Best Public Schools in Berkeley, CA

The city of Berkeley, California is home to 17 schools in the Berkeley Unified School District, including 12 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools. The district is ranked 200 out of 1,560 districts in California and is rated 4 out of 5 stars by SchoolDigger.

Among the standout schools in Berkeley are Ruth Acty Elementary, which ranks in the top 2% of California elementary schools and has exceptional test scores, and Berkeley Arts Magnet at Whittier, which also has impressive academic performance. At the middle school level, Willard Middle and Martin Luther King Middle are top performers, ranking in the top 5% and 10% of California middle schools, respectively.

The schools in Berkeley have a diverse student population, with white students making up the largest group, followed by Hispanic, African American, and Asian students. However, there is a stark contrast in performance between the district's high schools, with Berkeley High performing relatively well, while Berkeley Technology Academy, the district's alternative high school, lags significantly behind in test scores and graduation rates.