Berkeley Unified
Berkeley Unified has 16 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 68.3/100 — 24.6 points above the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Ruth Acty Elementary at 83/100, where 62.7% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $18,919 per student (above the state average of $14,815). 1 school shows positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 16.0%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Solid 69.1/100 | 11 | 47.0% | 12.7% |
| Middle | Solid 68.9/100 | 3 | 41.6% | 10.8% |
| High | Solid 63.0/100 | 2 | 22.5% | 42.3% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Berkeley Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Berkeley Unified's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 69.1.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -1.5pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.
Consistency: Score range of 32.4 points — showing significant variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 16.0%, 2.1pp above the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 1.1%, near the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Ruth Acty Elementary leads the district at 83 with 62.7% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Berkeley Unified
Hidden gems: 1 school in Berkeley Unified is classified as Growth Engine — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Student demographics
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Berkeley Unified spends $18,919 per student in current expenditures — $4,104 above the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Teacher compensation
CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25
Elementary Schools (11)
Berkeley Unified has 11 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 69.1 — 25.3 points above the state average of 43.8. 3 of 11 elementary schools score above 70.
Growth averages -1.5pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Ruth Acty Elementary with a Scope Score of 83 and 62.7% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ruth Acty Elementary Berkeley Unified High Ceiling | 62.7% | Strong 83/100 |
| 2 | Berkeley Arts Magnet at Whittier Berkeley Unified High Ceiling | 55.5% | Strong 78/100 |
| 3 | Rosa Parks Environmental Science Berkeley Unified High Ceiling | 50.7% | Strong 73/100 |
| 4 | John Muir Elementary Berkeley Unified Building Momentum | 45.5% | Solid 70/100 |
| 5 | Cragmont Elementary Berkeley Unified Building Momentum | 46.5% | Solid 70/100 |
| 6 | Washington Elementary Berkeley Unified Strong All-Around | 45.7% | Solid 69/100 |
| 7 | Emerson Elementary Berkeley Unified Building Momentum | 50.5% | Solid 67/100 |
| 8 | Oxford Elementary at West Campus Berkeley Unified Growth Engine | 45.9% | Solid 65/100 |
| 9 | Malcolm X Elementary Berkeley Unified Solid Base | 42.2% | Solid 64/100 |
| 10 | Thousand Oaks Elementary Berkeley Unified Strong All-Around | 39.2% | Solid 62/100 |
| 11 | Sylvia Mendez Elementary Berkeley Unified Strong All-Around | 33.0% | Solid 59/100 |
Middle Schools (3)
Berkeley Unified has 3 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 68.9 — 28.5 points above the state average of 40.5. 1 of 3 middle schools score above 70.
Growth is essentially flat at -0.1pp.
The highest-scoring middle school is Willard Middle with a Scope Score of 77 and 50.1% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Willard Middle Berkeley Unified High Ceiling | 50.1% | Strong 77/100 |
| 2 | Longfellow Arts and Technology Middle Berkeley Unified Building Momentum | 34.4% | Solid 66/100 |
| 3 | Martin Luther King Middle Berkeley Unified Strong All-Around | 40.1% | Solid 64/100 |
High Schools (2)
Berkeley Unified has 2 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 63.0 — 15.6 points above the state average of 47.5. 1 of 2 high schools score above 70.
The highest-scoring high school is Berkeley High with a Scope Score of 75 and 38.3% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berkeley High Berkeley Unified Strong All-Around | 38.3% | Strong 75/100 |
| 2 | Berkeley Technology Academy Berkeley Unified Building Momentum | 6.8% | Solid 51/100 |
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology
Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Berkeley Unified
- Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
- Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
- Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
- Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
- Parent and community engagement levels
- Quality of special education and gifted programs
- How resources are distributed across schools within the district
Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology