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Very Good

#1788 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 19% in state

Harding Elementary

Elementary School · West Contra Costa Unified

7230 Fairmont Ave., EL Cerrito, CA 94530

Enrollment

474

Student-Teacher

23.7:1

Score

7.9

Grades

Kindergarten – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

California schools

#1,788 of 9,539

In EL Cerrito

#1 of 7

public schools

In district

#8 of 52

West Contra Costa Unified

Academic growth

8.7 / 10

Excellent

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Harding Elementary

7.9/10

Elementary School in EL Cerrito · grades Kindergarten – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Albany Middle

9.0/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

EL Cerrito High

7.3/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Harding Elementary

Harding Elementary is a public elementary school in EL Cerrito, CA, part of West Contra Costa Unified. Harding Elementary serves approximately 474 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-6th, and has a 23.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Harding Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 out of 10 and ranks #1,788 of 9,539 schools in CA.

Structured state assessment records for Harding Elementary show 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it compares2.9 pts above district
  • This school 7.9 · Very Good
  • District avg 5.0
  • CA avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

Harding Elementary runs 23.7:1 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 metrics
Student Progress8.7Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-0.5 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendStable
Academics7.0Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency46.9% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency56% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg+1.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+13.2 pts
Overall Proficiency51% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)58% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected-6.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile56th
Resources & Environment7.1Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio23.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,205
Chronic Absenteeism17.5%

Harding Elementary — Students at Harding Elementary score 51% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 58%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

29.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 50.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
38.4% (2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency 57.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
45.4% (2024 CAASPP)

Based on 32 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
58%
ELA
58%
2010
Math
55%
ELA
61%
2011
Math
64%
ELA
61%
2012
Math
60%
ELA
58%
2014
Math
44%
ELA
49%
2015
Math
46%
ELA
51%
2016
Math
52%
ELA
57%
2017
Math
48%
ELA
58%
2018
Math
53%
ELA
60%
2019
Math
53%
ELA
60%
2022
Math
44.7%
ELA
56.8%
2024
Math
45.9%
ELA
56.6%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.7/10.

How Harding Elementary Compares

See how Harding Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.9/10
81th percentile in CA
Academic
7.0/10
Very Good
Growth
8.7/10
Excellent
Environment
7.1/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
29%
Teaching Staff
24:1 student-teacher ratio
20 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
17.5%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

7230 Fairmont Ave., EL Cerrito, CA 94530

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Harding Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Cornell Elementary (rated 9.1/10, 0.9 miles away, in nearby Albany), which scores notably higher. Another option is PROSPECT SIERRA SCHOOL (rated 8.5/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Kensington Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 1.2 miles away, in nearby Kensington), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in EL Cerrito, see our EL Cerrito schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Albany Middle Albany 0.3 mi 9.0
El Cerrito High El Cerrito 0.3 mi 7.3
GOLESTAN SCHOOL El Cerrito 0.3 mi 5.7
Golestan School El Cerrito 0.3 mi
Albany High Albany 0.5 mi 9.1
MacGregor High (Continuation) Albany 0.5 mi
Fairmont Elementary El Cerrito 0.7 mi 7.1
Tilden Preparatory School Albany 0.8 mi
TILDEN PREPARATORY SCHOOL Albany 0.8 mi 6.2
PROSPECT SIERRA SCHOOL El Cerrito 0.9 mi 8.5
Cornell Elementary Albany 0.9 mi 9.1
Prospect Sierra School El Cerrito 0.9 mi
Invictus Academy of Richmond El Cerrito 1.0 mi 5.6
Marin Elementary Albany 1.1 mi 8.2
GROWING LIGHT MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF KENSINGTON Kensington 1.0 mi
Thousand Oaks Elementary Berkeley 1.0 mi 7.5
Ocean View Elementary Albany 1.2 mi 7.0
Kensington Elementary Kensington 1.2 mi 8.4
Fred T. Korematsu Middle El Cerrito 1.4 mi 7.9
Saint Mary's College High School Berkeley 1.5 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 94530 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$127,731

Median Home Value

$1,097,300

Median Rent

$2,434/mo

Population

26,229

College Educated

66.4%

Homeownership

57.8%

Avg Commute

33.2 min

Poverty Rate

7.6%

Median Age

42.5

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Ada S. Nelson Elementary Whittier, CA 7.9
Agnes M. Baptist Elementary Modesto, CA 7.9
Alianza Charter Watsonville, CA 7.9
Bagby Elementary San Jose, CA 7.9
Banyan Elementary Alta Loma, CA 7.9
Bel Aire Elementary Tiburon, CA 7.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Harding Elementary

What grades does Harding Elementary serve?

Harding Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.

How many students attend Harding Elementary?

Harding Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 474 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Harding Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Harding Elementary is 23.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Harding Elementary rank in CA?

Harding Elementary ranks #1,788 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Harding Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Harding Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 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 Harding Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Harding Elementary has 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Harding Elementary a charter school?

No, Harding Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Harding Elementary a Title I school?

No, Harding Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Harding Elementary?

29.3% of students at Harding 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
85 Very Walkable
Transit Score
60 Good Transit
Bike Score
89 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 6th
Enrollment
474
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
20
Free/Reduced Lunch
29.3%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Contra Costa County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
17.5%

District

West Contra Costa Unified
District Enrollment
25,575
Schools in District
54
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,205
District Rank
#8 of 52

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