Malcolm X Elementary School

1731 Prince Street

School District

Berkeley Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
Type

public

School Map for Berkeley Unified School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on November 30, 2022

Phenomenal school is every way. Diverse and welcome in learning community with high quality teachers in TK and K. My student has thrived here and I can’t wait to see what next school year brings. The after school staff really connected with my student and principal Hunt is a very dedicated. Don’t skip the potluck and movie nights as well as other school functions like back to school etc. they are so so worth it. Forgot to mention one of the best aspects, the specialists! My student has dance, garden, nutrition/ wellness, and art!
Submitted by parent on January 30, 2019

I have nothing but positive things to say about my experience with Malcolm X, I am happy with the development of my child and his education, and look forward to the many doors that will open for him because of the foundation laid before him at Malcolm X.
Submitted by parent on January 30, 2019

The teachers help foster a heathly learning environment.
Submitted by parent on January 30, 2019

Absolutely the best school hands down. Can't say enough good things!
Submitted by parent on October 16, 2015

We are coming to the end of our third year at MX and couldn't be happier. From the principal to the teachers to the parents, everyone seems to be completely invested in this school and the kids. Our PTA is amazing, they do so much for the school from running events, organizing fundraisers, and organizing enrichment classes. Our school has it all.
Submitted by parent on October 28, 2013

Malcolm X is a wonderful school with a diverse community of students, parents, and staff. We have had consistently great teachers for our three years there so far. When you talk to parents at other schools, you almost always hear them say there are one or two teachers at the school who are less than wonderful. I have honestly never heard such a complaint at Malcolm X. I really appreciate the music, art, and gardening pull-out programs my kids get, and that the class sizes for the lower grades are kept at 20 kids. Overall we love Malcom X!
Submitted by parent on October 28, 2013

Malcolm X is simply amazing. I feel honored everyday that my children are able to attend a school with both a strong arts and academic focus and such a wonderful teaching staff.
Submitted by parent on October 27, 2013

Malcolm X is a fantastic school. What sets it apart are three things: (1) the quality of the teachers; (2) the involvement of the parents; and (3) the quantity and quality of the "extras" (music, arts, dance, drama, gardening, conflict manager program). In addition, Malcolm X does a fantastic job teaching kids kindness, emotional management, and other social/emotional skills. It is a big, beautiful physical plant (including a 4,000 sq ft garden and a great rock garden space for climbing, plus a large yard, lots of grass, great playground spaces.), with large classrooms and community spaces. It is a large, diverse school, but it also has an intimate community feel because of all of the involvement by parents, and the dedicated, communicative staff and teachers.
Submitted by parent on October 25, 2013

Malcolm X Elementary has been a great fit for our son and by extension - our whole family. By incorporating various arts practices like painting, cooking, and gardening into the academic curriculum, Malcolm X creates a unique and balanced approach to learning that engages students wholly. Recently, the school has implemented a new learning module called "Toolbox" that helps support social/emotional growth among students. We've all benefited from these 'tools" and continue to discuss and use them at home. Great community-minded school and supportive learning environment. We love Malcolm X!
Submitted by parent on October 25, 2013

We just started at Malcolm in September with a kindergartner and we couldn't be happier. Looking forward to the next 7 years (when our younger daughter goes through, too!). Malcolm was our first choice (Berkeley has a lottery system) and we have already had our expectations surpassed. They put a huge value on diversity and understanding, and every teacher and the principal are highly involved. Already there have been several community events and my 5 yo feels like part of something larger than herself (the whole point, I think, of a public school experience). Nothing I would change. People are saying "within the confines of a public school" and I don't know what they mean. We wouldn't rather be anywhere else.
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2013

Great community, very active PTA, excellent teachers and staff. It's getting pretty big and community events have to be limited to one grade or we don't fit in the auditorium. Amazing integration of arts and different learning modalities into curricula.
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2013

Malcolm X is a wonderful elementary school and is about more than just high academic standards. Malcolm x is dedicated to providing a rich variety of experiences including (arts, drama, dance, music, gardening and cooking) to each student. It also has a multicultural student population. The school teach's all students conflict resolution skills. I am so happy my daughter is fortunate enough to go so such a well rounded and loving school.
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2013

My son is in 1st grade, and I absolutely love this school. He started here in Kindergarten, and I can still remember my eyes filling up with tears during the Kindergarten open house when we were still deciding which school was going to be our first choice. I was filled with tears of joy as I saw the amazing community that the school had. I was impressed by the commitment and dedication of all of the school teachers from every grade level. I am moved to tears during every single school event because there is just so much love and community throughout the school. I am so grateful for our experience thus far, and can't wait for my younger two children to begin school here at Malcolm X.
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2013

Our daughter is a fourth grader at Malcolm X and has truly blossomed. She has been supported while being offered challenged at the same time. The teachers have been very sensitive to her as an individual (a special shout out to her 2nd and 4th grade teachers -- thank you!). We are impressed by both the focus on core curriculum as well as enrichment. The gardening program is irreplaceable (where else would kids eat a 'weed burrito' -- a weedo -- and swear it was the best food ever!). When we saw the school first we were concerned by the size. But, we've never felt other than welcome and part of the commuinty here. The parent involvement is one of the best things about the school (always wish I could do more -- thank you room parents and other parent-volunteers!)
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2013

Malcom X is a great school. Although on the physically large-side it has it's advantages (great garden, performing arts program, lots of friends to choose from, etc.) and disadvantages (4-5 classes per grade, intimidating for those that require quiet attention and intimate spaces). Overall the teachers are excellent and work closely together. With a long history of excellent management, the staff is charismatic and caring. The parent community, if you choose to get involved, is very engaged. It's a Berkeley public school so all those wonderful and negative elements apply too, but by in large - thumbs up.
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2013

My daughter just started kindergarten here at Malcolm X but what I have seen so far is great. Her teacher Ms. KC is very sweet, patient, and dedicated. My daughter gets to do dance, music, gardening, and PE mostly due to the excellent PTA. She loves the 1-hour after school enrichment classes such as Fairy Tales Dance. I really love the school-wide Toolbox program which encourages emotional development. My daughter uses her "breathing tool" and even reminds me to use it when I get upset with her. There are a lot of community building events - potlucks, PTA meetings, etc. Unfortunately my daughter isn't excited about school but I blame that on the nature of public school in America these days. Kids should be running around, playing, and learning more organically but I digress. As far as public schools go, Malcolm X seems great.
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2013

This school is a great school I think. When we moved to Berkeley, my daughter was sent to the 1st grade here. School has many PTA enrichment programs for the students. In addition, teachers seem very helpful and nice. My daughter has homework everyday, which keeps her in the right track and good studying habit!
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2013

My daughter is in her 4th year here (she started here in first grade after completing kindergarten at a charter school that closed abruptly) and I have been consistently impressed by the quality of the teachers, staff, and parent community. Everyone here is committed to kindness, inclusion, diversity, and treating the kids like human beings. In addition, you get the benefits of the Berkeley Public Schools gardening program, plus art, dance, drama and music. The parent community is quite active and does several fundraisers a year to make sure that the school has enough funds and supplies. My daughter is thriving here and I couldn't be happier. Can't think of anything that would improve it except for maybe a bigger budget to bring the cooking classes back (CA state budget cuts), the kids miss them.
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2013

Malcolm X Elementary is a fantastic school! Our son likes it since the very first day. We were, like most parents probably do, worried about the transition from preschool to kindergarten, but the teachers did a great job to make the kids feel "home". What I really like about Malcolm X is the diversity of students, and that it is really a lively place for many people, be it children, teachers, or parents. Everyone does his or her best to make this a wonderful community. There are also many ways for parents to get involved. I think within the limits of a public school, people at Malcolm X do everything possible to make this a great school, and a great place to be for our kids. What I love in particular are all the activities beyond the core curriculum, like music, cooking, gardening, drama, etc. that make being a student at Malcolm X an unique and wonderful experience. Thank you!
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2013

Malcolm X is an amazing school! Our son is attending kindergarten there this year, and we have been highly impressed with every aspect of the school, from the teachers, to the staff, to the community, everything about the school has exceeded our expectations.