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Excellent

#466 of 9,533 schools in CA

Top 5% in state

Sankofa United Elementary

Elementary School · Oakland Unified

581 61st St., Oakland, CA 94609

Enrollment

232

Student-Teacher

16.6:1

Score

8.7

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Oakland

#9 of 147

public schools

California elementary schools

#349 of 5,817

In district

#8 of 79

Oakland Unified

Academic growth

10.0 / 10

Exceptional

About Sankofa United Elementary

Sankofa United Elementary is a public elementary school in Oakland, CA, part of the Oakland Unified. The school serves approximately 232 students in grades Kindergarten – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 16.6:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7/10, placing it in the 95.1th percentile among CA schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 23% proficiency in math, 16 points below the state average and 31% in reading/language arts, 14 points below the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (10.0/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $106,698, where 62% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a large city setting.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress10.0Exceptional50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change+4.32 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendImproving
Academics6.1Above Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency30%
Reading/ELA Proficiency35.9%
Math vs. State Avg-15.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-6.9 pts
Overall Proficiency33%
Expected (poverty-adj.)34%
vs. Expected-1.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile45th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.5Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$20,628

Sankofa United Elementary — Students at Sankofa United Elementary score 33% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 34%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

71.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 23.3%
School
State
39.4%
ELA Proficiency 30.8%
School
State
45.3%

Based on 10 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

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

2019
Math
2.5%
ELA
17%
2024
Math
28.4%
ELA
34.2%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 10.0/10.

How Sankofa United Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
8.7/10
95th percentile in CA
Academic
6.1/10
6.1/10
Growth
10.0/10
Above average
Environment
9.5/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
71%
Teaching Staff
17:1 student-teacher ratio
14 teachers

Location

581 61st St., Oakland, CA 94609

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Sankofa United Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Sylvia Mendez Elementary (rated 9.2/10, 0.8 miles away, in nearby Berkeley), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Malcolm X Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 0.6 miles away, in nearby Berkeley), with a very similar rating. Additionally, ESCUELA BILINGUE INTERNACIONAL (rated 8.3/10, 0.5 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Oakland, see our Oakland schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Peralta Elementary Oakland 0.4 mi 6.1
ESCUELA BILINGUE INTERNACIONAL Oakland 0.5 mi 8.3
Malcolm X Elementary Berkeley 0.6 mi 8.5
Sylvia Mendez Elementary Berkeley 0.8 mi 9.2
MENTORING ACADEMY Oakland 0.7 mi
Claremont Middle Oakland 0.7 mi 8.3
Home and Hospital Program Oakland 0.8 mi
Young Adult Program Oakland 0.8 mi 7.1
Oakland International High Oakland 0.9 mi 5.9
Berkeley Technology Academy Berkeley 0.9 mi 7.1
Berkeley Independent Study K-8 Berkeley 0.9 mi
Willard Middle Berkeley 1.0 mi 8.9
Emerson Elementary Oakland 1.0 mi 8.3
Oakland Technical High Oakland 1.1 mi 8.7
ROCKRIDGE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Oakland 1.0 mi
North Oakland Community Charter Oakland 1.2 mi 7.1
MAYBECK HIGH SCHOOL Berkeley 1.2 mi 7.4
Longfellow Arts and Technology Middle Berkeley 1.1 mi 9.1
Maybeck High School Berkeley 1.2 mi
WALDEN CENTER & SCHOOL Berkeley 1.2 mi 6.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 94609 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$106,698

Median Home Value

$1,147,900

Median Rent

$2,116/mo

Population

24,854

College Educated

62.2%

Homeownership

32.4%

Avg Commute

31.5 min

Poverty Rate

10%

Median Age

35.2

Community Profile

The community surrounding Sankofa United Elementary has a median household income of $106,698. It is a well-educated community where 62% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,147,900, with a median rent of $2,116/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.0%. The average commute for residents is 32 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Adelante Charter Santa Barbara, CA 8.7
Albert A. Michelson Elementary Avery, CA 8.7
Bowers Elementary Santa Clara, CA 8.7
Cabrillo Elementary San Diego, CA 8.7
Charnock Road Elementary Los Angeles, CA 8.7
Field Elementary San Diego, CA 8.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Sankofa United Elementary

What grades does Sankofa United Elementary serve?

Sankofa United Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Sankofa United Elementary?

Sankofa United Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 232 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Sankofa United Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Sankofa United Elementary is 16.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Sankofa United Elementary rank in CA?

Sankofa United Elementary is ranked #466 out of 9,533 schools in CA.

What is Sankofa United Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Sankofa United Elementary has a composite rating of 8.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Sankofa United Elementary?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Sankofa United Elementary has 23.3% math proficiency and 30.8% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Sankofa United Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Sankofa United Elementary a Title I school?

No, Sankofa United Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

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

71.1% of students at Sankofa United 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
90 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
64 Good Transit
Bike Score
98 Biker’s Paradise
City Safety
High (9,182/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Oakland). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
232
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
14
Free/Reduced Lunch
71.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Alameda County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Oakland Unified
District Enrollment
33,916
Schools in District
82
Per-Pupil Spending
$22,181
District Rank
#8 of 79

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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