Emerson Elementary School is located on a beautiful tree-lined block in the heart of Berkeley’s Elmwood neighborhood. As a smaller school, Emerson has a strong sense of community, and it’s not unusual to see the principal on the yard greeting students by name, or parents enjoying a cup of coffee and home-made pastries at our Friday coffee hour.

Emerson’s students achieve some of the highest academic results in the district, and Emerson is among the best-performing schools in the state.

But test scores are not all that distinguishes Emerson. Our teachers are not only exceptionally well qualified, they’re passionate about our school. You will be delighted by the depth of our engagement with every student, our implementation of innovative instructional practices, and our complete abandon while performing original skits and songs and school functions.

Our integrated and cumulative curriculum builds knowledge across the grade levels, engaging students in the study of a wide range of subjects, from geography to government and art to agriculture, through specific thematic units. This approach creates opportunities for each child to develop his or her unique potential.

And perhaps best of all, Emerson is a small, friendly school where, starting in Kindergarten, every teacher follows the progress of every child.

Finally, we have an enthusiastic parent community whose members volunteer many hours working in classrooms, at events, and on special projects. Emerson is a truly unique community, committed to working and learning together “The Emerson Way.”