Our History

Oakland Tech has been at its current location since 1914. The magnificent building, which attained official landmark status in 1985, was designed by J. J. Donovan who believed a school‘s façade should reflect the lofty work going on within its walls. He was also a proponent of the use of natural light and native plants. Tech’s founding principal, P. M. Fisher, was similarly ahead of his time believing in the value of both vocational and academic instruction and in fostering strong school spirit and a bond with the larger community.

The school opened with 76 teachers and 1,450 students. The main building, which looked from the outside much as it does today, contained a commercial wing (for bookkeeping and stenography), an academic study wing, a home economics area, and drafting rooms for mechanical, architectural, and free-hand drawing. Separate buildings housed the shops: machine, forge, foundry, electrical, carpentry, plumbing, and metal working. Over the years there have been many changes to Tech including the addition of the Upper Campus that is home to the Fashion Academy.

Centennial

In 2014, students, staff, alumni, and parents joined forces that year to commemorate the school’s Centennial with a year full of events and celebrations. This included publishing a 200-page centennial book (link to see PDF) containing alumni memories and biographies, photos from every decade of the school’s history, and excerpts from student publications over the years.

Hall of Honor

Oakland Technical High School has produced some of the greatest athletes, academics, artists, entertainers, scientists, social activists, statesmen, and scholars of any high school in the country. Check out the Hall of Honor to learn more.

Tech Today

Over the years, Tech has grown to its present size of slightly over 1,800 students. In 2024 and 2025, the campus has undergone significant facilities improvements that include large-scale renovations of the two gyms and auditorium, and significant refurbishing projects to upgrade the Student Center/Library, student cafeteria, staff lounges at the upper and lower/main campuses, wellness center, music rooms, back of the school grounds, asphalt and field. All renovations and upgrades were made possible through private foundation grants, PTSA fundraising, and the OUSD facilities budget.

The combined efforts of the PTSA, dedicated teachers and staff, and a spirited student body have built Tech into the esteemed school that it is today with solid academics, five academies, and a variety of sports, arts, and club offerings. The overwhelming majority of its graduates go on to college. Students readily share their strong sense of pride in their diverse student body and wide variety of programs, and they prize the urban setting with access to all that the greater Bay Area has to offer. To see what we are up to today check out the school’s main website, oaklandtech.ousd.org.