Oakland Unified School District Case Study: ASCEND

This case study is one of six conducted for the report, Oakland Unified School District: New Small Schools Initiative Evaluation. It follows ASCEND’s development over time as a school serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade, and shows how the school has refined its original design to strengthen its instructional program.

The case also highlights the advantages of “co-owning” schools with local communities, and the critical roles played by school and district leadership to support strong academic functioning.