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Excellent

#124 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 1% in state

Sylvia Mendez Elementary

Elementary School · Berkeley Unified

2840 Ellsworth St., Berkeley, CA 94705

Enrollment

386

Student-Teacher

22.7:1

Score

9.2

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

California schools

#124 of 9,539

In Berkeley

#8 of 16

public schools

In district

#8 of 16

Berkeley Unified

Academic growth

9.7 / 10

Excellent

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Sylvia Mendez Elementary

9.2/10

Elementary School in Berkeley · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

John Muir Elementary

9.4/10

Berkeley, CA. Compare side by side with Sylvia Mendez Elementary before ruling this option in or out.

Thousand Oaks Elementary

7.5/10

Berkeley, CA. Compare side by side with Sylvia Mendez Elementary before ruling this option in or out.

About Sylvia Mendez Elementary

Sylvia Mendez Elementary is a public elementary school in Berkeley, CA, part of Berkeley Unified. Sylvia Mendez Elementary serves approximately 386 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 22.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Sylvia Mendez Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.2 out of 10 and ranks #124 of 9,539 schools in CA.

Structured state assessment records for Sylvia Mendez Elementary show 58% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 9.2 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.9
  • CA avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

Sylvia Mendez Elementary runs 22.7:1 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 Progress9.7Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change+0.76 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendStable
Academics8.9Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency66.2% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency65.8% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg+20.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+23 pts
Overall Proficiency66% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)56% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected+10.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile83th
Resources & Environment8.5Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio22.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$22,833
Chronic Absenteeism17.1%

Sylvia Mendez Elementary — Students at Sylvia Mendez Elementary score 66% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

33.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 57.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
39.4% (2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency 53.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
45.3% (2024 CAASPP)

Based on 30 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

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

2009
Math
47%
ELA
42%
2010
Math
52%
ELA
47%
2011
Math
67%
ELA
57%
2012
Math
67%
ELA
52%
2014
Math
47%
ELA
37%
2015
Math
52%
ELA
42%
2016
Math
47%
ELA
47%
2017
Math
57%
ELA
52%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2022
Math
61.5%
ELA
60%
2024
Math
66.7%
ELA
65.5%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.7/10.

How Sylvia Mendez Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
9.2/10
99th percentile in CA
Academic
8.9/10
Excellent
Growth
9.7/10
Excellent
Environment
8.5/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
33%
Teaching Staff
23:1 student-teacher ratio
17 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
17.1%

Location

2840 Ellsworth St., Berkeley, CA 94705

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Sylvia Mendez Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Emerson Elementary (rated 9.4/10, 0.7 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Washington Elementary (rated 9.0/10, 0.9 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Malcolm X Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 0.7 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Berkeley, see our Berkeley schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Willard Middle Berkeley 0.3 mi 9.7
ESCUELA BILINGUE INTERNACIONAL Oakland 0.5 mi 8.3
Berkeley Technology Academy Berkeley 0.5 mi 6.6
Berkeley Independent Study K-8 Berkeley 0.5 mi
Peralta Elementary Oakland 0.6 mi 6.9
Emerge Berkeley Christian Academy Berkeley 0.6 mi
EAST BAY SCHOOL FOR BOYS Berkeley 0.7 mi 7.7
BERKELEY ROSE WALDORF SCHOOL Berkeley 0.6 mi 8.5
Maybeck High School Berkeley 0.6 mi
MAYBECK HIGH SCHOOL Berkeley 0.6 mi 7.4
Sankofa United Elementary Oakland 0.8 mi 4.4
Emerson Elementary Berkeley 0.7 mi 9.4
Malcolm X Elementary Berkeley 0.7 mi 8.8
WALDEN CENTER & SCHOOL Berkeley 0.7 mi 6.0
MENTORING ACADEMY Oakland 0.9 mi
Washington Elementary Berkeley 0.9 mi 9.0
Berkeley High Berkeley 0.9 mi 9.1
Berkwood Hedge School Berkeley 0.9 mi
BERKWOOD HEDGE SCHOOL Berkeley 0.9 mi 7.9
Claremont Middle Oakland 1.0 mi 9.1

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
A. G. Cook Elementary Garden Grove, CA 9.2
Arroyo San Carlos, CA 9.2
Barnard Elementary San Diego, CA 9.2
California Elementary Costa Mesa, CA 9.2
Castle Heights Elementary Los Angeles, CA 9.2
City Terrace Elementary Los Angeles, CA 9.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Sylvia Mendez Elementary

What grades does Sylvia Mendez Elementary serve?

Sylvia Mendez Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Sylvia Mendez Elementary?

Sylvia Mendez Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 386 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Sylvia Mendez Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Sylvia Mendez Elementary is 22.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Sylvia Mendez Elementary rank in CA?

Sylvia Mendez Elementary ranks #124 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Sylvia Mendez Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Sylvia Mendez Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.2 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 Sylvia Mendez Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Sylvia Mendez Elementary has 58% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Sylvia Mendez Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Sylvia Mendez Elementary a Title I school?

No, Sylvia Mendez Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

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

33.2% of students at Sylvia Mendez 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
96 Biker’s Paradise

Powered by Walk Score

Compare This School

How does Sylvia Mendez Elementary stack up?

John Muir Elementary
9.4
Thousand Oaks Elementary
7.5
Cragmont Elementary
8.9
Compare Selected →

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
386
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
17
Free/Reduced Lunch
33.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Alameda County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
17.1%

District

Berkeley Unified
District Enrollment
9,077
Schools in District
18
Per-Pupil Spending
$22,833
District Rank
#8 of 16

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