Best Schools in Berkeley, California
44 schools · 27 Elementary · 5 Middle · 12 High
Choosing a school in Berkeley?
Use this page to compare every school in Berkeley 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.
Willard Middle
Middle · Berkeley Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Ruth Acty Elementary
Elementary · Berkeley Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Emerson Elementary
Elementary · Berkeley Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Berkeley for 2026 are Willard Middle (9.7/10), Ruth Acty Elementary (9.5/10), and Emerson Elementary (9.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 30 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
44
17 public · 27 private
Avg Score
8.2
out of 10
Median Home
$1,323,189
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
44
17 public · 27 private
Avg Score
8.2
out of 10
Median Home
$1,323,189
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 9.4/10 despite 32% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 0.6 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 Berkeley schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +20.9 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Berkeley schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Berkeley
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (30 of 44). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Willard Middle | 9.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Ruth Acty Elementary | 9.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Emerson Elementary | 9.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Rosa Parks Environmental Science | 9.4 / 10 |
| 5 | John Muir Elementary | 9.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Berkeley Arts Magnet at Whittier | 9.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Martin Luther King Middle | 9.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Sylvia Mendez Elementary | 9.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Berkeley High | 9.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Washington Elementary | 9.0 / 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
- 8.2/10
- Median household income
- $133,245
- Median home value
- $1,323,189
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 76%
- Avg commute
- 31 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 49%
87% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Berkeley compares
California rank
#15 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.9
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$133k
134% of California median
Schools in this city
30
About Schools in Berkeley, California
Berkeley's public school system delivers one of the most consistent performance records in California. The city has 16 ranked public schools averaging 8.9 out of 10 — and all 16 of those schools score above 7.0. That floor matters more than the average. In most metro areas, low-scoring outliers drag down the citywide mean and create clear zones parents try to avoid. Berkeley has no such outliers, which makes the geographic calculus fundamentally different here.
The highest-rated school in the city is Ruth Acty Elementary at 9.7 out of 10. John Muir Elementary follows at 9.4, with Emerson Elementary, Sylvia Mendez Elementary, and Berkeley Arts Magnet at Whittier each posting scores between 9.2 and 9.3. Five elementary schools above 9.0 in a single city is rare. Berkeley's elementary tier is its clearest strength, and parents with younger children have an unusually deep bench to choose from. The Arts Magnet at Whittier's position in the top five is also worth noting — at 9.2, it demonstrates that Berkeley's specialized program schools compete directly with conventional neighborhood schools on academic outcomes, not just program variety.
For parents benchmarking Berkeley against neighboring Bay Area cities, the 8.9 average and the 100% above-7.0 floor are the two numbers to carry into those comparisons — both sit well above typical regional medians for cities this size. The search in Berkeley is less about avoiding problem schools and more about matching program type, commute, and school culture to what a family actually needs. Ruth Acty sets the ceiling at 9.7, but with all 16 schools clearing 7.0, the floor is strong enough that most Berkeley families will be choosing from good options regardless of where they land.
Elementary Schools
27 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 396 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.5 |
| 2 | 282 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.4 |
| 3 | 371 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.4 |
| 4 | 264 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.4 |
| 5 | 404 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.3 |
| 6 | 386 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.2 |
| 7 | 389 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.0 |
| 8 | 294 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.9 |
| 9 | 460 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.8 |
| 10 | 251 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.6 |
Show all 27 elementary schools in Berkeley
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 578 students · 6th–8th | 9.7 | ||
| 2 | 866 students · 6th–8th | 9.3 | ||
| 3 | 442 students · 6th–8th | 7.5 | ||
| 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 | The Crowden School
Private
39 students · 3rd–8th | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | East Bay School for Boys
Private
75 students · 6th–8th | 7.7 | ||
High Schools
12 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3,220 students · 9th–12th | 9.1 | ||
| 2 | 47 students · 10th–12th | 6.6 | ||
| Private Schools 10 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Bayhill High School
Private
82 students · 9th–12th | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | Bayhill High School
Private
77 students · 9th–12th | 7.7 | ||
| 3 | Maybeck High School
Private
118 students · 9th–12th | 7.4 | ||
| 4 | Fusion Academy Berkeley
Private
44 students · 6th–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 5 | Bayhill High
Private
65 students · 7th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 6 | Fusion Academy Berkeley
Private
37 students · 6th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 7 | 15 students · Kindergarten–12th | — | ||
| 8 | Maybeck High School
Private
111 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 12 high schools in Berkeley
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Schools in Berkeley
Berkeley, California · 44 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 9 ZIP codes
Median Income
$133,245
Median Home Value
$1,323,189
Median Rent
$2,312/mo
Population
142,027
College Educated
76%
Homeownership
49%
Avg Commute
31 min
Poverty Rate
13.4%
Community Profile
Berkeley has a median household income of $133,245. It is a well-educated community where 76% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,323,189, with a median rent of $2,312/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.4%. The average commute for residents is 31 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 27
- Middle
- 5
- High
- 12
Resources
School District
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 Berkeley, California
How many schools are in Berkeley, California?
Berkeley has 44 schools, including 17 public and 27 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Berkeley, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Berkeley is 8.2 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 Berkeley, California?
The top-ranked school in Berkeley on MySchoolScout is Willard Middle with a composite score of 9.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Berkeley, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Berkeley on MySchoolScout is Ruth Acty Elementary with a composite score of 9.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Berkeley, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Berkeley on MySchoolScout is Willard Middle with a composite score of 9.7/10.
What is the best high school in Berkeley, California?
The top-ranked high school in Berkeley on MySchoolScout is Berkeley High with a composite score of 9.1/10.
How many school districts serve Berkeley, California?
Berkeley is served by 1 school district: Berkeley Unified.
What is the education level in Berkeley, California?
According to Census data, 76% of adults in Berkeley have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Berkeley, California?
The median household income in Berkeley is approximately $133,245 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Berkeley, California?
Yes, Berkeley has 27 private schools alongside 17 public schools. The top-rated private school is Berkeley Rose Waldorf School with a score of 8.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Berkeley, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Berkeley is 11.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Berkeley, 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.