Edna Brewer Middle School

3748 13th Avenue

School District

Oakland Unified
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:19
Type

public

School Map for Oakland 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 January 08, 2025

Edna Brewer has a fantastic school community. The teachers work so hard to connect with each student to help them reach their fullest potential. We’ve had an excellent experience at Brewer from academics to sports and electives.
Submitted by parent on November 28, 2022

Literally this is the worst school. I regret sending my daughter here. I was expecting this to be a great schools because most reviews are saying that this is the best school but it really isn’t. The teachers are literally the worst. They don’t explain good and they scream at the students if they did something wrong. The detention that they give here is just stupid like if a student did something little the teachers get mad and send them outside or to detention. My daughter was a really good student at her old school. She was a straight A student because the teacher knew how to teach the lessons in her past school but here is just not a great environment for your child to learn. My daughter tries hard in this school but because the teacher don’t explain good she doesn’t get good grades and she is really sad about it. Also this school is not a safe place. There’s so many fights and I don’t like the fact that a teacher screams at a student for something stupid. I don’t recommend this school it’s just the worst and I hate seeing my daughter cry about how terrible this school is.
Submitted by parent on November 28, 2022

This school is the worst. The teachers are mean. The detention list is dumb. They put you in detention for every little thing that you did. The teachers don't teach well. I had better teachers than that. I don't like this school.
Submitted by parent on November 17, 2022

School has incredibly low standards. A “B” grade here is from 66% to 89%. Teachers are very focused on indoctrinating the kids with far left progressive ideology. I was told by the vice principal that “neither the school or the district are apolitical and the instruction would reflect as much”. There is no standard curriculum, rather than text books teachers source information from far left media on YouTube and an structure the questions so that the only correct answer is the one that aligns with their views. They also try to keep the parents as uniformed as possible, little to no transparency, especially when the choose to teach about things that most people would consider inappropriate for 11 year olds. The school does have an excellent music program though.
Submitted by parent on March 29, 2018

I would rate my experience as a 6th grade parent at Edna Brewer as a 10/10. I mean how many parents can say their son genuinely loves school? This school has been amazing for my son and I cannot wait for 7th and 8th grade.
Submitted by parent on December 18, 2017

I have a 6th grader who has an IEP and so far we have felt really supported. The teachers are awesome and I am looking forward to the next 2 years.
Submitted by parent on October 31, 2017

So far it's been a wonderful experience for my daughter. She gives it a 10.
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2017

My experience at this school was mixed. Socially, I was very happy with the school: My son made a number of good friends, and learned how to strike an effective balance between his natural mischievousness and his desire to avoid serious trouble. Although a minority -- ethnically and culturally -- at the school, he neither sought nor experienced social isolation. I truly appreciated Brewer's commitment to diversity, even though I sometimes felt like my own culture was neither well-understood nor particularly well-respected. Too many people grow up in ethnically and culturally isolated environments, and consequently view "outsiders" with distrust and fear. My son will never have this problem -- just as I, who grew up in an equally diverse environment, never had this problem. Being able to get along with people who don't look like you or share your cultural background is one of the most important social skills anyone can develop, especially in America. On the flip side, my son had a poor academic experience at this school. I have sympathy for the teachers, who are largely young and under-prepared and have no idea how to manage a classroom full of sassy kids. I do not have sympathy for their often poor attitudes towards parents, and parent involvement (again, on the cultural sensitivity front: just because someone does not share your priorities does not mean that he or she is a bad parent. I can't count the number of times that a teacher told me that my son was hanging out with "the wrong crowd" -- but I'd had all of these kids over to my house, and every single one of them was raised by someone who cared enough to teach him good manners). My overall sense was that teachers felt like they were doing everything they could, so if kids weren't succeeding it was the parents' fault. This attitude made it difficult for parents to work with teachers to help students learn, because teachers were largely unwilling to listen to parents' perspectives on problems. My son struggled with the poor classroom discipline, spotty organization, and overall lack of academic structure. We tried to address these problems in many ways, over the years, to no avail. When we put him in Independent Study, all of the problems went away. Your kid might have a different experience. I think this school is great for some kids. It just wasn't great for my kid.
Submitted by parent on October 09, 2015

Our son started sixth grade at Edna Brewer this year. He was at a very popular "hills school" for k-5th grade, and I was prepared for a "reality check" when he began at Brewer. I figured it would be chaotic, that the classes might be boring and not challenge him and that the kids might be rougher than we were used to. I couldn't have been more wrong! The school has a great energy, with AMAZING, dedicated teachers and staff, and wonderful children. Our son has said over and over again how nice the kids are and is clearly enamored with his teachers. I could go on and on, but go tour the school and see for yourself. We love it!
Submitted by parent on October 09, 2014

My daughter is a 7th grader at Brewer and has been having a great experience so far. 6th grade was amazing- the teachers were so skilled and motivated. They really like the kids and it shows. The 6th grade wing offers a nice transition to middle school. For the most part, 6th graders are removed from the rest of campus so it feels like a small school within a large school. The music program is phenomenal with dedicated strings and band conductors. It's a serious program with lots of opportunities for after-school music (Jazz Band & OUSD Muse), performances, an annual retreat at Cazadero and competitions. My daughter also participated in the theater program where the students worked with Cal Shakes to perform 12th Night. This semester the students are working with Word for Word to adapt a novel into a play. In spring there will be another Shakespeare opportunity. There are many student-directed lunch activities like book clubs, sports clubs, etc. My serious student has been challenged and happy at Brewer. She's made lots of friends from many schools and learning lots. Overall Brewer is an excellent school!
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2014

My son is in his 3rd year at Edna Brewer and is in the music program. There are bands and orchestras for each grade, a 6th grade Orff music class as well as jazz band. The music teachers are outstanding. He is taking the "compression math" course (8th grade math and 1st year algebra) so he can take high school geometry as a freshman. The math teacher for this course is excellent. Other offerings include visual arts, drama, Spanish, PE, a library, peer tutoring, an autism program, Special Ed, a computer lab, blended learning, an afterschool program, etc. There is a very active PTA and they are on Facebook as "Edna Brewer Parents". Edna Brewer is large, but the kids have "families", or smaller groups, with whom they have their core classes. Kids have the same core class teachers for 7th and 8th grade. There are kids from all different backgrounds and it is very gratifying to see the friendships they forge - as well as to see the kids work out their problems via the restorative justice program. Private school is an option for us. I attended private schools, but my son is getting a better education than I did. (I'm a former college professor and Software Developer.)
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2014

Edna Brewer is a GEM in Oakland. We have been thrilled with the quality and dedication of the teachers, the robust and acclaimed music program and the strong emphasis on social emotional learning. Brewer is on the cutting age of integrating technology into the classroom through blended learning, and the school has one google chrome book for every 2 students. The school has a no tolerance policy for bullying and fights are handled expeditiously. All of these reasons have allowed it to decrease its chronic absence rate to the lowest of all middle schools in OUSD. Brewer has the most diverse student body in the district and it is a warm and inviting place for all.
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2014

We looked at a variety of private and public schools in Oakland for our daughter and decided on Edna Brewer because of the innovative programs and drive of the administration and staff. We have been blown away by the community, the teachers, and the opportunities for our daughter. In addition to good classes (with lots of blended learning) she has worked with CalShakes and performed a Shakespeare play (and understood its complexities) and she has had the opportunity to audition and perform in the acclaimed jazz band. She has a sense of civic pride and a dedication to equality that I think Edna Brewer has fostered. And I believe she is getting a good, solid education. We couldn't be happier!
Submitted by parent on December 13, 2013

We love Edna Brewer! Our daughter is in 6th grade and looks forward to school. Her favorite part are the teachers. They are dedicated, creative and caring (and fun!). The principal and staff are excellent and supportive. The music program is amazing. After-school sports are wonderful. Can't say enough good about this school.
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2013

This year my son started 6th grade at EB, so far good, he has been going to after school program that he enjoys and i'm exited. His school teachers are great there haven't been any complains in regards to the staff or other student coming from my son. I like the fact that 6th graders or separated from the rest of the older students. They recently will start a minecraft club which my son is super exited about, it also shows me that teachers care about the students interest. They will also soon will start a program with Heads up that is provided through Head royce private school in oakland to help students who are falling behind. Overall i have no complains so far, as long as my son is happy i will be too, and as a parent we know when our children are happy. Great school.
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2013

This school was amazing, the school have great teachers. I hope parents will send their children to Edna Brewer MIddle School.
Submitted by parent on August 09, 2013

My school is Edna Brewer Middle School. It is a great school because the all staff and teachers, Principals, counselors care about the students and shows it. The Best OUSD Middle School in Oakland. There are kids from all economic levels, and from all areas of Oakland. There are plenty of non-academic clubs, music and sports for all. The after school program is also great! I like everything about Edna Brewer and there isn't anything that i can see that needs to be changed. They just need to keep great teachers and more information given to parents about homework assignments, since there are no Math and Science, and English books given out, because od Common Core.
Submitted by teacher on April 06, 2013

Edna Brewer was already above average when I joined in 2006 and it has improved every year since. The student body, quality of work, and test scores attest to my experience. It is the epitome of America, diverse and hard-working. Students from the hills to the flats, east to west Oakland, and first generation to the next generation all attend Edna Brewer. Edna Brewer does deal with the staff turnover that plagues urban schools and will continue to plague urban schools until we change how we fund public education, structure the school day, and legitimize the teaching profession. But the fact that Edna Brewer has continued to improve in spite of turnover attests to its strong culture of success.
Submitted by parent on June 11, 2011

My 6 grader had an English teacher leave in the middle of the year. From what I heard, at least 2 more teachers left their classes hanging in the dust for long term subs to pick up the pieces. EB did not meet expectations. Oakland schools lose teachers all the time, but what kind of school loses so many in one year?
Submitted by parent on March 24, 2011

My son came from a distinguished school in the Elk Grove Unified School District where he earned a 0.0gpa after his first quarter. After having moved him to Edna Brewer I am pleased to say that he is delighted to be there and earning a 3.0 gpa after a few months. Something must be right... :)