2020 Best Schools in BerkeleyAbout this List

Miramonte High School

• Acalanes Union High School District, CA
• 9-12
• 200 reviews

Senior: I have loved attending Miramonte High School! Over the past few years, there have been significant improvements in our school with the adaptation of block scheduling and moving finals to be before winter break. Miramonte has extremely rigorous academics, though the school has been implementing more support resources for students.
Read 200 Reviews

• A+

• 1,277 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Maybeck High School

• Private School
• Berkeley, CA
• 9-12
• 6 reviews

Alum: I will be forever grateful to Maybeck High School and all of the teachers and students. It truly changed my life. Before Maybeck I was unfocused and a bit lost, hanging out with the wrong crowd. After Maybeck I graduated from U.C. Berkeley with honors. The small classes, warm and supportive staff and students really helped me to focus and find a purpose. The curriculum and the trips were unique and exposed me to ideas, and things that I never would have known. I was very prepared for college when I graduated. I highly recommend Maybeck. If I lived closer, I would love for my own children to attend.
Read 6 Reviews

• A+

• 110 Students
• 5:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

St. Mary's College High School

• Private School
• Berkeley, CA
• 9-12
• 207 reviews

Senior: I found the overall community at Saint Mary's to be welcoming and friendly. Not only is the majority of the student body accepting and supportive but so are the teachers. They are completely invested in your success as they appropriately challenge students while also working with them when they struggle. Because of this, I found the academics at Saint Mary's to have a perfect balance of rigor. This nature prepares the students of Saint Mary's College High School well for college. Additionally, the student body at Saint Mary's is diverse in both cultures and beliefs. This provides the students with the opportunity to educate themselves outside the classroom as they engage in conversation with their peers.
Read 207 Reviews

• A+

• 630 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Berkeley High School

• Berkeley Unified School District, CA
• 9-12
• 445 reviews

Senior: Berkeley High School is definitely a place that fosters the students' uniqueness and capability, but is definitely not for the faint of heart. Not only is the school academically rigorous, but the students are extremely politically and socially active on a regular basis- almost every year the school has had a walk-out protest!
With the specialized learning communities the school implements, students refine their abilities in certain fields such as Humanities, STEM, Community Service, and Fine Arts. Students are able to find like-minded people within those communities, and grow strong foundations and connections that prepare them for life after graduation.
Read 445 Reviews

• A+

• 3,017 Students
• 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Jefferson Elementary School

• Berkeley Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A

• 407 Students
• 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Emerson Elementary School

• Berkeley Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A

• 304 Students
• 20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Willard Middle School

• Berkeley Unified School District, CA
• 6-8

• A

• 592 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Martin Luther King Middle School

• Berkeley Unified School District, CA
• 6-8
• 3 reviews

Middle School Student: I am a current 8th grader, and I love King. I would say 85% of the teachers are really great. It’s a really good mix of average/poor and advanced students. All teachers care about the students. The principal is okay I guess, however current 8th grade VP is terrible. He does not do anything and has befriended the constant trouble makers and therefore doesn’t give them consequences, making the school unsafe for teachers and students. I think that compared to all other public middle schools in Berkeley, Kind is the very best option. I’ve gotta say though, the school lunch is disgusting. Thanks Alice Waters! Just kidding, she really has done a lot for my school! Kitchen/garden program has taught me and my peers a lot. The school lunch truly is disgusting though. I think it’s getting better though! Well, that’s optimistic... :)
Read 3 Reviews

• A

• 1,022 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Malcolm X Elementary School

• Berkeley Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A

• 554 Students
• 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Cragmont Elementary School

• Berkeley Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A

• 394 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Rosa Parks Environmental Science Magnet

• Berkeley Unified School District, CA
• K-5
• 1 review

Works Here: I am a proud after school teacher at Rosa Parks. This is a school community that works together to support students and families in every way possible. Each student is tracked carefully and provided math and reading intervention when needed. Equity and inclusion are a number one priority at Rosa. Gender neutral restrooms, a yearly PRIDE parade, and daily morning school gatherings where we all recite a pledge by Rosa Parks and practice our social/emotional "tool box" make this school an affirmative environment for all. The after school program called Kid's Village offers amazing enrichment classes-from the yoga class with Papa Da to slime making. Kids just don't want to leave at pick up time!
Read 1 Review

• A-

• 445 Students
• 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Berkeley Arts Magnet at Whittier

• Berkeley Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A-

• 437 Students
• 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

John Muir Elementary School

• Berkeley Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A-

• 302 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Washington Elementary School

• Berkeley Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A-

• 483 Students
• 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Oxford Elementary School

• Berkeley Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A-

• 301 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Leconte Elementary School

• Berkeley Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A-

• 367 Students
• 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Thousand Oaks Elementary School

• Berkeley Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A-

• 427 Students
• 20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Longfellow Middle School

• Berkeley Unified School District, CA
• 6-8

• A-

• 514 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley

• Private School
• Berkeley, CA
• PK, K-8
• 4 reviews

Parent: Amazing school that provides top notch bilingual education, plus great special programs to ensure each child realizes their full potential.
Read 4 Reviews

• NG

• 468 Students
• 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Black Pine Circle School

• Private School
• Berkeley, CA
• K-8

• NG

• 330 Students
• 4:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

School of the Madeleine

• Private School
• Berkeley, CA
• K-8
• 8 reviews

Parent: When I started looking for kindergarten for my son Nicolas last year, I was so uncertain on where we would go. Lucky me, School of the Madeleine was the first one that I visited and I left so confident that it was the one. After visiting The Madeleine I still checked out a couple more private schools around but those places just made me feel more certain of my choice. A month went by since my son started at The Madeleine and I am so happy to see what a happy boy I drop off every morning. As a new family at the school, I can share that everyone is very warm and welcoming, I met a lot of nice families and Nico has made friends for life. The curriculum is very strong and best of all, I LOVE the values that the school teach. It makes smile every morning after prayer time at the garden when all kids shout together " Let's be good to one another" . What else can you ask for?
Read 8 Reviews

• NG

• 313 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

The Berkeley School

• Private School
• Berkeley, CA
• PK, K-8
• 1 review

Middle School Student: It is a nice school teachers are great students are fine nice Campus. Its overall pretty goood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111111111111111!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Read 1 Review

• NG

• 282 Students
• 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

American International Montessori School

• Private School
• Berkeley, CA
• PK, K-6

• NG

• 124 Students
• 3:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Shu Ren International School

• Private School
• Berkeley, CA
• PK, K-5

• NG

• 110 Students
• 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

East Bay School for Boys

• Private School
• Berkeley, CA
• 6-8
• 5 reviews

Parent: My son has attended EBSB since 6th grade and is currently in 7th grade. EBSB has been an incredibly positive experience for us and transformative for the whole family. At EBSB I’ve seen him change into someone who sees himself in charge of his own learning. At the beginning of 7th grade he even signed up to give a speech to the whole school on “engagement.” The message at EBSB is that the students are seen and loved even (and maybe especially when) they make mistakes. Allowing kids to fail in a loving environment is rare these days and so essential for children to learn to be resilient.

EBSB holds workshops and courageous conversations to foster learning. My son and I attended a workshop on the topic of homework. As we worked through the thoughtful program I realized that the workshop was about the relationship between parent and child. Afterwards my son said that the workshop helped him “fundamentally change” his relationship with his dad. This is a 6th grader talking!
Read 5 Reviews

• NG

• 96 Students
• 5:1 Student-Teacher Ratio