Middle School Computer Science
Prior to Salesforce’s investment in Oakland, only 82 middle school students had taken a computer science class. After just four years of support from Salesforce, all middle schools began offering rigorous, relevant computer science courses,. Now nearly 7,700 students and counting have enrolled in computer science.
The middle school computer science initiative prepares and inspires Oakland students to pursue college degrees and future careers in STEM. By offering computer science courses, OUSD and Salesforce aim to address the equity gap that exists in the tech industry where women and people of color have traditionally been underrepresented. This vision is coming to life: during the 2021-22 school year, computer science classes were 22% African American, and 41% Latinx, which closely mirrors the district-wide population.
Bringing Computer Science to Life
In addition to computer science classes, the partnership with Salesforce offers many avenues for students to apply their learning in STEM competitions, career exposure field-trips to Salesforce headquarters in San Francisco, as well as Computer Science Education Week activities. For students, these opportunities bridge the gap between the learning occurring in classrooms and the real world of technology taking place in their own backyard.
