Best Schools in Berkeley, California
40 schools · 25 Elementary · 5 Middle · 9 High · 1 Other
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.
Longfellow Arts and Technology Middle
Middle · Berkeley Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Oxford Elementary at West Campus
Elementary · Berkeley Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Willard Middle
Middle · Berkeley Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Berkeley for 2026 are Longfellow Arts and Technology Middle (9.4/10), Oxford Elementary at West Campus (8.9/10), and Willard Middle (8.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 16 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
40
17 public · 23 private
Avg Score
7.4
out of 10
Median Home
$1,323,189
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
40
17 public · 23 private
Avg Score
7.4
out of 10
Median Home
$1,323,189
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 9.4/10 despite 44% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.7 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 (Top 10 of 16 rated schools; 40 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Longfellow Arts and Technology Middle | 9.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Oxford Elementary at West Campus | 8.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Willard Middle | 8.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Rosa Parks Environmental Science | 8.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Berkeley High | 8.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Washington Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Malcolm X Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Cragmont Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 9 | John Muir Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 10 | Martin Luther King Middle | 7.7 / 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
- $133,245
- Median home value
- $1,323,189
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 76%
- Avg commute
- 31 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 49%
77% 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
#43 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.1
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$133k
134% of California median
Schools in this city
31
Berkeley Unified runs Berkeley's public schools
17 public schools. Berkeley Unified is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Berkeley is a Berkeley Unified school (17 of 17).
Among 16 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 5.2 to 9.4 — the spread is inside Berkeley, not a citywide average.
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
25 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 251 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.9 |
| 2 | 371 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.6 |
| 3 | 389 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.1 |
| 4 | 460 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.0 |
| 5 | 294 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.8 |
| 6 | 264 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.8 |
| 7 | 404 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.2 |
| 8 | 396 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.0 |
| 9 | 282 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.8 |
| 10 | 363 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.8 |
Show all 25 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 | 442 students · 6th–8th | 9.4 | ||
| 2 | 578 students · 6th–8th | 8.8 | ||
| 3 | 866 students · 6th–8th | 7.7 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | The Crowden SchoolPrivate 53 students · 3rd–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | East Bay School for BoysPrivate 75 students · 6th–8th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3,220 students · 9th–12th | 8.5 | ||
| 2 | 47 students · 10th–12th | 7.4 | ||
Private Schools7 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Bayhill High SchoolPrivate 69 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Maybeck High SchoolPrivate 114 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Fusion Academy BerkeleyPrivate 38 students · 6th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | 627 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | Mentoring AcademyPrivate 9 students · 8th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 6 | Monarch Tree SchoolPrivate 7 students · 4th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 7 | 16 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Via CenterPrivate 6 students · UG–UG | Not Rated |
Schools in Berkeley
Berkeley, California · 40 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
- 25
- Middle
- 5
- High
- 9
- Other
- 1
Resources
School District
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 40 schools, including 17 public and 23 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 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 Berkeley, California?
The top-ranked school in Berkeley on MySchoolScout is Longfellow Arts and Technology Middle with a composite score of 9.4/10.
What is the best elementary school in Berkeley, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Berkeley on MySchoolScout is Oxford Elementary at West Campus with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Berkeley, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Berkeley on MySchoolScout is Longfellow Arts and Technology Middle with a composite score of 9.4/10.
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 8.5/10.
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 23 private schools alongside 17 public schools. The top-rated private school is School of the Madeleine with a score of 8.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Berkeley, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Berkeley is 11.5:1. 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 School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
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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.