Public schools in El Cerrito, CA
8 open public schools with an address in El Cerrito, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
8
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
4,600
7 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
23.7:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
2
0 virtual
An overview of El Cerrito public schools
The federal directory lists 8 public schools in El Cerrito, CA: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high, 1 combined or other. The 7 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 4,600 students, an average of 657 per school. The largest campus is El Cerrito High (1,460 students), and the largest elementary school is Fairmont Elementary (537).
West Contra Costa Unified operates the most schools here (6), plus 2 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 23.7:1, higher than the statewide school median of 21.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 2 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 46% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving El Cerrito
Elementary schools in El Cerrito
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmont Elementary West Contra Costa Unified | KG–06 | 537 | 23.3:1 | |
| Harding Elementary West Contra Costa Unified | KG–06 | 481 | 24.1:1 | |
| Madera Elementary West Contra Costa Unified | KG–06 | 457 | 24.1:1 |
Middle schools in El Cerrito
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred T. Korematsu Middle West Contra Costa Unified | 07–08 | 708 | 23.7:1 |
High schools in El Cerrito
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Cerrito High West Contra Costa Unified | 09–12 | 1,460 | 24:1 | |
| Invictus Academy of Richmond Invictus Academy of Richmond District · Charter | 07–12 | 403 | 16.5:1 | |
| Summit Public School K2 Summit Public School K2 District · Charter | 07–12 | 554 | 22.2:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in El Cerrito
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron West Contra Costa Unified | Not reported | — | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White23.3%
- Hispanic38.8%
- Black10.4%
- Asian15.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.6%
- Multiracial10.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 7 El Cerrito schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (4,600 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in El Cerrito
How many public schools are in El Cerrito, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 8 open public schools with a location address in El Cerrito: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 4,600 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve El Cerrito?
Schools with an address in El Cerrito belong to 3 education agencies, led by West Contra Costa Unified (6 schools), Invictus Academy of Richmond District (1 school), Summit Public School K2 District (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in El Cerrito?
El Cerrito High reported the largest high-school enrollment in El Cerrito, with 1,460 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in El Cerrito?
Yes. 2 of the 8 public schools in El Cerrito are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Invictus Academy of Richmond, Summit Public School K2. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in El Cerrito schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across El Cerrito public schools is 23.7:1, higher than the California school median of 21.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in El Cerrito guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby California cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All California cities