The brief
The top-rated elementary schools in Oakland for 2026 are Aspire River Oaks Charter (8.1/10), Lazear Charter Academy (8.0/10), and Emerson Elementary (8.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 84 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.
- 18.1
- 28.0
- 38.0
- 47.9
- 57.8
- 67.7
- 77.5
- 87.3
- 97.2
- 107.1
All 84 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 84
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Aspire River Oaks ChartercharterAspire River Oaks Charter Districtstudents 451student-teacher ratio 26.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 2Lazear Charter AcademycharterLazear Charter Academy Districtstudents 479student-teacher ratio 23.9:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 3Emerson ElementaryOakland Unifiedstudents 332student-teacher ratio 20.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 4Glenview ElementaryOakland Unifiedstudents 454student-teacher ratio 22.7:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 5AscendcharterAscend Districtstudents 481student-teacher ratio 21.9:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 6Aspire Vincent Shalvey AcademycharterAspire Vincent Shalvey Academy Districtstudents 448student-teacher ratio 24.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 7Yu Ming ChartercharterYu Ming Charter Districtstudents 865student-teacher ratio 20.1:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 8Aspire Antonio Maria Lugo AcademycharterAspire Antonio Maria Lugo Academy Districtstudents 393student-teacher ratio 32.8:1grades Kindergarten–6th
- 9Peralta ElementaryOakland Unifiedstudents 341student-teacher ratio 26.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 10Aspire Port City AcademycharterAspire Port City Academy Districtstudents 452student-teacher ratio 25.1:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 11Aspire Gateway Academy ChartercharterAspire Gateway Academy Charter Districtstudents 345student-teacher ratio 26.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 12HillcrestOakland Unifiedstudents 376student-teacher ratio 23.5:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 13Carl B. Munck ElementaryOakland Unifiedstudents 171student-teacher ratio 19.0:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 14Joaquin Miller ElementaryOakland Unifiedstudents 384student-teacher ratio 24.0:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 15Cox AcademycharterCox Academy Districtstudents 464student-teacher ratio 21.1:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 16Achieve AcademycharterAchieve Academy Districtstudents 542student-teacher ratio 21.7:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 17Burckhalter ElementaryOakland Unifiedstudents 208student-teacher ratio 16.0:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 18Manzanita Seed ElementaryOakland Unifiedstudents 413student-teacher ratio 22.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 19Aspire Monarch AcademycharterAspire Monarch Academy Districtstudents 402student-teacher ratio 28.7:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 20Chabot ElementaryOakland Unifiedstudents 579student-teacher ratio 24.1:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 21Markham ElementaryOakland Unifiedstudents 297student-teacher ratio 22.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 22Kipp Bridge AcademycharterKipp Bridge Academy Districtstudents 487student-teacher ratio 18.7:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 23Piedmont Avenue ElementaryOakland Unifiedstudents 313student-teacher ratio 20.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 24Cleveland ElementaryOakland Unifiedstudents 383student-teacher ratio 27.4:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 25Montclair ElementaryOakland Unifiedstudents 562student-teacher ratio 22.5:1grades 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
Aspire River Oaks Charter
Aspire River Oaks Charter District
451 students · 26.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 11% in California · charter
- Academics
- 9.2
- Growth
- 9.6
- Environment
- 2.6
- 2
Lazear Charter Academy
Lazear Charter Academy District
479 students · 23.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 13% in California · charter
- Academics
- 7.8
- Growth
- 9.1
- Environment
- 5.7
- 3
Emerson Elementary
Oakland Unified
332 students · 20.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 14% in California
- Academics
- 7.8
- Growth
- 9.9
- Environment
- 3.3
- 4
Glenview Elementary
Oakland Unified
454 students · 22.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 15% in California
- Academics
- 8.0
- Growth
- 8.6
- Environment
- 5.9
- 5
Ascend
Ascend District
481 students · 21.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 16% in California · charter
- Academics
- 7.4
- Growth
- 8.7
- Environment
- 5.9
- 6
Aspire Vincent Shalvey Academy
Aspire Vincent Shalvey Academy District
448 students · 24.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 19% in California · charter
- Academics
- 9.2
- Growth
- 9.0
- Environment
- 2.4
- 7
Yu Ming Charter
Yu Ming Charter District
865 students · 20.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 23% in California · charter
- Academics
- 9.9
- Growth
- 5.3
- Environment
- 9.2
- 8
Aspire Antonio Maria Lugo Academy
Aspire Antonio Maria Lugo Academy District
393 students · 32.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–6th
Top 27% in California · charter
- Academics
- 8.1
- Growth
- 9.1
- Environment
- 1.7
- 9
Peralta Elementary
Oakland Unified
341 students · 26.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 31% in California
- Academics
- 9.3
- Growth
- 7.1
- Environment
- 4.2
- 10
Aspire Port City Academy
Aspire Port City Academy District
452 students · 25.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 32% in California · charter
- Academics
- 5.6
- Growth
- 9.9
- Environment
- 2.2
Questions
What is the best elementary school in Oakland, California?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Aspire River Oaks Charter is the top-rated elementary school in Oakland with a composite score of 8.1/10. 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 115 elementary schools, including 35 charter schools. Of these, 98 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average elementary school rating in Oakland?
Among 98 Oakland elementary schools with a composite score, the average is 5.4/10. 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 196 schools in OaklandElementary, middle and high
- California schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings