Oakland Technical High School

Oakland Technical High School  (Photo by greenkozi)

Oakland Technical High School ("Oakland Tech") is part of the Oakland Unified School District, and is known for its humanities Paideia program and its system of specialized academies (e.g. Engineering, Health, Biotech, Computer, etc.). During the 2009-2010 academic year, the school had approximately 1,700 students. The sports teams mascot is the Bulldogs.

Currently, Oakland Tech offers the following for its students:  Starting in their first year at Tech, Freshmen usually take classes such as California Studies, Algebra I or Geometry, English 1, and/or a foreign language class. Beginning in the 10th grade, students may enter the Paideia program if they performed well in their California Studies and English 1 classes. Also, 10th grade students may enter one of the academies offered at Oakland Tech. Continuation in the Paideia program and academies depends on continued academic success.

Won 2014 "Readers' Choice" Best Public High School in Oakland Magazine. (Tied with Piedmont High which is not in Oakland.)

Oakland Tech
photo CC-A from Our Oakland

Location

4351 Broadway, Oakland, California

Telephone

510.879.3050

History

Oakland Technical High School, Oakland, California (1920's) ¹c.1917 from Oakland History Room

Technical High School, 47th & Broadway, Oakland, 1919

Opened on January 5, 1914, Oakland Tech is rich with history and tradition. ² The main building is original and was designed by John J. Donovan, while the other buildings were built subsequently. Oakland Tech athletics performed well over the years capturing a dozen OAL titles.

The current school building replaced an earlier school originally called Central High School, then Polytechnic High School, and finally Manual Training and Commercial High School. ³ During construction, the school was referenced by both of the last two names. ⁴ It is not yet known when they settled on Oakland Technical High School as the name for the new school. 

A group of parents and alumni worked to preserve memories of the Oakland Tech Centennial. A 2014 article by Annalee Allen noted that they planned to publish a memory book. ⁵ The book was published and printed in limited quantities in late 2014. ⁶

On July 23, 1985, Oakland Technical High School was designated Oakland Landmark number 99, under Zoning Case #LM 85-212.

Photos

Landmark Plaza by greenkozi  California point of Interest by greenkozi  City of Oakland Landmark by greenkozi

avoid fred! by greenkozi

Website

• Oakland Technical High School official website

Notable Alumni

• Al White, Class of 1913
• Louise Jorgensen, Class of 1916
• Stephen Bechtel Sr., Class of 1918
• Harold "Brick" Muller, Class of 1919
• Bernie DeViveiros, Class of 1919
• Taylor Douthit, Class of 1919
• Howard Christie, Class of 1929
• Daniel (Bud) Hafey, Class of 1929
• Harry "Cookie" Lavagetto, Class of 1930
• Tony Martin, Class of 1930
• Arleigh Williams, Class of 1930
• Tom Hafey, Class of 1931
• Jack Soo (Goro Suzuki), Class of 1934
• Will Hafey, Class of 1938
• Jim Pollard, Class of 1940
• Robert Webber, Class of 1941
• Ruth Beckford, Class of 1944
• Bernie Hamilton, Class of 1945
• Jack Delinger, Class of 1946
• Nathan Rubin, Class of 1946
• Jessie Head Cunningham, Class of 1948
• Clint Eastwood, Class of 1949
• Robert Byers, Class of 1949
• Alfred Delucchi, Class of 1949
• J.W. Porter, Class of 1950
• Rod McKuen, Class of 1951
• John Brodie, Class of 1953
• Pervis Atkins, Class of 1953
• Ron Dellums, Class of 1953
• John Lawrence, Class of 1953
• Proverb Jacobs, Class of 1954
• Joe Gaines, Class of 1955
• Curt Flood, Class of 1956
• Ray Norton, Class of 1956
• Len G. Gabrielson, Class of 1957
• Huey Newton, Class of 1959
• Nell Irvin Painter, Class of 1959
• Robert Harris, Class of 1961
• Patricia Polacco, Class of 1962
• Frank Oz, Class of 1962
• Abbas Milani, Class of 1966
• Ted Lange, Class of 1966
• Michael B. Sutton, Class of 1966
• (Ruth, Anita, Bonnie) Pointer Sisters, various 1960's Classes
• Wolfe Perry, Class of 1974
• Rickey Henderson, Class of 1976
• Terrell Lowery, Class of 1988
• Anita Morgan-Woodley, Class of 1994
• Shawnee & Shawnelle Gibbs, Class of 1997
• James Syhabout, Class of 1997
• Gabriel Carroll, Class of 2001
• Leon Powe, Class of 2003
• Josh Johnson, Class of 2004
• Marshawn Lynch, Class of 2004
• Alexis Gray-Lawson, Class of 2005
• Devanei Hampton, Class of 2005

Related Oakland Wiki Pages

Links and References

1. Oakland Technical High School, Oakland, California Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division
2. Oakland Tech Centennial - History
3. High School Grads Will Support Bonds Oakland Enquirer May 11, 1912
4. Break Ground For New Shops  Oakland Tribune January 6, 1913
5. Oakland Tech memories sought, Annalee Allen Oakland Tribune March 30, 2014
6. Buy the Centennial Book (via Wayback Machine)