The brief
The top-rated elementary schools in Oakland for 2026 are Melrose Leadership Academy (8.9/10), The Renaissance International School (8.7/10), and Yu Ming Charter (8.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 93 elementary schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Oakland's 85 ranked elementary schools span a wide performance range, with an average composite score of 5.8/10 across the district. That spread matters: 32 schools — 38% of the total — score 7 or above, meaning strong options exist across multiple neighborhoods, but outcomes vary significantly depending on where you look. Sequoia Elementary leads the field at 9.1/10, tied with Melrose Leadership Academy at the top. Redwood Heights Elementary follows closely at 8.9/10, while Madison Park Academy Elementary and Sankofa United Elementary both land at 8.7/10. The table below lets you sort by score, location, and other key metrics to compare schools directly. Whether you're prioritizing academic performance, proximity, or school type, the data gives you a concrete starting point for evaluating which Oakland elementary schools best fit your child's needs.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 18.9
- 28.7
- 38.6
- 48.3
- 58.3
- 68.2
- 78.1
- 88.1
- 98.0
- 107.9
All 93 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 93
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Melrose Leadership AcademyOakland Unifiedstudents 678student-teacher ratio 18.3:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 2The Renaissance International Schoolstudents 69student-teacher ratio 4.2:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 3Yu Ming ChartercharterYu Ming Charter Districtstudents 865student-teacher ratio 20.1:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 4Cox AcademycharterCox Academy Districtstudents 464student-teacher ratio 21.1:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 5Escuela Bilingue Internacionalstudents 297student-teacher ratio 6.6:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 6Kipp Bridge AcademycharterKipp Bridge Academy Districtstudents 487student-teacher ratio 18.7:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 7Sequoia ElementaryOakland Unifiedstudents 447student-teacher ratio 23.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 8St Pauls Episcopal Schoolstudents 365student-teacher ratio 7.3:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 9Achieve AcademycharterAchieve Academy Districtstudents 542student-teacher ratio 21.7:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 10North Oakland Community ChartercharterNorth Oakland Community Charter Districtstudents 111student-teacher ratio 15.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 11Aspire Firestone Academy ChartercharterAspire Firestone Academy Charter Districtstudents 348student-teacher ratio 23.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 12St Theresa Schoolstudents 208student-teacher ratio 11.9:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 13Chabot ElementaryOakland Unifiedstudents 579student-teacher ratio 24.1:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 14American Indian Public Charter School IIcharterAmerican Indian Public Charter School Ii Districtstudents 628student-teacher ratio 29.9:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 15Crocker Highlands ElementaryOakland Unifiedstudents 410student-teacher ratio 25.6:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 16Glenview ElementaryOakland Unifiedstudents 454student-teacher ratio 22.7:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 17Oakland Hebrew Day Schoolstudents 153student-teacher ratio 7.3:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 18Aspire College AcademycharterAspire College Academy Districtstudents 203student-teacher ratio 22.6:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 19AscendcharterAscend Districtstudents 481student-teacher ratio 21.9:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 20HillcrestOakland Unifiedstudents 376student-teacher ratio 23.5:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 21Peralta ElementaryOakland Unifiedstudents 341student-teacher ratio 26.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 22Redwood Day Schoolstudents 421student-teacher ratio 11.7:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 23Redwood Heights ElementaryOakland Unifiedstudents 383student-teacher ratio 27.4:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 24Aurora Schoolstudents 90student-teacher ratio 7.6:1grades Kindergarten–6th
- 25Lincoln ElementaryOakland Unifiedstudents 687student-teacher ratio 25.4:1grades Kindergarten–5th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and California education department. Rankings are relative to all public elementary schools in California. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Melrose Leadership Academy
Oakland Unified
678 students · 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 4% in California
- Academics
- 7.6
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 8.4
- 2
The Renaissance International School
69 students · 4.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–8th
Top 1% in California
- Academics
- not scored
- Growth
- not scored
- Environment
- not scored
- 3
Yu Ming Charter
Yu Ming Charter District
865 students · 20.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 7% in California · charter
- Academics
- 9.9
- Growth
- 7.6
- Environment
- 9.2
- 4
Cox Academy
Cox Academy District
464 students · 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 11% in California · charter
- Academics
- 5.6
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 8.4
- 5
Escuela Bilingue Internacional
297 students · 6.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–8th
Top 2% in California
- Academics
- not scored
- Growth
- not scored
- Environment
- not scored
- 6
Kipp Bridge Academy
Kipp Bridge Academy District
487 students · 18.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 13% in California · charter
- Academics
- 7.2
- Growth
- 9.6
- Environment
- 6.3
- 7
Sequoia Elementary
Oakland Unified
447 students · 23.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 15% in California
- Academics
- 9.2
- Growth
- 9.1
- Environment
- 3.8
- 8
St Pauls Episcopal School
365 students · 7.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 4% in California
- Academics
- not scored
- Growth
- not scored
- Environment
- not scored
- 9
Achieve Academy
Achieve Academy District
542 students · 21.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 16% in California · charter
- Academics
- 6.0
- Growth
- 9.1
- Environment
- 8.1
- 10
North Oakland Community Charter
North Oakland Community Charter District
111 students · 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 17% in California · charter
- Academics
- 4.1
- Growth
- 9.5
- Environment
- 9.7
Questions
What is the best elementary school in Oakland, California?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Melrose Leadership Academy is the top-rated elementary school in Oakland with a composite score of 8.9/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
How many elementary schools are in Oakland, California?
Oakland has 116 elementary schools, including 35 charter schools. Of these, 94 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average elementary school rating in Oakland?
Among 94 Oakland elementary schools with a composite score, the average is 4.8/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in California).
How does MySchoolScout rate elementary schools?
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within California, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in California, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the Oakland elementary school rankings?
Oakland has 35 charter elementary schools in its directory. Charter schools that meet this ranking's data requirements are included alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.
How should I use this ranking?
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Explore more
- Best middle schools in Oakland2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in Oakland2026 rankings and ratings
- All 210 schools in OaklandElementary, middle and high
- California schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings