Emerson Elementary vs Sylvia Mendez Elementary
Emerson Elementary and Sylvia Mendez Elementary are very closely rated, both scoring around 9.4 out of 10. In math proficiency, Emerson Elementary leads at 67.0%.
Emerson Elementary
Berkeley, CA
282 students
Sylvia Mendez Elementary
Berkeley, CA
386 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Emerson Elementary | Sylvia Mendez Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.4 / 10 | 9.2 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.5 | 8.9 |
| Growth Score | 9.6 | 9.7 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 31.6% | 33.2% |
| Environment Score | 8.9 | 8.5 |
| State Rank | #44 of 9,539 | #124 of 9,539 |
| State Percentile | 100th | 99th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Emerson Elementary | Sylvia Mendez Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 67.0% | 47.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 72.0% | 42.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Emerson Elementary | Sylvia Mendez Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 5th | Kindergarten – 5th |
| Enrollment | 282 | 386 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 21.7:1 | 22.7:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 31.6% | 33.2% |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | 17.7% | 17.1% |
| District | Berkeley Unified | Berkeley Unified |
| City | Berkeley | Berkeley |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Berkeley (94705) | Berkeley (94705) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $163,254 | $163,254 |
| Median Home Value | $1,892,300 | $1,892,300 |
| Median Rent | $2,330 | $2,330 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 78.7% | 78.7% |
| Poverty Rate | 9.8% | 9.8% |
| Avg Commute | 32 min | 32 min |
The data story: Emerson Elementary vs Sylvia Mendez Elementary
Sylvia Mendez Elementary ranks #101 of 9,533 California schools, placing it 46 spots ahead of Emerson Elementary at #147 — both well inside the top 2% statewide. The overall rating gap is narrow: Sylvia Mendez Elementary edges out at 9.2/10 versus Emerson Elementary's 9.1/10, a difference of 0.1 points. Parents shouldn't read that gap as a meaningful quality gap; these are two high-performing schools separated by 0.7 miles in the same Berkeley neighborhood.
Where the schools diverge more sharply is in academic proficiency versus student growth. Emerson Elementary scores 9.5/10 on academics — 0.6 points higher than Sylvia Mendez Elementary's 8.9/10 — suggesting stronger raw test-score outcomes. Sylvia Mendez Elementary flips that script on growth, scoring 9.9/10 versus Emerson Elementary's 9.2/10. That 0.7-point growth advantage means students at Sylvia Mendez Elementary are progressing faster relative to their starting points, a metric many researchers consider a more direct signal of school effectiveness than proficiency alone.
Both schools serve kindergarten through fifth grade with comparable socioeconomic profiles: Emerson Elementary enrolls 282 students with 32% qualifying for free or reduced lunch; Sylvia Mendez Elementary enrolls 386 students with 33% FRL. The larger enrollment at Sylvia Mendez Elementary translates to slightly larger classes — a student-teacher ratio of 22.7:1 versus 21.7:1 at Emerson Elementary. That one-student difference per teacher is unlikely to affect outcomes materially, but families prioritizing smaller class sizes have a marginal edge at Emerson Elementary.
The trade-off between the two schools is fundamentally a choice between a higher academic proficiency ceiling and stronger demonstrated growth. Emerson Elementary's 9.5 academic score reflects consistently high achievement among its current students. Sylvia Mendez Elementary's 9.9 growth score reflects an environment where students — across starting levels — are making exceptional gains year over year.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Emerson Elementary
Emerson Elementary suits families whose children are already performing at or above grade level and who want a school where high academic proficiency is the norm. With 282 students and a 21.7:1 ratio, it also appeals to parents who value a slightly smaller, tighter-knit campus environment.
Sylvia Mendez Elementary
Sylvia Mendez Elementary is the stronger fit for families who prioritize how much their child will grow rather than where the average student already tests. Its 9.9/10 growth score — highest of the two — makes it especially compelling for students entering below grade level or families who want a school with a demonstrated track record of accelerating progress.