Best Schools in Alameda, California
34 schools · 21 Elementary · 2 Middle · 8 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Alameda?
Use this page to compare every school in Alameda by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
The Academy of Alameda
Elementary · The Academy of Alameda District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Lincoln Middle
Middle · Alameda Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Alameda Science and Technology Institute
High · Alameda Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Alameda for 2026 are The Academy of Alameda (8.9/10), Lincoln Middle (8.8/10), and Alameda Science and Technology Institute (8.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 23 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
34
18 public · 16 private
Avg Score
7.4
out of 10
Median Home
$1,197,850
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
34
18 public · 16 private
Avg Score
7.4
out of 10
Median Home
$1,197,850
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 8.9/10 despite 57% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.8 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Alameda schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +10.7 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Alameda schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Alameda
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (23 of 34). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Academy of Alameda | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Lincoln Middle | 8.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Alameda Science and Technology Institute | 8.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Maya Lin | 8.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Alameda High | 8.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Amelia Earhart Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Frank Otis Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Will C. Wood Middle | 8.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Franklin Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Edison Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 7.4/10
- Median household income
- $157,161
- Median home value
- $1,197,850
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 65%
- Avg commute
- 34 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 64%
65% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Alameda compares
California rank
#92 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.1
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$157k
158% of California median
Schools in this city
23
About Schools in Alameda, California
Alameda's public school system is compact and consistently strong. The city has 18 ranked public schools, and 13 of them — 72% — score 7 or higher out of 10. That puts the average at 7.3, well above what most comparably sized California cities deliver. Parents searching here have a shorter list to sort through than in larger districts, but the quality ceiling is genuinely high.
The elementary tier is where Alameda stands out most. Frank Otis Elementary leads the city with an 8.9 score, making it one of the top-performing elementary schools in the region. Close behind it are The Academy of Alameda at 8.6 and Franklin Elementary at 8.5 — two more schools that any family would feel confident choosing. Edison Elementary (8.3) and William G. Paden Elementary (7.9) round out the top five, all comfortably above the citywide average. Five of the city's strongest schools falling within two points of each other signals genuine depth, not just one outlier pulling up the numbers.
Because Alameda is an island city with defined boundaries, school assignment tends to follow neighborhood geography closely. Families moving to the west end should research Franklin and Edison specifically, while those on the east side will find Otis and Paden more accessible. The Academy of Alameda operates with a slightly different structure and may have its own enrollment process — confirm directly with Alameda Unified before counting on a spot.
For families making a final call, Alameda's data points in one clear direction: almost any school in this city gives a child a solid foundation. The 72% rate of 7-plus-scoring schools means bad draws are rare. If elementary performance is the deciding factor in a home search, targeting the Frank Otis or Academy of Alameda attendance zones maximizes the upside. Families less flexible on location can still feel good — the floor here is higher than in most Bay Area cities of similar size, and the average of 7.3 reflects a system that performs consistently across the board, not just at the top.
Elementary Schools
21 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 620 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.9 |
| 2 | 477 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.6 |
| 3 | 573 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.1 |
| 4 | 524 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.1 |
| 5 | 290 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.0 |
| 6 | 465 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.9 |
| 7 | 568 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.8 |
| 8 | 377 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.4 |
| 9 | 469 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.8 |
| 10 | 434 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.6 |
Show all 21 elementary schools in Alameda
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 922 students · 6th–8th | 8.8 |
| 2 | 603 students · 6th–8th | 8.0 |
High Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 167 students · 9th–12th | 8.8 | ||
| 2 | 1,863 students · 9th–12th | 8.2 | ||
| 3 | 1,218 students · 6th–12th | 7.5 | ||
| 4 | 85 students · 9th–12th | 6.4 | ||
| 5 | 389 students · 6th–12th | 6.1 | ||
| Private Schools 3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | The Phillips Academy
Private
61 students · 6th–12th | 7.2 | ||
| 2 | St Joseph Notre Dame High School
Private
423 students · 9th–12th | 6.9 | ||
| 3 | 395 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 487 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.1 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 10 students · UG–UG | — | ||
| 2 | 23 students · UG–UG | — | ||
Schools in Alameda
Alameda, California · 34 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$157,161
Median Home Value
$1,197,850
Median Rent
$2,932/mo
Population
76,876
College Educated
65%
Homeownership
64%
Avg Commute
34 min
Poverty Rate
5.2%
Community Profile
Alameda has a median household income of $157,161. It is a well-educated community where 65% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,197,850, with a median rent of $2,932/month. The local poverty rate of 5.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 34 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 21
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 8
- Other
- 3
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in California
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Alameda, California
How many schools are in Alameda, California?
Alameda has 34 schools, including 18 public and 16 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Alameda, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Alameda is 7.4 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Alameda, California?
The top-ranked school in Alameda on MySchoolScout is The Academy of Alameda with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Alameda, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Alameda on MySchoolScout is The Academy of Alameda with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Alameda, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Alameda on MySchoolScout is Lincoln Middle with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best high school in Alameda, California?
The top-ranked high school in Alameda on MySchoolScout is Alameda Science and Technology Institute with a composite score of 8.8/10.
How many school districts serve Alameda, California?
Alameda is served by 4 school districts: The Academy of Alameda District, Alameda Community Learning Center District, Alameda Unified, Nea Community Learning Center District.
What is the education level in Alameda, California?
According to Census data, 65% of adults in Alameda have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Alameda, California?
The median household income in Alameda is approximately $157,161 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Alameda, California?
Yes, Alameda has 16 private schools alongside 18 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Joseph Elementary School with a score of 7.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Alameda, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Alameda is 17.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Alameda, California?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.