Mission and History: In 1999, committed teams of parents, educators, teachers, and community organizations joined to address the overcrowded and under-performing schools that plagued the flatlands of Oakland. In 2000, in an attempt to tackle these disparities, the Oakland Unified School District adopted the New Small Autonomous Schools policy. The following year, Urban Promise Academy opened as the first new small autonomous middle school in Oakland.
Serving the San Antonio and Fruitvale neighborhoods, Urban Promise Academy’s mission is to develop effective learners and community members who have excellent academic skills and valuable habits of character. Urban Promise Academy (UPA) supports students in building the skills and attitudes that will equip them for a rigorous college preparatory curriculum in high school.
