Civicorps

Learn. Earn. Graduate.
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.
Civicorps helps the East Bay’s resilient young adults, age 18-26, embark on family sustaining careers by offering the tools and opportunities to earn a high-school diploma, gain high-demand job skills, and continue onto college and careers. Civicorps has a 72% graduation rate, and one year after graduation, 73% of graduates are still enrolled in college and/or employed. Need a high school diploma? Apply now!
High-School Diploma. For the first four months, students attend our charter school 32 hours a week taking the classes needed to obtain a high-school diploma. Our innovative education approach includes an academic portfolio instead of credits, individualized learning plans, and one-on-one tutoring. Students also engage in soft skills training, trauma-informed case counseling, mindfulness, yoga, mentoring, financial literacy, career and college counseling, art programs, as well as leadership development. After four months, students advance to paid job training during the day and attend evening classes, working towards graduation at their own pace.
Job Training. After the first four months in the program, Civicorps provides paid job training 32 hours a week, so students can earn an income (beginning at $12.55 an hour) and gain occupational skills, soft skills, and industry certifications while working towards their high-school diploma at their own pace.
Career and College Support. For 12 months post-graduation, Civicorps offers assistance with applying for a job, placing youth in our internship or union apprenticeship program, enrolling in community college, accessing services not found on college campuses during evening classes (tutoring, special education support, and case counseling) as well as procuring resources.
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.
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.