Transitional kindergarten · Berkeley
10 of Berkeley’s public and charter campuses ran a TK class in 2025–26, enrolling 371 four-year-olds.
Source: CDE 2025–26 October enrollment count, 10 campuses in Berkeley.
- Malcolm X Elementary79 in TK
- Thousand Oaks Elementary56 in TK
- Cragmont Elementary40 in TK
- Rosa Parks Environmental Science40 in TK
- Washington Elementary40 in TK
- John Muir Elementary37 in TK
- Sylvia Mendez Elementary21 in TK
- Emerson Elementary20 in TK
- Berkeley Arts Magnet at Whittier19 in TK
- Ruth Acty Elementary19 in TK
Eligibility
Who can start TK in 2027–28?
Children who turn 4 by September 1, 2027 can start, and it’s free.
Age
Is my child old enough?
A birthday from September 2, 2022 through September 1, 2023 (our arithmetic from the rule). A child who turns 5 by September 1 starts kindergarten instead.
Rule: California Education Code § 48000 (opens in a new tab)
Cost
Does TK cost anything?
No. TK is a free public school year before kindergarten, and enrolling is optional. Hours, before- and after-school care and open seats vary by campus, so ask the school.
Campuses
Which Berkeley campuses have a TK class?
10 campuses in Berkeley had a TK class in 2025–26.
Campuses by TK headcount
79in TK
Malcolm X Elementary
Grades TK–5 · Berkeley Unified
Scope Score 85Strong · 86th percentile
56in TK
Thousand Oaks Elementary
Grades TK–5 · Berkeley Unified
Scope Score 85Strong · 85th percentile
40in TK
Cragmont Elementary
Grades TK–5 · Berkeley Unified
Scope Score 88Strong · 90th percentile
40in TK
Rosa Parks Environmental Science
Grades TK–5 · Berkeley Unified
Scope Score 89Strong · 93rd percentile
40in TK
Washington Elementary
Grades TK–5 · Berkeley Unified
Scope Score 87Strong · 88th percentile
37in TK
John Muir Elementary
Grades TK–5 · Berkeley Unified
Scope Score 87Strong · 90th percentile
21in TK
Sylvia Mendez Elementary
Grades TK–5 · Berkeley Unified
Scope Score 83Strong · 81st percentile
20in TK
Emerson Elementary
Grades TK–5 · Berkeley Unified
Scope Score 87Strong · 88th percentile
19in TK
Berkeley Arts Magnet at WhittierMagnet
Grades TK–5 · Berkeley Unified · Check how it admits students.
Scope Score 95Strong · 98th percentile
19in TK
Ruth Acty Elementary
Grades TK–5 · Berkeley Unified
Scope Score 92Strong · 96th percentile
Each campus’s TK headcount is from the state’s 2025–26 October enrollment count. Each Scope Score and percentile compares a school’s elementary grades with California elementary schools. A campus without elementary results shows none.
Each headcount counts the students enrolled on one October day, so it shows who enrolled, not seats open now. A campus missing here may still run TK; confirm with the school or district.
Before TK
Too young for TK? Where can my child go?
Berkeley has 103 licensed child care programs.
58
child care centers45
family child care homesA child born after September 1, 2023 isn’t old enough for TK in 2027–28. Until they are, look at Berkeley’s centers and family child care homes, and ask each one about ages and openings.
Licensed programs from the California Community Care Licensing Division: child care centers as of August 13, 2026, family child care homes as of May 25, 2025. A license is not a quality rating or a current opening.