Excellent
#44 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 1% in state
Emerson Elementary
Elementary School · Berkeley Unified
2800 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705
Enrollment
282
Student-Teacher
21.7:1
Score
9.4
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
282
Student-Teacher
21.7:1
Score
9.4
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
California schools
#44 of 9,539
In Berkeley
#3 of 16
public schools
In district
#3 of 16
Berkeley Unified
Academic growth
9.6 / 10
Excellent
Shortlisting around Emerson Elementary?
Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Emerson Elementary
Elementary School in Berkeley · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Ruth Acty Elementary
Berkeley, CA. Compare side by side with Emerson Elementary before ruling this option in or out.
John Muir Elementary
Berkeley, CA. Compare side by side with Emerson Elementary before ruling this option in or out.
About Emerson Elementary
Emerson Elementary is a public elementary school in Berkeley, CA, part of Berkeley Unified. Emerson Elementary serves approximately 282 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 21.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Emerson Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.4 out of 10 and ranks #44 of 9,539 schools in CA.
Structured state assessment records for Emerson Elementary show 67% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
- This school 9.4 · Excellent
- District avg 8.9
- CA avg 6.2
What Parents Should Know
Emerson Elementary runs 21.7:1 students to teachers, above the national average. That often means bigger classes. Ask how the school supports kids who need extra help, and whether there are teaching assistants or small-group time.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Emerson Elementary — Students at Emerson Elementary score 74% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 57%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
31.6%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 30 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.6/10.
How Emerson Elementary Compares
See how Emerson Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Location
2800 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Emerson Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. John Muir Elementary (rated 9.4/10, 0.4 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Sylvia Mendez Elementary (rated 9.2/10, 0.7 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, BERKELEY ROSE WALDORF SCHOOL (rated 8.5/10, 0.4 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Berkeley, see our Berkeley schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.1 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| MAYBECK HIGH SCHOOL Berkeley | 0.1 mi | 7.4 |
| Maybeck High School Berkeley | 0.2 mi | — |
| John Muir Elementary Berkeley | 0.4 mi | 9.4 |
| BERKELEY ROSE WALDORF SCHOOL Berkeley | 0.4 mi | 8.5 |
| Emerge Berkeley Christian Academy Berkeley | 0.4 mi | — |
| Willard Middle Berkeley | 0.4 mi | 9.7 |
| ESCUELA BILINGUE INTERNACIONAL Oakland | 0.8 mi | 8.3 |
| Sylvia Mendez Elementary Berkeley | 0.7 mi | 9.2 |
| EAST BAY SCHOOL FOR BOYS Berkeley | 0.8 mi | 7.7 |
| MENTORING ACADEMY Oakland | 0.9 mi | — |
| Chabot Elementary Oakland | 0.9 mi | 7.5 |
| Peralta Elementary Oakland | 0.9 mi | 6.9 |
| Pear Tree Community School Oakland | 0.9 mi | — |
| Claremont Middle Oakland | 1.1 mi | 9.1 |
| THE COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL Oakland | 1.0 mi | 7.9 |
| Bentley School Oakland | 1.0 mi | — |
| ROCKRIDGE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Oakland | 1.3 mi | — |
| Sankofa United Elementary Oakland | 1.2 mi | 4.4 |
| Kaiser Early Childhood Center Oakland | 1.2 mi | 7.3 |
| Berkeley Technology Academy Berkeley | 1.1 mi | 6.6 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 94705 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$163,254
Median Home Value
$1,892,300
Median Rent
$2,330/mo
Population
14,149
College Educated
78.7%
Homeownership
59%
Avg Commute
32.2 min
Poverty Rate
9.8%
Median Age
44.5
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Arundel Elementary San Carlos, CA | 9.4 |
| Brisbane Elementary Brisbane, CA | 9.4 |
| John Muir Elementary Berkeley, CA | 9.4 |
| King (Thomas Starr) Elementary San Francisco, CA | 9.4 |
| Newport Elementary Costa Mesa, CA | 9.4 |
| Peabody (George) Elementary San Francisco, CA | 9.4 |
Compare Emerson Elementary with similar schools nearby
Side-by-side ratings, test scores, and demographics for the schools parents most often weigh against this one.
- CompareEmerson Elementary vs Ruth Acty ElementaryBerkeley, CA Peer score 9.5/10 +0.1 vs Emerson Elementary
- CompareEmerson Elementary vs John Muir ElementaryBerkeley, CA Peer score 9.4/10 About even with Emerson Elementary
- CompareEmerson Elementary vs Sylvia Mendez ElementaryBerkeley, CA Peer score 9.2/10 -0.2 vs Emerson Elementary
- CompareEmerson Elementary vs Cragmont ElementaryBerkeley, CA Peer score 8.9/10 -0.5 vs Emerson Elementary
- CompareEmerson Elementary vs Thousand Oaks ElementaryBerkeley, CA Peer score 7.5/10 -1.9 vs Emerson Elementary
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Emerson Elementary
What grades does Emerson Elementary serve?
Emerson Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Emerson Elementary?
Emerson Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 282 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Emerson Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Emerson Elementary is 21.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Emerson Elementary rank in CA?
Emerson Elementary ranks #44 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Emerson Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Emerson Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Emerson Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Emerson Elementary has 67% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Emerson Elementary a charter school?
No, Emerson Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Emerson Elementary a Title I school?
No, Emerson Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Emerson Elementary?
31.6% of students at Emerson Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 282
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 21.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 13
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 31.6%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Alameda County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 17.7%
- Phone
- (510) 644-6890
Resources & Links
District
Berkeley Unified- District Enrollment
- 9,077
- Schools in District
- 18
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $22,833
- District Rank
- #3 of 16
Other Schools in This District
Compare This School
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 rateRelated reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.