About Us
Our Vision
The students of Ralph J. Bunche Academy are resilient, and it is our vision that they graduate with the skills necessary to access a quality of life focused on their futures. They will obtain the academic skills necessary to flourish in college or develop experiences in a career in the field of culinary, hospitality, tourism, and recreation. Our community will instill a sense of opportunity, balance, and support through restorative justice, case management, and therapeutic services in order to address students' health and sustain their well being, in perpetuity.
Our Mission
Ralph J. Bunche students will...
... commit to building ongoing healthy, meaningful and personal relationships with students, staff, family members, and community partners to support a student’s sense of identity, personal belief in themselves, building agency to include goal setting, reflecting and internalizing self efficacy;
… engage in academic endeavors that support the “whole child,” build confidence through challenge in their academic abilities, and develop skills through project based learning that spark a passion for learning:
… leave feeling confident in their post-graduation plan with experiences of exploring careers, college, and other areas of interest.
Contact Us
991 14th Street, Building A
Oakland, CA 94607
Welcome to Ralph J. Bunche Academy!
At Ralph J. Bunche Academy the future is now! Scholars who attend Bunche can participate in various online classrooms perfect for distance learning. We are a pathway school teaching Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation curriculum where scholars explore possible careers in Culinary and Hospitality. We can connect scholars to Work-Based Learning opportunities where scholars can earn credits toward graduation while they earn money learning new job skills. Oakland is at the epicenter of social justice and our partners at Fly Law support us in educating our youth about their legal and human rights. Lastly, our faculty has created a Senior Seminar in which scholars will reflect on how far they have come, showcase their resilience, and plan for the future they deserve. At Bunche we promote an environment modeling the commitment and service to a community we love and respect, Historic West Oakland. Bunche inspires every student to achieve and then come back to the community to show others that they can achieve too.
The vision and curriculum incorporate social-emotional learning, academic challenge, and planning for the future. Our focus is the “Every Scholar, Every Day!” and requires staff, scholars, and families to consider a Healing Informed Lens to build a better school community for everyone involved. Only through relationships, overcoming challenges, and consistency toward betterment can we help our students flourish, and only through our scholars, families, and community stakeholders are we able to evoke the change we want to be in the world. Ralph J. Bunche Academy is a small but has a mighty collection of amazing scholars with diverse experiences. We're happy to be considered for the finishing of your high school career.
An Oakland Unified School District School
The Oakland Unified School District is a Sanctuary District and Ralph J. Bunche Academy is a Sanctuary School. On January 18, 2017 the OUSD Board of Education unanimously passed a Sanctuary District Resolution. You can read the full resolution on the OUSD website.
Transforming Secondary Education into an Engaging Experience
Smaller Class Sizes
Shorter Day Schedules
Supported Employment Program
Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation Pathway
What Makes RJB Stand Out?
Bunche is an Alternative Education Center that supports students toward high school graduation by educating the whole student to engage in social-emotional development, academic challenge, and goal setting to cultivate a better quality of life.
- Smaller class sizes, averaging around 15 students a class
- Hospitality, Tourism, Recreation Pathway
- Post Graduation Planning
- Arts and Community Engagement offerings
- Students Assigned Advisors
- Special Education Resources
- Therapeutic Services
- Supported Employment Program
- Shorter day schedule to accommodate students who have other responsibilities
Rigorous Academics
Rigorous academics prepare students to take credit-bearing college-level courses and be university admissible upon graduation from high school, maximize articulation between high school and postsecondary programs of study, and facilitate and accelerate the completion of postsecondary credentials, certificates, and degrees.
Career Technical Education
Career Technical Education (CTE) courses deliver concrete knowledge and skills through a carefully structured sequence of courses by exposing students to California's major industries.
Work-Based Learning
Work-based learning engages students more fully and intentionally, promoting their exposure and access to future educational & career opportunities. These experiences help students increase their knowledge of careers and develop skills that will be transferable to their future careers.
Comprehensive Support Services
Comprehensive Student Support Services include College & Career Readiness and Counseling Services. These services are fundamental to the pathway experience and critical for ensuring students succeed in challenging academic and technical coursework.