Despite California having insurmountable proposed budget cuts to its education system, three schools in Oakland are thriving.

American Indian Public Charter School, American Indian Public Charter School II, and American Indian Public High School have made a name for themselves for achieving some of the highest test scores in the state of California.

American Indian Public Charter School

American Indian Public Charter School is a small public middle school that serves roughly 273 inner-city students from 5th grade to 8th grade. It ranks first in California and first in the Oakland Unified School District in standardized test scores.

Eighty-four percent of students at AIPCS qualify for free and reduced lunch, 99 percent of students are minorities, and 85 percent of students speak English as a second language. According to the 2009-2010 Academic Performance Index, which rates California schools from zero to 1,000, the American Indian Public Charter School received a score of 988.

“We have high expectations and accountability,â€