2023 Best School Districts in Alameda County

• Pleasanton, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.15 out of 5  59 reviews

Senior: I have been a student in Pleasanton Unified School District for over seven years. Because Pleasanton is a relatively affluent area, the school district receives a large amount of funding. There are new buildings in the schools specially designed to fit career-specific classes. There are electronic devices for every student. The teachers are also generally good and helpful. The food is probably the one lacking aspect although it may just be nitpicking. The schools feel safe and clean. Admin is generally on top of things and has good communication. School spirit, at least at my school is pretty nonexistent however.... Read 59 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 16

• Students 14,469

• Piedmont, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.13 out of 5  8 reviews

Alum: Fantastic school district, very safe and provides a lot for the students. Right now is under construction but surely will be back to normal, if not better, afterwards.... Read 8 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 7

• Students 2,464

• Dublin, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.1 out of 5  68 reviews

Senior: Your experience definitely depends on which side of town you live on. The East side of the school district is more competitive and focused on academics than the West side of town. As of right now, all schools feed into Dublin High School. Again, your experience changes depending on the types of classes you take. People who take AP classes experience intense competition and the environment can often be toxic. There have been major instances of cheating in the past. However, if students take a good balance of AP, honors, and regular courses, it is possible to receive a well rounded education. Recently, STEM education has increased in all levels of education due to higher demand. The arts are still somewhat neglected but the music program and visual arts programs are also rapidly improving.... Read 68 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 14

• Students 12,625

• Berkeley, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.06 out of 5  17 reviews

Senior: I have been going to Albany schools my whole life and I am a current senior graduating in 2019. It is a very small campus and this may not appeal to all but I enjoyed the community feel. My counselor Ms.Burns was excellent and extremely helpful. The principle Ms. Ritchie is attentive responsive even if she can't help in the way that you would want. They offer difficult courses and I think that the classes are the best thing going for the school. I was happy that my teachers pushed me regarding my school work. There are a lot of teachers who have been teacher there for a long time, the new teachers aren't as good. There are loads of clubs for such a small school and I recommend getting involved in any ways that you can. I was president of two clubs and it provided me with great leadership experience.... Read 17 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 6

• Students 3,501

• Berkeley, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.02 out of 5  64 reviews

Senior: I love the fact that Berkeley unified school district offers a lot of opportunities for its students. For example, In elementary school, I was required to learn how to use an instrument. At my highschool, I get to take one of the only fire science classes in the entire state. I also love how diverse all of my classes have been ever since I can remember going to Berkeley schools. One thin I think BUSD could work on is having more teachers of color. I have only had one black clasroomteacher in my 13 years of being a student.... Read 64 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 17

• Students 9,409

• Fremont, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.67 out of 5  135 reviews

Junior: I have been to two schools in Fremont unified school district. While I believe one of the brick and motor schools needs to hire teachers that care more about there students this isn’t the case for vista alternative (an independent studies) school as I believe they havereally great teachers! All the teachers at vista were helpful and actually seemed like they wanted you to succeed and work towards your full potential. Although I am leaving vista in senior year it defiantly is not because I didn’t like the school. In fact, I had a great experience but would like to partake in senior activities and graduation in which I would t have at vista.... Read 135 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 43

• Students 35,187

• Alameda, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.95 out of 5  63 reviews

Sophomore: I think personally as someone who is more focused on grades than sports, alameda is a good district that gives good opportunities to pick your own pace and learn the best way you can. Besides academics, alameda’s school districts recently banned the usual discriminatory dress code that prevented mainly girls from having as much freedom as men when getting ready to go to school. With that old dress code abolished, girls can more openly express their styles through clothing. Also, being in the bay area, there is tons of racial and lgbtq diversity in the school and discrimination is not tolerated. it gives a safe environment for minority groups.... Read 63 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 16

• Students 9,071

• Castro Valley, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.92 out of 5  73 reviews

Senior: As a senior, I have seen Castro Valley High School develop. The students give feedback to the administration and the leadership team and are persistent in giving the students what they've wished for. Last year, students felt like there was a need for an all-gender bathroom on campus and the administration took the request into account so when I came back to school, I saw a new all-gender bathroom in the 300 hall!... Read 73 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 16

• Students 9,203

• Livermore, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.85 out of 5  40 reviews

Sophomore: I have really enjoyed Las Positas's design program. I am finishing my second semester, and ready to enroll in my third on November 20th. I like the fact that only two teachers teach the required classes for graduation, I have built a strong relationship with these teachers and appreciate their techniques. My first semester I had taken one of the hardest classes, hand drafting. I did not receive a perfect grade, but felt that I learned more in that class than any class ever before. I did not give this school 5 stars because I have unfortunately taken a few classes where I felt that the teacher did the absolute bare minimum. One teacher for example would take exactly 2 weeks to grade every single assignment. This was incredibly unfortunate when the next weeks assignment was based off of the last. She took 4 days minimum to respond to any email.... Read 40 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 18

• Students 13,305

• Union City, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.08 out of 5  49 reviews

Senior: I like how there's a variety f new people to meet every single day. You never know the types of connections you will make, and even if you end up distancing yourself from someone, you'll regain a bond with someone else. Something I would like to see change is the safety procedures. Hopefully, they improve their security around the community and schools as the years go by.... Read 49 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 13

• Students 10,812

• San Leandro, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.99 out of 5  70 reviews

Freshman: When I came to the United States on October 11, 2016, I went to Jefferson Elementary school, one of the schools in the district. I´ve been enrolled in San Leandro Unified School District from elementary to high school. When I came to the United States I knew basic English, and thanks to the staff & students I felt welcomed. And always ready to learn.... Read 70 reviews

• grade B minus

• Total schools 12

• Students 8,828

• Newark, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.43 out of 5  21 reviews

Junior: With my experience at Newark Memorial High School, overall, it is a great high school. Most, if not all, staff members and teachers will most definitely be there for you and will do their best for you to succeed. There are times where you feel like giving up and you’re emotionally wrecked, there is a counselor who helps many students with beings related to this. I play basketball, it’s honestly the best. You get to meet new people who become your teammates, your friends and FAMILY. Overall, students at this school work very hard & believe in themselves.... Read 21 reviews

• grade B minus

• Total schools 13

• Students 5,507

• Fremont, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.71 out of 5  7 reviews

Niche User: This is a unique school that is made for DEAF students to match their needs and access to education. It included an amazing diversity, human interaction, and a safe place for everyone to show their true selves. This is also considered a home for deaf students since they don't exactly have access or difficulties having access to the hearing world.... Read 7 reviews

• grade C+

• Total schools 1

• Students 318

• San Lorenzo, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.53 out of 5  59 reviews

Senior: The school is overall an environment that many kids feel comfortable being in. Finding those with similar interests as you can help your high school experience be incredible. The teachers truly are there to help their students with whatever it is that they need. Although the 2019-2020 school year had a whole new set of staff, these people made connections with many of the students and developed healthy relationships with one another. As a class of 2020 student, I can say that the class of 2020 was a class that everyone enjoyed each other’s company and was sort of like a family. The students are involved with extra curricular activities. Sports are a big thing in this school as there are many events held at each sport that a majority of the staff and students attend. For the most part everyone minds their own business as we all are doing our best to get an education and focus on learning new material everyday.... Read 59 reviews

• grade C+

• Total schools 17

• Students 9,431

• Oakland, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.53 out of 5  139 reviews

Senior: My time with OUSD district can be a mixed bag, while it does have its own faults within being able to prepare students for college, it does show to have a very well rounded diversity within students and being able to represent them in school. The teachers do a very good job at teaching does provide their students a good enough education. However, improvement can definitely be done; such as being able to provide more resources of education for students and being able to provide them more to make their high school experience better.... Read 139 reviews

• grade C+

• Total schools 85

• Students 35,489

• Emeryville, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.57 out of 5  7 reviews

Junior: Great small school, nice staff, and amazing teachers. Full support from students when needed, and overall a clean district.... Read 7 reviews

• grade C

• Total schools 3

• Students 698

• Hayward, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.66 out of 5  139 reviews

Senior: I have been attending Chabot College for four years now; overall, I have enjoyed my experience at Chabot. When I started at Chabot, I instantly felt enormous support from advisors such as stem counselors, el centro advisors, etc. There is a lot of diversity at this school as well, and very easy to make friends/study groups here! I definitely recommend getting to know your classmates and the professors as well. Many of the professors strongly express their support for their students and want all of their students to succeed; you have to put the work in. Although there are some teachers at the school that the school district should change because there were many complaints made but no action to find another professor. In general, Chabot is a really good school and does care for its students, but the school district need to find more professors for the biology, physics, and organic chemistry departments.... Read 139 reviews

• grade C

• Total schools 32

• Students 19,069

• Fremont, CA•

• School District

• grade A

• Total schools 1

• Students 58

• Hayward, CA•

• School District

• grade unavailable

• Total schools 5

• Students 289