Peralta Elementary School, Oakland, California

Peralta Elementary School is a designated arts anchor school in the Oakland Unified School District. It was established over 100 years ago as a one-room schoolhouse, and today has over 340 students in 14 classrooms (K–5th).

The school has a tradition of family involvement and activism that stretches back to the 19th century.[1]

In 2006, Peralta was one of six schools in California where African-American students scored an API that exceeded 800 on the state STAR test.[2] In 2008, Peralta demonstrated that academic targets were achieved for all subgroups at the school.

Since the early 1990 the Peralta staff, students, families and neighbors have been working to make the school a green oasis. Tons of asphalt have been removed and replaced with edible gardens, a small amphitheater, a new kindergarten play area, and a California natives garden. The gardens are teaching too, helping students to learn about healthy eating, science, and stewardship of the land. Families help maintain the gardens during monthly work days, which build community and give students a feeling of ownership and responsibility for their school. Peralta's gardens have been held up as local and regional models.

Peralta is a community hub, with events and activities such as a community yardsale, walkathon and spring festival, Peralta in Bloom.