REDWOOD CITY — It may not have a football team, but Redwood City’s new Design Tech High School has one of the biggest boosters in the Bay Area: Oracle.
The school, located on the grounds of Oracle’s corporate campus, officially opened the doors of its new, permanent home on Tuesday to 550 students who will specialize in the study of science, technology, engineering and math (the STEM subjects), but will also be able to take courses in life sciences, humanities and other general academic subjects. Design Tech — D.Tech, for short — operates as a public charter school under the auspices of the San Mateo Union High School District.
Any student who is a California resident may apply for D.Tech. Applications are due by Feb. 28, and those who are accepted need to provide three proofs of California residency at the time of enrollment. When there are more applications that available spots, the school will run a placement lottery in March.
D.Tech had most recently been located in a temporary facility in Burlingame. Oracle started its relationship with D.Tech in 2014, and construction on the school’s permanent home began in 2016. The software giant eventually put $43 million into construction of the school.
In addition to classrooms, meeting areas and other facilities, the centerpiece of D.Tech is a two-story workshop called the Design Realization Garage, where students can work with each other, and faculty members, on projects. Oracle employees will also be involved in the school as mentors for students and their work.
Speaking at an event to mark D.Tech’s new location, Jadene Auerbach, a senior who has been attending D.Tech in locations such as Burlingame and Mills High School in Millbrae, said it was “a special day, where we put an end to our nomadic ways. We finally have a home that is for us, and unique to us.”
Oracle Co-Chief Executive Safra Catz found herself almost overwhelmed when discussing her feelings about the school and Oracle’s involvement with D.Tech. Catz called the school’s opening “probably one of the highlights of my life.”
“I’m incredibly excited and proud,” Catz said. “My only regret is not bringing Kleenex. It’s such a wonderful moment.”
While the relationship between Oracle and D.Tech began four years ago, Catz said the vision for a school that would include D.Tech’s principles and vision was brought up to her more than 18 years ago by Oracle co-founder and Chairman Larry Ellison.
Catz said Ellison, who was not present at the D.Tech ceremony, years ago came to her with a “vision” to build a school “where students learn not what to think, but how to think, learn how to see into the future, and to mine their own imagination and intelligence.”
D.Tech under construction in September 2017.