Berkeley Unified School District
School District · Berkeley, California
Avg Rating
7.7
out of 10
Schools
17
12 elem, 3 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
9,077
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.9:1
Avg Rating
7.7
out of 10
Schools
17
12 elem, 3 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
9,077
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.9:1
How this district compares
California rank
#39 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+1.4
above California avg
Per-pupil spending
$22,833
+$5,186 vs California median
District size
9,077 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Berkeley Unified ranks #39 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Berkeley Unified's schools with real test data average 7.7/10 across 16 schools. Its top-rated schools are Longfellow Arts and Technology Middle (9.4/10), Oxford Elementary at West Campus (8.9/10), and Willard Middle (8.8/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
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 Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +20.9 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Berkeley Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Berkeley Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (16 of 17). "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 all 17 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Berkeley Unified
Berkeley Unified is a Berkeley, California school district serving 17 schools.The district educates 9,077 students with a student-teacher ratio of 18.9:1. District-level spending was $22,833 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 7.7/10, Berkeley Unified is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is Longfellow Arts and Technology Middle, which has a composite score of 9.4/10.
In standardized testing, Berkeley Unified students show an average math proficiency of 63.8% and ELA proficiency of 65.5%.
The district includes 12 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Berkeley Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Berkeley Unified with test data.
Schools in Berkeley Unified
17 schoolsElementary Schools12
Middle Schools3
High Schools2
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Berkeley
- Total Enrollment
- 9,077
- Teachers (FTE)
- 479
- District spending per student
- $22,833NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 5.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Berkeley Unified?
Berkeley Unified has 17 schools in total — 12 elementary, 3 middle, and 2 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Berkeley Unified?
The average composite rating for Berkeley Unified is 7.7/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Berkeley Unified?
Berkeley Unified's district-level spending was $22,833 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Berkeley Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Berkeley Unified is 18.9:1.
What is the top-rated school in Berkeley Unified?
Longfellow Arts and Technology Middle is the highest-rated school in Berkeley Unified with a composite score of 9.4/10.
What are the test scores in Berkeley Unified?
Across schools in Berkeley Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 63.8% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 65.5%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Berkeley Unified compare to other districts in California?
Berkeley Unified has an average school rating of 7.7/10 across 17 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in California by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 7.7/10
- Math Proficiency
- 63.8%
- ELA Proficiency
- 65.5%
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 rateOther School Districts in CA
Compare Berkeley Unified with neighboring districts in the state.
- Los Angeles Unified (785)
- San Diego Unified (175)
- San Francisco Unified (113)
- Fresno Unified (101)
- Long Beach Unified (82)
- Oakland Unified (82)
- San Bernardino City Unified (76)
- Sacramento City Unified (73)
- San Juan Unified (68)
- Elk Grove Unified (67)
- Garden Grove Unified (66)
- Capistrano Unified (59)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Corona-Norco Unified (53)
- Mt. Diablo Unified (52)
- Santa Ana Unified (52)
- Clovis Unified (50)
- Lodi Unified (49)
- Riverside Unified (49)
- Bakersfield City (45)
- Irvine Unified (45)
- Fontana Unified (44)
- Fremont Unified (44)
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.
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