Berkeley Unified School District
School District · Berkeley, California
Avg Rating
8.8
out of 10
Schools
17
12 elem, 3 mid, 2 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$22,833
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.9:1
Avg Rating
8.8
out of 10
Schools
17
12 elem, 3 mid, 2 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$22,833
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.9:1
Evaluating Berkeley Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Berkeley Unified as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Willard Middle
Berkeley · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Ruth Acty Elementary
Berkeley · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Rosa Parks Environmental Science
Berkeley · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#20 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+2.5
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 #20 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Berkeley Unified's schools with real test data average 8.8/10 across 16 schools. Its top-rated schools are Willard Middle (9.7/10), Ruth Acty Elementary (9.5/10), and Rosa Parks Environmental Science (9.4/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 9.4/10 despite 32% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 0.6 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 | Willard Middle | 9.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Ruth Acty Elementary | 9.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Rosa Parks Environmental Science | 9.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Emerson Elementary | 9.4 / 10 |
| 5 | John Muir Elementary | 9.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Martin Luther King Middle | 9.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Berkeley Arts Magnet at Whittier | 9.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Sylvia Mendez Elementary | 9.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Berkeley High | 9.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Washington Elementary | 9.0 / 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. The district invests $22,833 per student annually.
With an average rating of 8.8/10, Berkeley Unified is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is Willard Middle, which has a composite score of 9.7/10.
In standardized testing, Berkeley Unified students show an average math proficiency of 63.2% and ELA proficiency of 64.2%.
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 schools Elementary Schools 12
Middle Schools 3
High Schools 2
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Berkeley
- Total Enrollment
- 9,077
- Teachers (FTE)
- 479
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.1%
- Data 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 8.8/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Berkeley Unified?
Berkeley Unified spends $22,833 per student per year.
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?
Willard Middle is the highest-rated school in Berkeley Unified with a composite score of 9.7/10.
What are the test scores in Berkeley Unified?
Across schools in Berkeley Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 63.2% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 64.2%. 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 8.8/10 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
- 8.8/10
- Math Proficiency
- 63.2%
- ELA Proficiency
- 64.2%
Resources
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)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Stockton 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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