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Graduate Capstone 2025-26

What is the Graduate Capstone?

The capstone is a reflection and affirmation of your learning as a member of one of the pathways at Oakland Tech and the Oakland community. As a graduate of Oakland Unified, the capstone reflects you -- a resilient learner, collaborative teammate, community leader, critical thinker, and creative problem solver. Your capstone is a series of 3 milestones that demonstrates to you and your community that you can apply the knowledge gained and tools developed to transform yourself and the systems we live in.

Since 2005, the Graduate Capstone has been a requirement for graduation (Board Policy 6146.1).

What are the 3 milestones?

The capstone is made up of 3 milestones with checkpoints along the way:

  1. Research Paper
  2. Project/Product
  3. Oral Presentation

The pathways have also set the 1st checkpoint to be met by the end of Marking Period 1 - Sept. 19, 2025.  By that date, all 12th grade students will have chosen a research topic and come up with a research question.

What are the due dates?

Each pathway has designated specific due dates for the 3 milestones within these general timelines:

  1. Milestone 1 completed by December 19, 2025.
  2. Milestone 2 completed by Marking Period 6 - April, 2, 2026
  3. Milestone 3 completed by April 30, 2025.

Once all milestones have been scored, the Pathway Directors and counselors will be informed that the Capstone requirement for graduation has been met.  Meeting the Capstone requirement will be part of the Senior Checkout process in May, 2026. Any student who does not complete the capstone in full or in part will be ineligible to complete the Senior Check Out process or to graduate from Oakland Technical HS until it is complete.

Any questions about Capstone?

1. Reach out to your Pathway CTE and/or English 4 teacher listed below:

  • Computer: Sara Ketcham, Brennan Nicholas, Seth Smith
  • Engineering: Mary Davidson, Leroy Hurt, Jeffrey Kurohara
  • Fashion: Toya Groves, Jacqueline Marston, Kari Olsson
  • Health: Liv Mahlke
  • RPL: Elaine Bryce

Note: If you are in AP Lit in Computer, Engineering or Fashion, then you can opt into your AP Lit teacher’s Study Hall for the first semester to receive the support to complete Milestone 1 - the research paper.

2. Additional questions can be directed to 

  • Dr. Deshawn Woolridge, Assistant Principal (12th grade), 
  • the Assistant Principals of each pathway, and/or 
    • Computer - Dr. Deshawn Woolridge
    • Engineering - Mark Dieter
    • Fashion - LaDonna Williams
    • Health - Dionne Embry
    • RPL - Dr. Deshawn Woolridge
  • Jah-Yee Woo, Pathway Coach