Best Schools in EL Cerrito, California
12 schools · 7 Elementary · 1 Middle · 4 High
Choosing a school in EL Cerrito?
Use this page to compare every school in EL Cerrito 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.
Madera Elementary
Elementary · West Contra Costa Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Harding Elementary
Elementary · West Contra Costa Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Fairmont Elementary
Elementary · West Contra Costa Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in EL Cerrito for 2026 are Madera Elementary (9.0/10), Harding Elementary (7.6/10), and Fairmont Elementary (7.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 7 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
12
7 public · 5 private
Avg Score
7.0
out of 10
Median Home
$1,097,300
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
12
7 public · 5 private
Avg Score
7.0
out of 10
Median Home
$1,097,300
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
STAAR proficiency rose +14.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among EL Cerrito schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in EL Cerrito
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (7 rated schools; 12 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madera Elementary | 9.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Harding Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Fairmont Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Invictus Academy of Richmond | 6.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Fred T. Korematsu Middle | 6.0 / 10 |
| 6 | EL Cerrito High | 5.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Summit Public School K2 | 4.6 / 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
- 7.0/10
- Median household income
- $127,731
- Median home value
- $1,097,300
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 66%
- Avg commute
- 33 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 58%
45% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How EL Cerrito compares
California rank
#116 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.6
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$128k
128% of California median
Schools in this city
11
West Contra Costa Unified runs 71% of EL Cerrito's public schools
EL Cerrito touches 3 districts, but West Contra Costa Unified is the one most addresses actually attend.
West Contra Costa Unified accounts for 5 of 7 public schools (71%). The other 2 districts hold the remaining 2.
Among 7 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.6 to 9.0 — the spread is inside EL Cerrito, not a citywide average.
- West Contra Costa Unified5 public · 71%
- Invictus Academy of Richmond District1 public · 14%
- Summit Public School K2 District1 public · 14%
About Schools in EL Cerrito, California
EL Cerrito, California is home to 12 schools, including 7 public schools and 5 private schools. The city's schools span 7 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 4 high schools.
With an average rating of 7.0 out of 10, schools in EL Cerrito show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in EL Cerrito is Madera Elementary with a composite score of 9.0/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
EL Cerrito is served by 3 school districts: Summit Public School K2 District, Invictus Academy of Richmond District, West Contra Costa Unified. These districts collectively serve 26,518 students.
EL Cerrito's community shows 66% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $127,731. The poverty rate in the area is 7.6%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 467 students · Kindergarten–6th | 9.0 | ||
| 2 | 474 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.6 | ||
| 3 | 530 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.2 | ||
Private Schools4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Prospect Sierra SchoolPrivate 476 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | St John the BaptistPrivate 148 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Golestan SchoolPrivate 53 students · Pre-K–5th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | East Bay MontessoriPrivate 68 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 680 students · 7th–8th | 6.0 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 389 students · 7th–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 2 | 1,476 students · 9th–12th | 5.9 | ||
| 3 | 554 students · 7th–12th | 4.6 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Viridis AcademyPrivate 6 students · 5th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in EL Cerrito
EL Cerrito, California · 12 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$127,731
Median Home Value
$1,097,300
Median Rent
$2,434/mo
Population
26,229
College Educated
66%
Homeownership
58%
Avg Commute
33 min
Poverty Rate
7.6%
Community Profile
EL Cerrito has a median household income of $127,731. It is a well-educated community where 66% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,097,300, with a median rent of $2,434/month. The local poverty rate of 7.6% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 33 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 7
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 4
Resources
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 EL Cerrito, California
How many schools are in EL Cerrito, California?
EL Cerrito has 12 schools, including 7 public and 5 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in EL Cerrito, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in EL Cerrito is 7.0 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 EL Cerrito, California?
The top-ranked school in EL Cerrito on MySchoolScout is Madera Elementary with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best elementary school in EL Cerrito, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in EL Cerrito on MySchoolScout is Madera Elementary with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best middle school in EL Cerrito, California?
The top-ranked middle school in EL Cerrito on MySchoolScout is Fred T. Korematsu Middle with a composite score of 6.0/10.
What is the best high school in EL Cerrito, California?
The top-ranked high school in EL Cerrito on MySchoolScout is Invictus Academy of Richmond with a composite score of 6.7/10.
How many school districts serve EL Cerrito, California?
EL Cerrito is served by 3 school districts: Summit Public School K2 District, Invictus Academy of Richmond District, West Contra Costa Unified.
What is the education level in EL Cerrito, California?
According to Census data, 66% of adults in EL Cerrito have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in EL Cerrito, California?
The median household income in EL Cerrito is approximately $127,731 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in EL Cerrito, California?
Yes, EL Cerrito has 5 private schools alongside 7 public schools. The top-rated private school is Prospect Sierra School with a score of 8.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in EL Cerrito, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in EL Cerrito is 16.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in EL Cerrito, 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.