schoolsbycounty

Alameda County Schools & Education

School Score

56/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

87.4%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

87.4%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 87.5%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,694

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,762

School Score

56/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#26

of 58 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Alameda County

Measured School Summary

Alameda County performs at an average level with a school score of 56/100 and a solid graduation rate of 87.4%.

Funding Context

Alameda County spends $8,694 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 1% above the California average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Alameda County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

385 public schools and 73 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

56/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #26 of 58 California counties with school score data.

Completion

87.4%

0.1 pts below the state average

Funding context

$8,694

$68 below the state average

School coverage

385

73 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Alameda County has 385 public schools across 73 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

Parent decision brief

What Alameda County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Large multi-district county

Alameda County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

#26

of 58 California counties with school score data. The county score is roughly in line with the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 97% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Oakland Unified

Elementary to high school visible

34,043 students

Elementary 50Middle 11High 17Other 4

82 listed schools in this county slice.

Fremont Unified

Elementary to high school visible

33,057 students

Elementary 29Middle 5High 8Other 2

44 listed schools in this county slice.

Hayward Unified

Elementary to high school visible

17,887 students

Elementary 19Middle 5High 4Other 1

29 listed schools in this county slice.

Pleasanton Unified

Elementary to high school visible

13,837 students

Elementary 9Middle 3High 3Other 2

17 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Oakland Unified is the largest listed district slice, with 82 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Alameda County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Alameda County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?

Comparison context

Compare Alameda County With Nearby School Markets

Alameda County appears in curated regional school comparisons where parents commonly weigh county lines, housing tradeoffs, commute, and district boundaries before narrowing to individual schools.

Bay Area

Alameda County vs Santa Clara County vs San Mateo County Schools

This comparison is for families weighing East Bay, South Bay, and Peninsula school signals alongside commute and housing cost.

Compared with

Santa Clara County, CA and San Mateo County, CA

Current leader

San Mateo County, CA at 65/100

Graduation-rate leader: San Mateo County, CA at 88.5%

Education Overview

About Schools in Alameda County, California

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

A Vast Network for Bay Area Students

Alameda County manages a massive education infrastructure featuring 385 public schools across 73 districts. This diverse system serves 211,398 students and includes 215 elementary schools and 85 high schools. The landscape is dense and multi-faceted, reflecting the county's urban and suburban blend.

Focus on Large Districts and Charter Options

Oakland Unified leads the county with 34,043 students across 82 schools, closely followed by Fremont Unified's 33,057 students. Charter schools play a significant role here, with 51 campuses representing 13.2% of all schools. These institutions offer a variety of specialized learning environments for local families.

Urban and Suburban Learning Environments

With 205 suburban and 175 city schools, the county offers a predominantly metropolitan educational experience. Schools average 574 students, though institutions like Dublin High reach as many as 3,500 students. This mix provides families with options ranging from high-capacity campuses to smaller neighborhood sites.

School Overview

Total Schools

385

in Alameda County

Reported Enrollment

211,398

372 schools reporting

School Districts

73

districts

Charter Schools

51

13% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary215
Middle53
High85
Other32

385 Public Schools in Alameda County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 42 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 385 matching schools

Dublin High

Dublin Unified

Dublin, 94568 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High3,500 students

James Logan High

New Haven Unified

Union City, 94587 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High3,315 students

Berkeley High

Berkeley Unified

Berkeley, 94704 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High3,204 students

Castro Valley High

Castro Valley Unified

Castro Valley, 94546 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,799 students

Amador Valley High

Pleasanton Unified

Pleasanton, 94566 / City: Small

Profile9–12High2,665 students

San Leandro High

San Leandro Unified

San Leandro, 94577 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,566 students

American High

Fremont Unified

Fremont, 94536 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,501 students

Granada High

Livermore Valley Joint Unified

Livermore, 94550 / City: Small

Profile9–12High2,279 students

Irvington High

Fremont Unified

Fremont, 94538 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,207 students

Foothill High

Pleasanton Unified

Pleasanton, 94588 / City: Small

Profile9–12High2,199 students

Mt. Eden High

Hayward Unified

Hayward, 94545 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,947 students

Washington High

Fremont Unified

Fremont, 94536 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,931 students

Mission San Jose High

Fremont Unified

Fremont, 94539 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,878 students

Alameda High

Alameda Unified

Alameda, 94501 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,802 students

Oakland Technical High

Oakland Unified

Oakland, 94611 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,796 students

Livermore High

Livermore Valley Joint Unified

Livermore, 94550 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,765 students

Hayward High

Hayward Unified

Hayward, 94540 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,712 students

Arroyo High

San Lorenzo Unified

San Lorenzo, 94580 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,610 students

Eleanor Murray Fallon

Dublin Unified

Dublin, 94568 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,590 students

Skyline High

Oakland Unified

Oakland, 94619 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,590 students

Additional School Profiles

Dedicated profile pages are generated for a subset of public schools with broad enrollment coverage. All other schools remain listed in the county table.

22 more profiles

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,694

State avg $8,762

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Alameda County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which California counties have the highest graduation rates?
Sierra County (95.0%), El Dorado County (93.3%), and Colusa County (92.5%) currently lead California among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in California?
Across California counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $8,762. The highest current county values are Alpine County ($23,219), Mono County ($10,800), and Marin County ($10,425). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Alameda County?
Alameda County has a school score of 56/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Alameda County?
The high school graduation rate in Alameda County is 87.4%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Alameda County spend per student?
Alameda County spends $8,694 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Alameda County, California — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Alameda County, California?

Alameda County manages a massive education infrastructure featuring 385 public schools across 73 districts. This diverse system serves 211,398 students and includes 215 elementary schools and 85 high schools. The landscape is dense and multi-faceted, reflecting the county's urban and suburban blend.

What are the major school districts in Alameda County, California?

Oakland Unified leads the county with 34,043 students across 82 schools, closely followed by Fremont Unified's 33,057 students. Charter schools play a significant role here, with 51 campuses representing 13.2% of all schools. These institutions offer a variety of specialized learning environments for local families.

What is the school experience like in Alameda County?

With 205 suburban and 175 city schools, the county offers a predominantly metropolitan educational experience. Schools average 574 students, though institutions like Dublin High reach as many as 3,500 students. This mix provides families with options ranging from high-capacity campuses to smaller neighborhood sites.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.