Civicorps

In 1983, Civicorps was founded as one of the first conservation corps in California, and in 1995, Oakland Unified School District granted us a charter to become a high-school diploma program, making us the only drop-out recovery school for the district. Civicorps’ mission is to re-engage young adults, so they can earn a high school diploma, gain job skills, pursue college, and embark on family sustaining careers. All of our students have dropped out of high school, are low-income, and 97% live in poverty. Almost all (99%) students are an ethnic minority, 39% have been convicted of a crime, 50% are homeless, 45% are single parents, 25% are former foster youth, and 40% have learning disabilities and/or emotional disturbance. Not only do we have a 72% graduation rate (one of the highest in Oakland), but also one year after graduation, 73% of our graduates are still enrolled in college and/or employed. This success ripples out into the community, creating a legacy of achievement for our city.