the Mills College School of Education, the Mills College TRIO Programs (including Upward Bound and Educational Talent Search), Oakland Community Organizations and the Coalition of Essential Schools.
The school currently serves 165 students in grades 9 through 11, and will ultimately grow to 220 students in grades 9-12. ARISE's focus is on preparing students from low income families to be the first in their families to attend college.
ARISE High School features:
A College Prep Curriculum: Every student will complete the course requirements for admission to the University of California and California State University system. In the upper grades, students will also take college courses.
Personalization & Advisory: Every student will have several adults who know the student well and make sure that his or her needs are being met.
Experiential Learning: Hands-on, project-based learning is a key focus at ARISEwith students “learning by doing” in all of their classes. Much of the learning will take place outside of the four walls of the classroom.
Community Empowerment: Students, families and educators all play leadership roles in the school and the school will play a role in making the broader community of Oakland stronger.
Extended Day, Week & Year: The ARISE experience goes beyond the traditional high school schedule. Students attend school until 6:00 in the evening, as well as regularly scheduled Saturday programs. In addition, all students participate in a minimum of two summer programs.
Cultural Immersion Experiences: All students will participate in a program, often during the summer, in which they are exposed to a culture that is very different from the one from which they come. These valuable experiences, among other things, prepare students for the challenges of adjusting to a four-year college.
Service Learning: A focus of the coursework will be for students to engage in meaningful work and projects that contribute something to the community.
College Advising: Through the school’s partnership with the Mills TRIO Program, all students will receive extensive support in applying to, getting accepted by, and attending college.
Lab for Mills Educators & the Coalition of Essential Schools: There will be many additional adults who are training to become teachers and school leaders spending time at the school learning from the exciting and innovative components and practices in evidence. Faculty from Mills College as well as educators from the national CES Small Schools Project network will play a role in shaping and supporting the school’s design and curriculum.
