Redwood Heights Elementary vs Melrose Leadership Academy

Melrose Leadership Academy holds a clear advantage in overall rating, scoring 9.1 out of 10 compared to Redwood Heights Elementary's 8.4 — a 0.7-point gap that translates into a dramatic difference in state standing. Melrose ranks #244 of 9,533 California schools while Redwood Heights ranks #982 of the same pool, placing Melrose in roughly the top 3% of the state versus the top 10% for Redwood Heights. These two Oakland schools sit just 1.3 miles apart, yet their statewide positions differ by 738 ranks.

The academic and growth picture is more nuanced. Redwood Heights Elementary holds the edge in raw academic proficiency with a 9.7 out of 10 versus Melrose Leadership Academy's 7.6 — a 2.1-point delta that reflects measurably higher test-score performance at Redwood Heights. Growth scores, however, are nearly identical: Redwood Heights at 10.0 and Melrose at 9.9, meaning both schools are exceptional at moving students forward regardless of where they start. Melrose's higher overall rating despite the lower academic score suggests its equity and environment metrics are pulling its composite up.

The two schools differ meaningfully in size and resources. Melrose Leadership Academy enrolls 678 students against Redwood Heights Elementary's 383, and the student-teacher ratio at Melrose is 18.3:1 compared to 27.4:1 at Redwood Heights — a gap of nine students per teacher that can translate directly into more individualized attention. Melrose also serves a higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students: 54% qualify for free or reduced lunch versus 44% at Redwood Heights, indicating Melrose is achieving its near-perfect growth score with a higher-need population.

One structural distinction separates the schools for families thinking long-term: Melrose Leadership Academy serves grades KG–08, carrying students through middle school under one roof, while Redwood Heights Elementary covers only KG–05 and requires a separate middle school transition. Melrose's leadership academy model pairs that extended grade span with a student-teacher ratio that supports its approach; families enrolling in kindergarten at Melrose can stay through eighth grade without a school change.