There are a variety of private and public education choices within El Cerrito. Public schools in El Cerrito are part of the West Contra Costa Unified School District - www.wccusd.k12.ca.us. The West County USD serves the cities of Richmond, Hercules, Pinole, El Cerrito, San Pablo, and the unincorporated areas of East Richmond Heights, El Sobrante, Kensington, Bay View-Montalvin Manor, North Richmond, and Tara Hills.
Elementary Schools
Castro
Principal: Galen Murphy
Location: 7125 Donal Ave., El Cerrito CA 94530
Phone: (510) 234-6200
Website: http://www.wccusd.k12.ca.us/Castro
Harding
Principal: Valerie Garrett
Location: 7230 Fairmont Ave., El Cerrito CA 94530
Phone: (510) 231-1413
Website: http://www.hardingpta.org
Madera
Principal: Dorris Holland
Location: 8500 Madera Dr., El Cerrito CA 94530
Phone: (510) 231-1412
Website: http://www.wccusd.net/madera/main
Fairmont
Principal: Brenda Surgers
Location: 724 Kearney Street, El Cerrito CA 94530
Phone: (510) 525-5235
Website: www.wccusd.k12.ca.us/fairmont
Kensington
Principal: Judith Sanders
Location: 90 Highland Blvd., Kensington CA 94708
Phone: (510) 231-1415
Website: www.wccusd.k12.ca.us/kensington
Middle Schools
Portola Middle
Principal: Denise VanHook
Location: 1021 Navellier St., El Cerrito CA 94530
Phone: (510) 524-0405
Website: http://www.wccusd.net/Portola
High Schools
El Cerrito
Principal: Jason Reimann
Location: 540 Ashbury Ave., El Cerrito CA 94530
Phone: (510) 525-0234
Website: http://www.elcerritogauchos.net/
In addition, the following private schools enjoy an excellent reputation:
Prospect Sierra School K-4th
Head of School: Ms. Katherine Dinh
Location: 2060 Tapscott Avenue, El Cerrito CA 94530
Phone: (510) 236-5800
Website: www.prospectsierra.org
Prospect Sierra Middle School 5th-8th
Location: 960 Avis Drive, El Cerrito CA 94530
Phone: (510) 528-5800
Website: www.prospectsierra.org
St. Jerome Catholic School K-8th
Principal: Ms. Marla Korte
Location: 320 San Carlos Avenue, El Cerrito CA 94530
Phone: (510) 525-9484
Website: www.stjeromeec.org
St. John The Baptist Catholic School K-8th
Principal: Ms. Terry Barber
Location: 11156 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito CA 94530
Phone: (510) 234-2244
Website: www.stjohnec.org
Tehiyah Day School K-8th
Head of School: Ms. Bathea James
Location: 2603 Tassajara Avenue, El Cerrito CA 94530
Phone: (510) 233-3013
Website: www.tehiyah.org
Windrush School K-8th
Head of School: Ms. Ilana Kaufman
Location: 1800 Elm Street, El Cerrito CA 94530
Phone: (510) 970-7580
Website: www.windrush.org
El Cerrito
is also part of the greater UC Berkeley community, located just 5 miles from the campus. With this proximity, it is no surprise that El Cerrito residents have a higher-than-average educational attainment as shown below:
Educational Attainment
| High School Graduate or Equiv. |
13.7% |
| Some College |
18.4% |
| Associate Degree |
6.3% |
| Bachelor Degree |
29.0% |
| Master Degree |
14.3% |
| Professional Degree |
4.1% |
| Doctorate Degree |
6.3%
|
| 
The cost of living for the City of
El Cerrito is 20% below the
national average.
