Updated September 2021
In this series of posts, I hope to show Then and Now images Oakland Schools. Along with a bit of history of each school, I highlight. Some of the 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 and opened in January 1927 and closed in 2004.
The school was named after John Swett (1830–1913), who is considered to be 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:
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
Bids for a new two-story school at the corner of Ney Avenue and Ritchie Street in April of 1948.
Parker School was to be the first permanent building to be constructed from the 1945 school bond.
Dedication ceremonies were held in November of 1949
Parker Today
More Info:
Located at 7929 Ney Street
- Parker School Dedicated – Oakland Tribune Feb 11, 1926
Roosevelt High School
Groundbreaking for a new school at 19th Avenue and E. 19th Street took place on November 11, 1922. The cornerstone was placed on March 24, 1923. The school cost $917,452.43 to build. The school was named after Theodore Roosevelt.
The school was built to accommodate 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 Sep 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 07, 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 Aug 21, 1914
- Founding and Growth of Tompkins – Oakland Tribune Mar 01, 1942
- Tompkins to Close – Oakland Tribune May 27, 1964
- Tompkins School Threatened – Oakland Tribune Aug 16, 1964
- Historic School Doomed – Oakland Tribune Sep 16, 1965
- Public Notice – Oakland Tribune Oct 1965
Woodland Elementary School
Woodland Elementary School started out being called the 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 a variety of 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 Jan 04, 1960
- Dedication – Oakland Tribune Apr 26, 1960
- Multi-Purpose – Oakland Tribune Nov 1961
- Woodland FIre – Oakland Tribune Jan 1969
- Woodland School – Oakland Local Wiki
A Bit of History 
Love this Do you have Montclair school?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Montclair schools are in part 9. I went to Thornhill .
LikeLike
I went to Parker Elementary, just off of Foothill in east Oakland, in 1946. Your info. doesn’t work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When you attended Parker in 1948 MacArthur Blvd (as it is known now) was Foothill Blvd. The school is in the same place the street name has changed.
Dorothy
LikeLike
Not 1946; kindergarten in 1947. (I started the 12th grade in 1959). Your info still doesn’t have the school functioning that soon.
LikeLike
Same school though. That black asphalt at the L is where I fell and bloodied my head nearly 75 years ago!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your memory is better than my research!. I admit that sometimes I was burning the candle at both ends when doing this series. But hey, that is why I call my blog “A Bit of History.” I will be updating the info on Parker soon. I now can see the school was there in 1940. Thank You for bringing that to my attention. Dorothy
LikeLike
I attended Parker in 1971 and graduated 6th grade in 1976! I drove by it three years ago, on a visit to the Bay Area Some of my fondest memories were at that school! I remember my principle was named Mr. Huttle Lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person