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Sylvia Mendez Elementary

Q: Is Sylvia Mendez Elementary a good school?

Sylvia Mendez Elementary ranks 1022 nd of 5817 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

1022^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,817 California Elementary Schools

Better than 82% of California elementary schools

Summary

Sylvia Mendez Elementary is a Berkeley Unified K–5 school with 379 students, serving families in an area with nearby schools in both Berkeley and Oakland. In 2025–26, its proficiency rates were above California’s in English, math and science, but it generally trailed nearby K–5 schools, especially in English and science. The most important distinction for families is that results look strong against the state but are weaker against the school’s closer local comparisons.

Math is the school’s strongest subject relative to nearby peers, while English and especially science are weaker. Proficiency was 64% in math—above the nearby-school average of 62%—and the school scored higher than three of the eight nearby schools with results. English proficiency was 63%, below the nearby average of 66% and below seven of those eight schools; science was 52%, compared with a nearby average of 63%, and was also below seven. All three results exceeded state rates (49% in English, 38% in math and 36% in science), but fell below Berkeley Unified averages (72%, 67% and 58%, respectively). Fourth-grade math stands out as a specific concern: 55% were proficient, 15 points below the district’s fourth-grade rate, while fifth-grade math was 67%, nearly matching the district.

Results have moved unevenly: from 2022–23 to 2025–26, English fell 3 points, math rose 5, and science rose 1; the latest year brought gains in math and science but a 2-point English decline. Attendance is a brighter spot: chronic absenteeism fell 11 points from 2021–22 and was 8% in 2025–26, below the district’s 13% and state’s 18%. SchoolDigger ranked the school at the 82nd percentile statewide and gave it four stars, but nearby Berkeley K–5 schools ranked from the 86th to 94th percentiles. Its 2024–25 student-teacher ratio was 21, and 27% of students were eligible for free/reduced lunch. SchoolDigger’s 2025–26 ranking for how well the school serves White Students was at the 99th percentile, compared with the school’s overall 82nd; its ranking for Low Socio Economic Status Students was at the 62nd percentile, down from the 84th in 2023–24 before rising from the 37th in 2024–25.

379

Students ?

21.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$41,279

Per pupil spending ?

27.4%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in California receive free school meals.

≥ 98%

Kindergartners with all required immunizations (2024-25)

2840 Ellsworth St.
Berkeley, CA 94705-1029

(510) 644-6290

District: Berkeley Unified

Students who attend Sylvia Mendez Elementary usually attend:

High:

Berkeley High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

60.7%

White:

23.2%

Two or more races:

7.9%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Sylvia Mendez Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 58th percentile in 2015 → 82nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (62% vs 42% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 18% of California elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 24 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Near the bottom of Berkeley Unified's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school62%

District avg67%

California avg42%

1,022^nd of 5,817

California public elementary schools ?

Top 18%▲ up 15 pts since 2016

From top 33% (2016) to top 18% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^th of 11Elementary Schools in the Berkeley Unified

158^th of 1,530Berkeley Unified among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	82.8	1022 of 5817	82.4%	★★★★☆
2025	76.2	1325 of 5857	77.4%	★★★★☆
2024	83.3	1029 of 5869	82.5%	★★★★☆
2023	82.2	1080 of 5859	81.6%	★★★★☆
2022	84.4	975 of 5883	83.4%	★★★★☆
2019	60.0	2074 of 5789	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.5	1739 of 5662	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	60.6	1990 of 5692	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2016	63.2	1852 of 5614	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	51.2	2379 of 5611	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	52.3	2549 of 5530	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	48.8	2689 of 5390	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	32.5	3795 of 5377	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	26.9	4092 of 5314	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	29.7	3731 of 5193	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	43.0	2785 of 5113	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2007	26.8	3794 of 5113	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	32.0	3175 of 4818	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2005	41.6	2629 of 4822	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2004	35.6	2904 of 4809	39.6%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2019	38.8	1855 of 3275	43.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	81.2	1000 of 5581	82.1%	★★★★☆
2025	72.7	1381 of 5597	75.3%	★★★★☆
2024	78.6	1152 of 5612	79.5%	★★★★☆
2023	81.6	1033 of 5609	81.6%	★★★★☆
2022	81.8	1025 of 5635	81.8%	★★★★☆
2019	68.7	1560 of 5492	71.6%	★★★★☆
2018	73.3	1355 of 5413	75.0%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	84.1	536 of 5094	89.5%	★★★★☆
2025	76.9	867 of 5107	83.0%	★★★★☆
2024	87.3	462 of 5107	91.0%	★★★★★
2023	83.3	611 of 5087	88.0%	★★★★☆
2022	90.8	328 of 5084	93.5%	★★★★★
2019	68.5	1234 of 4963	75.1%	★★★★☆
2018	66.3	1309 of 4830	72.9%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	56.7	2072 of 5423	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	37.0	3427 of 5460	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	78.7	896 of 5517	83.8%	★★★★☆
2023	54.6	2061 of 5363	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	68.3	1252 of 5264	76.2%	★★★★☆
2019	25.1	4219 of 5173	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	51.5	2265 of 5084	55.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	81.2	1001 of 5603	82.1%	★★★★☆
2025	77.7	1169 of 5628	79.2%	★★★★☆
2024	85.7	843 of 5643	85.1%	★★★★☆
2023	79.3	1121 of 5638	80.1%	★★★★☆
2022	83.6	935 of 5663	83.5%	★★★★☆
2019	43.2	2826 of 5510	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.7	2136 of 5431	60.7%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	92.8	35 of 2536	98.6%	★★★★★
2025	81.4	364 of 2598	86.0%	★★★★☆
2024	87.7	154 of 2651	94.2%	★★★★★
2023	87.7	174 of 2661	93.5%	★★★★★
2022	86.4	217 of 2726	92.0%	★★★★★
2018	86.7	189 of 2737	93.1%	★★★★★

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

White (2026)99th percentile+16 vs school

Hispanic (2026)89th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2026)82nd percentile~ school

Female (2026)82nd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)62nd percentile-21 vs school

English Language Learner (2019)43rd percentile-21 vs school

By subject vs California (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics64%+26 vs state

English Language Arts/Literacy63%+14 vs state

Science52%+16 vs state

★

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Schools Near Sylvia Mendez Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CAST Science (2026)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2026)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)							Vaccination (2024-25)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Vaccination: Kindergartners with all required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Sylvia Mendez Elementary	Public	K-5	2840 Ellsworth St.	Berkeley	94705	Alameda County	Berkeley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 644-6290	379	18	21.0	27.4%	88 (23.2%)	29 (7.7%)	230 (60.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (7.9%)	82.8	1022^nd of 5817 public elementary schools	82.4%		76.2	1325^th of 5857 public elementary schools	77.4%	303	52.2		52.2	62.3	62.1	64.4				62.8	70.5	55.2	67.4				64.2	≥ 98%		$41,279	$40,724	$555
Berkeley Independent Study K-8	Public	K-8	2701 Martin Luther King Jr Way	Berkeley	94703	Alameda County	Berkeley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 644-6159	19	2	9.4	36.8%	4 (21.1%)	2 (10.5%)	7 (36.8%)	1 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (21.1%)								(n/a)										62.5							56.3
Peralta Elementary	Public	K-5	460 63rd St.	Oakland	94609	Alameda County	Oakland Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 879-3145	355	12	30.8	30.4%	145 (40.8%)	29 (8.2%)	51 (14.4%)	30 (8.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	98 (27.6%)	89.6	676^th of 5817 public elementary schools	88.4%		90.4	635^th of 5857 public elementary schools	89.2%	41	66.7		66.7	65.5	68.8	69.1				67.7	78.0	68.8	59.5				69.7	97%	0%	$22,799	$21,144	$1,655
Emerson Elementary	Public	K-5	2800 Forest Ave.	Berkeley	94705	Alameda County	Berkeley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 644-6890	283	13	21.7	29.7%	128 (45.2%)	47 (16.6%)	42 (14.8%)	21 (7.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (15.2%)	92.2	526^th of 5817 public elementary schools	91.0%		89.8	667^th of 5857 public elementary schools	88.6%	141	59.1		59.1	75.6	77.8	77.3				76.9	75.0	75.6	59.1				69.9	≥ 98%		$32,092	$31,422	$670
Malcolm X Elementary	Public	K-5	1731 Prince St.	Berkeley	94703	Alameda County	Berkeley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 644-6313	469	23	20.3	31.6%	198 (42.2%)	74 (15.8%)	71 (15.1%)	39 (8.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	83 (17.7%)	86.4	841^st of 5817 public elementary schools	85.5%		86	877^th of 5857 public elementary schools	85.0%	36	61.1		61.1	57.6	76.2	75.7				70.5	53.9	67.4	66.2				63.0	95%	0%	$31,389	$30,796	$593
Sankofa United Elementary	Public	K-5	581 61st St.	Oakland	94609	Alameda County	Oakland Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 879-2194	216	12	18.7	75.9%	36 (16.7%)	91 (42.1%)	45 (20.8%)	12 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (13.9%)	22.2	4616^th of 5817 public elementary schools	20.6%		14.6	5300^th of 5857 public elementary schools	9.5%	684	39.3		39.3	23.8	5.0	28.6				20.3	19.1	5.3	25.0				17.7	77%	0%	$39,050	$36,664	$2,386
Washington Elementary	Public	K-5	2300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way	Berkeley	94704	Alameda County	Berkeley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 644-6310	401	16	24.6	33.4%	157 (39.2%)	42 (10.5%)	72 (18.0%)	48 (12.0%)	2 (0.5%)	4 (1.0%)	75 (18.7%)	88.5	722^nd of 5817 public elementary schools	87.6%		92.2	530^th of 5857 public elementary schools	91.0%	192	57.4		57.4	59.7	72.7	74.6				69.2	71.0	72.7	59.7				67.7	≥ 98%		$28,941	$28,542	$399
John Muir Elementary	Public	K-5	2955 Claremont Ave.	Berkeley	94705	Alameda County	Berkeley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 644-6410	293	14	20.9	30.7%	148 (50.5%)	27 (9.2%)	35 (11.9%)	33 (11.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (16.7%)	90.8	598^th of 5817 public elementary schools	89.7%		90.2	646^th of 5857 public elementary schools	89.0%	48	71.7		71.7	72.1	67.4	84.8				75.0	67.4	62.8	65.2				65.2	97%	0%	$30,198	$29,524	$674
Chabot Elementary	Public	K-5	6686 Chabot Rd.	Oakland	94618	Alameda County	Oakland Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 879-2106	576	24	24.0	35.4%	229 (39.8%)	98 (17.0%)	95 (16.5%)	33 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	118 (20.5%)	92.2	528^th of 5817 public elementary schools	90.9%		91.7	567^th of 5857 public elementary schools	90.3%	39	74.7		74.7	69.7	77.4	69.9				72.5	73.3	73.1	65.1				70.7	≥ 98%		$24,242	$22,274	$1,968
Berkeley Arts Magnet at Whittier	Public	K-5	2015 Virginia St.	Berkeley	94709	Alameda County	Berkeley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 644-6225	407	19	21.4	29.2%	190 (46.7%)	37 (9.1%)	58 (14.3%)	39 (9.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	81 (19.9%)	94.6	358^th of 5817 public elementary schools	93.8%		94	395^th of 5857 public elementary schools	93.3%	37	75.0		75.0	76.1	71.6	85.9				77.8	70.6	77.6	79.7				75.9	≥ 98%		$26,191	$26,000	$191

Frequently Asked Questions about Sylvia Mendez Elementary

What district is Sylvia Mendez Elementary in?

Berkeley Unified

How many students attend Sylvia Mendez Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 379 students attended Sylvia Mendez Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Sylvia Mendez Elementary?

Students at Sylvia Mendez Elementary are 61% Hispanic, 23% White, 8% Two or more races, 8% African American.

Is Sylvia Mendez Elementary a good school?

Sylvia Mendez Elementary ranks 1022^nd of 5817 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Sylvia Mendez Elementary attend?

Students who attend Sylvia Mendez Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Berkeley High

Rate Sylvia Mendez Elementary!

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Latest California data All new data »

2013–14 through 2024–25 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 15, 2026

2025–26 CAST, CSA Spanish & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresOct 15, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.