The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in Math. The lowest is 14% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Aspire College Academy
Aspire College Academy is a charter school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Oakland's Fruitvale neighborhood. The school operates at a single site and draws a small enrollment consisting almost entirely of low-income Latino and Black students, with a high proportion of children whose families qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
The academic picture is weak across both math and English language arts. State testing data shows that performance declines notably as students progress through the grades. In third grade, students show modest proficiency in math, but by fourth and fifth grades, proficiency drops sharply. English language arts proficiency follows a similar pattern, starting at a low base in third grade and falling further in the upper elementary years. Science proficiency in fifth grade is quite low. Measured against other schools in Alameda County, this school sits in the bottom quartile for overall proficiency. No trend data is available to show whether performance is stable, improving, or declining year to year.
The school's composition is notably concentrated. Latino students make up the majority of enrollment, Black students represent a substantial share, and the student body includes almost no white or Asian students. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. English learner and special education enrollment data were not available.
Aspire College Academy is one of two elementary schools operated by Aspire Public Schools in Oakland. The organization has publicly reported plans to merge this school with Aspire Triumph Technology Academy into a single unified K-5 school at the Atherton Street location, consolidating two separate campuses. This structural change affects which campus families would attend and alters the peer composition of the school community.
The school is also subject to a five-year charter renewal process with Oakland Unified School District, with the renewal term running from July 2026 onward. Additionally, Aspire Public Schools is restructuring governance so that Bay Area schools including this one will be governed by a separate local Aspire Public Schools Bay Area board and regional staff, a change planned for July 2027.
Oakland itself is a dense, diverse city with strong walkable neighborhoods, robust transit via BART and AC Transit, and cultural anchors including Lake Merritt and the downtown arts district. Recent development has shifted away from market-rate housing toward affordable housing construction. The housing market in the area shows values below the state benchmark and steady rents, though long-term mortgage rates remain elevated.
A parent evaluating this school should understand that the academic performance is below the county median and weakens in the upper grades, that the student community is predominantly low-income, Latino, and Black, and that the school is undergoing a merger and charter renewal process that may shape its trajectory. This would be an appropriate setting primarily for families seeking a neighborhood school with a highly concentrated student body rather than families prioritizing strong test results or demographic diversity.
See more original research from School Decision →