Ruby Bridges Elementary School

We absolutely loved this school. It's unfortunate that the rating doesn't reflect the level of talent at this school. The teachers are very engaged and truly love what they do and love the kids they teach. We had put our child's name into the lottery at AoA and she was accepted so we did transfer her to AoA. But, I will tell you this, AoA was honestly no better than RB. They are on equal levels in terms of teachers and culture. Don't be scared off by the rating. I know when people buy homes, they look at these ratings (we do too) as a strong determining factor when purchasing a home, but we were 100% satisfied with Ruby Bridges.

I love Ruby Bridges, and feel very fortunate that my daughters are able to go to this school. Ruby Bridges is an extraordinarily kind place, the teachers are all good, and most of them are excellent. The school is extremely diverse -- which I think is a benefit that is hard to put into words, but you can feel how powerful that diversity is when you're on campus. There are over 30 different first languages spoken by the students, and I think that should be taken into consideration when evaluating the school. The teachers, staff, and students, all work towards inclusion and education -- and that hard work and dedication isn't always accurately reflected by a test score that only rewards predominately English speaking schools. In my honest opinion, Ruby Bridges is the best kept secret in Alameda.

Hands down one of the nicest and newest campus' in Alameda. The only elementary school in Alameda that has its own STEAM lab and 'makers space' and provides STEAM instruction at every grade, including Kindergarten. Soon to have a 'Garden curriculum' along with an outdoor classroom. They're also one of the only elementary schools that send every 5th grader to a multi-night over-night Science Camp, guaranteed to be one of the most memorable experiences in grade school.The BEST teachers and administration you will find on the island. The care and compassion and gentleness shown to each child is unparalleled. This school is truly a melting pot of cultures and races and religions, which I feel make it that much more special and a real representation of the Bay Area.

Don't be fooled by the lower overall rating. A very large portion of students at this school do not come from families that are native English speakers and the teachers are fantastic at bringing kids up to speed over the course of several years. My sons have attended Ruby Bridges for 3 years and I have seen there skills (and scores) flourish and have watched them develop into compassionate members of the community.