Far West High School
5263 Broadway Terrace
Oakland, CA 94618 (Map & Directions)
510-654-7116
Fax: 510-654-7157
Beverly Jarrett, Principal
beverly.jarrett@ousd.k12.ca.us
News from Far West
Aero Soul 2 graffiti artists recently spent a day on campus creating new pieces and connecting with Far West students. Click here for a video of Far West students interviewing one of the artists, and click here to see photos of the new pieces on our campus!
See our updated school brochure here and our Fashion Arts & Design Academy flier here.
About Far West's Fashion Arts and Design Academy
New in 2009-10, Far West High School's Fashion Arts and Design Academy features classes in fashion design, visual arts, and graphic design. Our academy incorporates many hallmarks of the high school reform movement, such as creating a close, family-like atmosphere, integrating academic and career technical education, and establishing business partnerships.
10th-, 11th-, and 12th-graders are eligible to participate in the Academy. The three-year program provides students with a project-based curriculum, a mentor program, classroom speakers, field trips, and exploration of college and career options through job shadowing and internships.
To launch and sustain this ambitious effort, Far West secured an $80,000 annual California Partnership Academy Grant.
About Far West
Far West High School is a small high school of 220 students located at the split of Broadway and College Avenue in North Oakland. Far West partners with Mills College to provide twice-weekly college prep programming and activities for all students. Curriculum is aligned with the University of California and California State University enrollment requirements and students are prepared to meet and exceed the Oakland Unified School District’s standards.
The school anchors this rigorous academic program with a lively focus on the arts. The California College of the Arts, located across the street, has a mentoring partnership with Far West to offer students courses in the visual and media arts. Experiences in other visual arts, jazz, spoken word, dance, fashion design, digital art, choir, and hip hop are also available throughout the year. Our unique partnerships lend a creative, engaging edge to standards-based learning that has put our students on the path to higher education: 92% of our 2008 graduates are college-bound!
Vision
Far West High School’s vision is to create a small, safe, engaging, and collaborative learning environment. Our students represent the diverse population and neighborhoods of Oakland. Our instructional program ensures that all students experience the arts and a rigorous college-bound curriculum. Far West graduates will be socially aware critical thinkers and creative lifelong learners.
The academic program is designed to help students become:
Critical Thinkers:
- Use creativity
- Use a variety of perspectives
- Engage in reflective practice
- Practice active learning
Self-Aware Individuals:
- Have personal vision
- Are self-directed
- Demonstrated passion and enthusiasm
- Maintain resiliency
Positive Member of Our Community:
- Exhibit personal responsibility
- Appreciate differences
- Contribute to the community
- Are empowered to name injustices
Help Us Realize Our Vision!
As our already tight budget faces unprecedented cuts, we have set a goal of $30,000 this year to help us:
• Hire local ar tists to lead workshops and classes
• Expand our experiences out of the classroom with college field trips
• Purchase and integrate more technology into our curriculum and practices
Make a one-time or recurring tax-deductible donation to fund Far West High School programs here (select Far West from the school designation pull-down menu) or by writing and sending a check to “OSSF/Far West,” P.O. Box 20238, Oakland, CA 94620.