Average

#1052 of 1,787 private schools in CA

Walden Center & School

Elementary School

2446 MCKINLEY AVE, Berkeley, CA 94703

Last updated: July 2026

Private

Enrollment

Student-Teacher

9.5:1

Score

6.0

Grades

Kindergarten – 6th

Enrollment

Student-Teacher

9.5:1

Score

6.0

Grades

Kindergarten – 6th

Data vintage
2021-22

Data vintage2021-22

How this school compares

California private schools

#1,052 of 1,787

In Berkeley

#14 of 14

public schools

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

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About Walden Center & School

Walden Center & School is a private elementary school in Berkeley, CA. Walden Center & School serves approximately 75 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-6th, and has a 9.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Walden Center & School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.0 out of 10 and ranks #1,052 of 1,787 private schools in CA.

How it comparesOn par with CA schools

6.0

This school 6.0 · Average
CA avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

At 75 students, Walden Center & School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

At 9.5:1 students to teachers, Walden Center & School sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Walden Center & School is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Walden Center & School compares to 15 public schools serving similar grades in Berkeley, CA

Student-Teacher Ratio

9.5:1

This School

19.5:1

Public Avg

Avg School Size

This School

385

Public Avg

Avg School Scout Rating

6.0

This School

8.9

Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 56% vs 0%

Hispanic 14.7% vs 0%

Asian 12% vs 0%

Black 10.7% vs 0%

Walden Center & School Berkeley Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School	Distance	Enrollment	STR	Rating
Walden Center & School (this school)	—	75	9.5:1	6.0
Washington Elementary	0.2 mi	389	20.5:1	9.0
Berkeley Independent Study K-8	0.3 mi	27	9:1	—
Longfellow Arts and Technology Middle	0.4 mi	442	13.8:1	7.5
Sylvia Mendez Elementary	0.7 mi	386	22.7:1	9.2
Malcolm X Elementary	0.7 mi	460	19.2:1	8.8
Willard Middle	0.9 mi	578	16.5:1	9.7
Oxford Elementary at West Campus	0.9 mi	251	20.9:1	7.6
Berkeley Arts Magnet at Whittier	0.9 mi	404	21.3:1	9.3
Rosa Parks Environmental Science	1.2 mi	371	20.6:1	9.4
Ruth Acty Elementary	1.2 mi	396	20.8:1	9.5
Martin Luther King Middle	1.3 mi	866	19.7:1	9.3
Emerson Elementary	1.3 mi	282	21.7:1	9.4
John Muir Elementary	1.6 mi	264	20.3:1	9.4
Thousand Oaks Elementary	2.1 mi	363	24.2:1	7.5
Cragmont Elementary	2.1 mi	294	21:1	8.9

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

Preliminary

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in CA.

Classroom Attention

B+ 7.2 / 10

View breakdown

Student-Teacher Ratio 9.5:1

Instructional Commitment

C 2.5 / 10

View breakdown

School Day Length 6.2 hours

Annual Instructional Hours 1,078.8

Diversity & Inclusion

A- 7.7 / 10

View breakdown

Diversity Index 64%

Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile

B- 4.9 / 10

View breakdown

Enrollment 75

View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in CA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 56.0%

Hispanic 14.7%

Asian 12.0%

Black 10.7%

Two or More 6.7%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

2446 MCKINLEY AVE, Berkeley, CA 94703

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Walden Center & School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Berkeley Arts Magnet at Whittier (rated 9.3/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Sylvia Mendez Elementary (rated 9.2/10, 0.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Washington Elementary (rated 9.0/10, 0.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Berkeley, see our Berkeley schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.0 mi

School	Distance	Enrollment	Rating
Washington Elementary Berkeley	0.2 mi	389	9.0
Berkwood Hedge School Berkeley	0.2 mi	116	—
BERKWOOD HEDGE SCHOOL Berkeley	0.2 mi	105	7.9
Berkeley Technology Academy Berkeley	0.3 mi	47	6.6
Berkeley Independent Study K-8 Berkeley	0.3 mi	27	—
Berkeley High Berkeley	0.4 mi	3,220	9.1
Shu Ren International School Berkeley	0.5 mi	54	—
Longfellow Arts and Technology Middle Berkeley	0.4 mi	442	7.5
Malcolm X Elementary Berkeley	0.7 mi	460	8.8
EAST BAY SCHOOL FOR BOYS Berkeley	0.7 mi	75	7.7
Sylvia Mendez Elementary Berkeley	0.7 mi	386	9.2
Bayhill High Berkeley	0.9 mi	65	—
BAYHILL HIGH SCHOOL Berkeley	0.9 mi	82	7.8
BAYHILL HIGH SCHOOL Berkeley	0.9 mi	77	7.7
Berkeley Arts Magnet at Whittier Berkeley	0.9 mi	404	9.3
THE BERKELEY SCHOOL Berkeley	0.8 mi	153	8.0
Willard Middle Berkeley	0.9 mi	578	9.7
Oxford Elementary at West Campus Berkeley	0.9 mi	251	7.6
CEDAR CREEK MONTESSORI SCHOOL Berkeley	1.0 mi	1	—
Emerge Berkeley Christian Academy Berkeley	1.0 mi	15	—

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 94703 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$108,922

Median Home Value

$1,273,000

Median Rent

$2,257/mo

Population

20,874

College Educated

71.4%

Homeownership

39.4%

Avg Commute

32 min

Poverty Rate

11.4%

Median Age

37.5

Similar Schools

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

School	Enrollment	Rating
ADVENTIST UNION SCHOOL Bellflower, CA	50	6.0
ALL SAINTS ACADEMY OF STOCKTON Stockton, CA	99	6.0
BETH HILLEL DAY SCHOOL Valley Village, CA	82	6.0
Cesar Chavez Early Learning Center San Jose, CA	50	6.0
GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN SCHOOL Simi Valley, CA	58	6.0
HOLY NAME OF JESUS SCHOOL Los Angeles, CA	100	6.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Walden Center & School

What grades does Walden Center & School serve?

Walden Center & School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.

How many students attend Walden Center & School?

Walden Center & School has an enrollment of approximately 75 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Walden Center & School?

The student-teacher ratio at Walden Center & School is 9.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Walden Center & School rank in CA?

Walden Center & School ranks #1,052 of 1,787 private schools in CA.

What is Walden Center & School's MySchoolScout rating?

Walden Center & School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Walden Center & School a private school?

Yes, Walden Center & School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Walden Center & School a religious school?

No, Walden Center & School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

Explore More Schools

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Neighborhood Context

Walk Score: 82 Very Walkable
Transit Score: 66 Good Transit
Bike Score: 94 Biker’s Paradise

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades: Kindergarten – 6th
Enrollment: 75
Gender Split: 68% M / 32% F
Student-Teacher Ratio: 9.5:1
Teachers (FTE): 8
Type: private
Coed Status: coed
Affiliation: Nonsectarian
School Day: 6.2 hours
Days Per Year: 174 days
Setting: Midsize City
County: Alameda County
Phone: (510) 841-7248

Resources & Links

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Data sources

NCES PSSSY 2021-22 Census ACS2019-2023 MySchoolScout Rankings2024 Full details →

Walden Center & School

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