Berkeley Unified has 11 elementary schools scattered throughout Berkeley. Look inside our schools and you will see vibrant learning spaces and engaged students.
Our high-achieving elementary schools are small in two ways — total enrollment and the number of students in each classroom. The average enrollment is about 350 students, far smaller than the state average of 525. Class sizes average 20 students in grades kindergarten through 3rd grade, and 26 in grades 4 and 5, again far smaller than the state average.
Elementary Schools At A Glance
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Berkeley Arts Magnet at Whittier (BAM)
Berkeley Arts Magnet School at Whittier School offers a rigorous and inspiring curriculum in arts and academics. The school community values learning experiences in all domains, and consistently pledges funds and instructional time to incorporate visual arts, dramatic arts, music and dance into a comprehensive education program.
2015 Virginia Street, Berkeley, CA 94709
Tel: 510.644.6225
Principal: Ren茅 Molina
School Admin Assistant II: Jenefer Hernandez
Cragmont
At Cragmont Elementary, we are dedicated to providing an outstanding education for all students while laying the foundation for each child鈥檚 personal success. Our programs combine academic rigor and intellectual challenge with strong support for students of all abilities. We emphasize the fundamentals of reading comprehension , clear writing, and basic mathematics. Strongly integrated with this core emphasis are programs in science, technology, art, dance, and music. Our core values are courage, active listening, respect, excellence, self control and, being Respectful, Responsible and Safe. We believe that an education is not just completing school, it is a way of being鈥攐ne that embraces all of an individuals facets and strengths, is committed to living a moral life, and faces each day with eyes, heart, and mind wide open.
830 Regal Road, Berkeley, CA 94708
Tel: 510.644.8810
Principal: Candyce Cannon
School Admin Assistant II: Sheyla Flores
Emerson
The Emerson Elementary School staff is dedicated to the academic achievement and social development of all children. Our highly trained teachers work collaboratively to provide a challenging and engaging curriculum to our students and are skilled at bringing out the best in everyone. In addition to our core program of reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies, we provide art, music, physical education, cooking, and gardening. Students in all grade levels go on field trips throughout the year culminating in a science-based overnight field trip for our fourth and fifth graders.
2800 Forest Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
Tel: 510.644.6890
Principal: Jana Holmes
School Admin Assistant II: Gabriella Parra
John Muir
John Muir, one of the smallest elementary schools in Berkeley, offers the ideal learning environment. The historic 1915 Tudor building sits nestled among redwood trees, a large grassy field, native plants, flourishing vegetable gardens, and a burbling creek. The classrooms, with their spacious size and natural light from countless windows, stimulate creative thinking and learning. The John Muir community is proud of and connected to their school鈥檚 namesake and to the natural beauty of their environment.
2955 Claremont Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
Tel: 510.644.6410
Principal: Jeremy 鈥淧aco鈥 Furlan
School Admin Assistant II: Joann Marshall
Malcolm X
From transitional kindergarten to 5th grade, students at Malcolm X School know that it is an exciting place to be! The talented teaching staff provides rigorous instruction in all content areas, enriched by the integration of the visual and performing arts into the curriculum. In 2016 the California Department of Education recognized Malcolm X as a Gold Ribbon School, and the school also received the Title One Academic Achievement Award and the Exemplary Arts Program Award. The entire Malcolm X community is committed to building on this tradition of excellence in academics and in the arts.
1731 Prince Street, Berkeley, CA 94703
Tel: 510.644.6313
Principal: Alexander Hunt
Vice Principal: Mary Martin
School Admin Assistant II: Sandra Valenzuela
Oxford
Oxford School is a small school in West Berkeley with approximately 300 students in 14 classrooms. The small size of the school combined with the excellent staff and the strong support from families makes it a wonderful community.
1222 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94702
Tel: 510.644.6300
Principal: Elizabeth Cornwell
School Admin Assistant II: Kaitlin B眉enger
Rosa Parks
It is difficult for a visitor not to be distracted by the charm of Rosa Parks鈥檚 campus. Built in the form of a child-friendly village, the school is comprised of small, colorful buildings surrounding a central play yard. The multi-purpose center stands to one side, overlooking the playing field. The center is home to the Bayer Children鈥檚 Science Center, the hub of the school鈥檚 magnet environmental science theme.
920 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94710
Tel: 510.644.8812
Principal: Susanne Reed
School Admin Assistant II: Alicia Barajas
Ruth Acty
(formerly Jefferson)
At Ruth Acty, our school staff and parent/guardian partnership is our strength. Working together we make Ruth Acty a school that meets the needs of our diverse community. Each Ruth Acty family becomes part of the larger school community, which is one of our strongest features. In 2010 Ruth Acty was named a 鈥淐alifornia Distinguished School鈥 for our excellence in raising achievement for all of our students. In 2011 we were awarded the Title One Award for Academic Achievement. We truly believe that all students have tremendous potential and creativity and our goal is to help every student to succeed.
1400 Ada Street, Berkeley, CA 94702
Tel: 510.644.6298
Principal: Mary Cazden
School Admin Assistant II: Celia Flores Delgado
Sylvia Mendez
At Sylvia Mendez, our vision is for students to become enthusiastic and proficient learners, mastering fundamentals, taking risks, and tackling intellectual challenges. Our positive school culture and community-building activities help develop students鈥 self-esteem, compassion, empathy, and problem-solving skills.
2840 Ellsworth Street, Berkeley, CA 94705
Tel: 510.644.6290
Principal: Maria Carriedo
School Admin Assistant II: Briana Leja Garcia (Long Term Sub.)
Thousand Oaks
At Thousand Oaks, we are a unified and supportive community where students learn to appreciate cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity. Our teachers are trained in using our district-adopted curriculum; many staff utilize culturally-responsive teaching strategies aimed to engage all students, and in particular students of color. We strive to educate the whole child and offer many enrichment programs including: gardening, music, science, physical education, and visual art. We believe in providing a safe, supportive environment for students to learn in.
840 Colusa Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94707
Tel: 510.644.6368
Principal: Gabriel Fredman
School Admin Assistant II: Shauna Rabinowitz
Washington
Because of strong academic growth for all racial and cultural student groups, Washington was honored as a Blue Ribbon Award School in 2010, one of 230 among 6,000 Title 1 California schools. Washington Elementary School is a vital and diverse student community, comprised of many cultures and 21 different languages.
2300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
Tel: 510.644.6310
Principal: Joshua Heideman
School Admin Assistant II: Lois Jones