Escuela Bilingüe Internacional and La Scuola International School - San Francisco Mission Campus are both in San Francisco, about 17 km apart. Both schools offer IB programmes. Escuela Bilingüe Internacional also offers Bespoke, and La Scuola International School - San Francisco Mission Campus also offers Reggio Emilia. Published annual fees are close, at $34,810 - 43,630 for Escuela Bilingüe Internacional and $36,100 - 48,150 for La Scuola International School - San Francisco Mission Campus . Escuela Bilingüe Internacional takes pupils from 3 to 14, and La Scuola International School - San Francisco Mission Campus from 5 to 14.
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Escuela Bilingüe Internacional
San Francisco, United States
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La Scuola International School - San Francisco Mission Campus
San Francisco, United States
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| Snapshot | Snapshot | |
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Fees / year
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Fees / year $34,810 - 43,630 | Fees / year $36,100 - 48,150 |
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Age range
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Age range 3 - 14 years | Age range 5 - 14 years |
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Type
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Type Co-educational | Type Co-educational |
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Curriculum
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Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), Bespoke Curriculum | Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), Reggio Emilia Approach |
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Pupils
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Pupils 270 | Pupils — |
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Typical class size
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Typical class size 20 | Typical class size — |
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Instruction language
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Instruction language Spanish, English | Instruction language Italian, English |
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Opened
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Opened 2006 | Opened 2002 |
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Bus service
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Bus service No | Bus service No |
| Essentials | Essentials | |
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Location
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Location Two campuses serve the Bay Area: Alcatraz Campus in Oakland and San Pablo Campus in Emeryville, California. Alcatraz Campus is located at 410 Alcatraz Ave, Oakland, CA 94609. San Pablo Campus is located at 4550 San Pablo Ave., Emeryville, CA 94608. | Location Mission Campus, 3250 18th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110; Dogpatch Campus, 728 20th Street, San Francisco, CA 94107. The San Francisco campuses are named Mission Campus (K–Grade 8) and Dogpatch Campus (Preschool). A Silicon Valley Campus is located at 2086 Clarke Ave, East Palo Alto, CA 94303, and Milano Campus is in Milan, Italy. |
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Stages
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Stages Preschool (PK/TK) through 8th Grade; Lower School Kindergarten through 5th Grade; Middle School 6th through 8th Grade; Accelerated Spanish Program (ASP) for Grades 2–8. IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) for Pre-Kinder through 5th Grade and IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for 6th through 8th Grade. | Stages Preschool (2-5 years); Elementary School (Grades K-5); Middle School (Grades 6-8). |
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School type
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School type Independent IB World School offering Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP) with a Spanish-English bilingual curriculum across all grades. | School type Private, day school; International Baccalaureate World School; Reggio Emilia-inspired; Italian Language Immersion; multi-campus. |
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Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix — | Pupil nationality mix International community with families representing many nationalities; over 30 languages spoken on campus; only 17% of families have at least one Italian speaker at home; the majority are not Italian speakers. |
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Additional learning support
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Additional learning support Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Learning Differences Support; SEL begins in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and continues through Grade 8; Learning Specialists provide 1:1 and small-group support in Spanish and English; Individualized Academic Plans (IAPs) updated annually; in-class push-in support TK–5; multisensory teaching and Universal Design for Learning (UDL); 8th-grade transition support for neurodiverse students. | Additional learning support Learning Differences is listed among the school's learning styles. |
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Country affiliation
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Country affiliation United States | Country affiliation Italy (Italian language immersion and cultural roots; listed by the Italian government as a paritarie school abroad). |
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Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation — | Religious affiliation — |
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School day structure
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School day structure — | School day structure — |
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Bus service details
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Bus service details — | Bus service details — |
| Fees | Fees | |
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Fee details
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Fee details Application fees - Admissions application fee: USD 100, non-refundable; payable by debit or credit card at the time the application is submitted. - Tuition-assistance application fee (Clarity): USD 65 per household for families submitting a Clarity Financial Aid application. Tuition fees (2026–2027) — annual and per-installment breakdowns by year group Note: the school offers FACTS payment plans (one payment, two payments, or ten monthly payments). Per-installment amounts below are calculated by dividing the annual tuition by the number of installments under each FACTS plan; FACTS plan fees apply in addition to the installment amounts. - Preschool (PK) & Transitional Kindergarten (TK) - Annual tuition: USD 34,810. - Deposit (10% of tuition, non-refundable at contract signature): USD 3,481. - One-payment (due April 30): USD 34,810 (plus FACTS one-time fee USD 25 when applicable). - Two payments (due April 30 and September 30): USD 17,405 per payment (plus FACTS one-time fee USD 25). - Ten monthly payments (first due April 30; final due January 31): USD 3,481 per month (plus FACTS annual fee USD 55). - Lower School (Grades K–5) - Annual tuition: USD 40,700. - Deposit (10% of tuition, non-refundable at contract signature): USD 4,070. - One-payment (due April 30): USD 40,700 (plus FACTS one-time fee USD 25 when applicable). - Two payments (due April 30 and September 30): USD 20,350 per payment (plus FACTS one-time fee USD 25). - Ten monthly payments (first due April 30; final due January 31): USD 4,070 per month (plus FACTS annual fee USD 55). - Middle School (Grades 6–8) - Annual tuition: USD 43,630. - Deposit (10% of tuition, non-refundable at contract signature): USD 4,363. - One-payment (due April 30): USD 43,630 (plus FACTS one-time fee USD 25 when applicable). - Two payments (due April 30 and September 30): USD 21,815 per payment (plus FACTS one-time fee USD 25). - Ten monthly payments (first due April 30; final due January 31): USD 4,363 per month (plus FACTS annual fee USD 55). Billing schedule and payment terms - A non-refundable tuition deposit equal to 10% of the annual tuition is required when submitting the enrollment contract; deposit deadlines are mid-February for returning families and mid-March for new families. - FACTS payment-plan options and fees: - One Payment: FACTS annual fee USD 25; due April 30. - Two Payments: FACTS annual fee USD 25; due April 30 and September 30. - Ten Monthly Payments: FACTS annual fee USD 55; first payment due April 30, final payment due January 31. - FACTS provides secure automatic deductions from a checking or savings account; enrollment in FACTS is required to complete registration and may be used for tuition, capital fund (if applicable), and Aventura extended-care billing. Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable: EBI operates as a day school for Preschool through Grade 8 on its Alcatraz (Oakland) and San Pablo (Emeryville) campuses. No boarding fees are charged. Other required or optional costs - Capital Improvement / Capital Fund Fee (newly enrolling families): one-time, non-refundable USD 2,000 per family; exempt for families receiving tuition assistance. This contribution can be paid in one payment, two installments, or monthly via FACTS. - Accelerated Spanish Program (ASP) enrollment fee: USD 2,500 per year for students enrolled in ASP (subject to annual adjustment). - Aventura extended day-care program (before/after school care) — separate from tuition and billed through FACTS or UltraCamp as appropriate: - Unlimited/5-day plan (includes before and after care during school-year camps): USD 4,840. - Unlimited/3-day plan (three pre-selected days per week; includes school-year camps): USD 3,530. - Drop-in plan: USD 36.50 per use. - Enrichment classes, after-school programs, and school-year camps are not included in base tuition; these auxiliary program fees are billed separately. - School Store / spirit wear: the school maintains an online School Store (spirit wear and apparel) for purchases; spirit-wear purchases are billed separately. - Items explicitly included in tuition: textbooks, technology devices, standard field trips, overnight trips that are part of the program, and the yearbook. Items explicitly excluded from tuition: before- and after-school care, after-school enrichment classes, and summer camps. Refund and cancellation terms - The enrollment deposit (10% of tuition) is non-refundable. - The Capital Improvement Fee (one-time USD 2,000) is non-refundable. Families receiving tuition assistance are exempt from this fee. - Contract withdrawal policy: written notice of cancellation must be submitted by May 1, 2026 to avoid further tuition obligation; the deposit remains non-refundable. After May 1, families are responsible for the full tuition amount as stated in the Enrollment Contract. Fee payment methods and administration - Application fee payment: debit or credit card at submission of admissions application. - Tuition and most school charges: managed through the FACTS Tuition Management system; FACTS supports secure automatic deductions from a checking or savings account (ACH) and collects the FACTS plan fee. FACTS enrollment is required to complete registration and may be used for tuition, capital fund payments, and Aventura billing. - Tuition-assistance application (Clarity) and its fee are submitted online through the Clarity Financial Aid platform. (End of fees overview.) | Fee details Application fees - Sliding-scale (Clarity) application fee: USD 65 (fee to submit the Clarity financial-aid application). - School application/portal: La Scuola uses the Ravenna application portal for admissions; no separate, fixed school application fee amount is published in the school's public admissions materials. Tuition fees (San Francisco) — published academic year 2025–2026 - Preschool, Full Day (until 5:30 p.m.; 5-day schedule; lunch and morning & afternoon snacks included): USD 45,150 per year. - Preschool, Half Day (until 1:00 p.m.; 5-day schedule; lunch and morning snack included): USD 36,100 per year. - Elementary (Grades K–5; lunch included): USD 46,200 per year. - Middle School (Grades 6–8; lunch included): USD 48,150 per year. Mission Campus extended-care charges are billed separately from tuition. Tuition breakdown per term / per year group - The school publishes the above annual tuition amounts for each program (Preschool full day/half day, Elementary, Middle School) for the 2025–2026 academic year. Specific per-term or per-installment amounts are not stated as fixed figures on the public tuition page; extended-care programs list separate fees (see below). Billing schedule and payment terms - Extended-care payments (Mission and Silicon Valley campus extended-care programs) are processed through Clarity and are scheduled over 10 payments beginning in September. Late-pickup penalties apply (base late fee USD 50 after a five-minute grace period; beyond 15 minutes an additional USD 2 per minute; escalated base fee after repeated late pickups). - The school uses the Ravenna hub to accept and manage applications and uses Clarity for sliding-scale tuition processing; families interact with those systems during admissions and financial-aid processes. Contact information for the Business Office is provided for billing questions. Boarding fees - Boarding is not offered. La Scuola operates PreK–Grade 8 campuses in San Francisco (Mission and Dogpatch) and a Silicon Valley campus; programs and schedules are day-school formats. Other costs and fees (examples and published extras) - Extended-care / after-school program fees (2025–2026): - Mission Campus registration options: 5 days/week USD 6,500; 3 days/week USD 4,600; daily drop-in USD 50/day. Late-pickup fees as noted above apply. Payments processed via Clarity over 10 payments starting in September. - Silicon Valley extended-care registration options: 5 days/week USD 4,600; 3 days/week USD 3,475; daily drop-in USD 40/day. Payments processed via Clarity over 10 payments starting in September. - School merchandise / uniforms / spiritwear and ancillary items: La Scuola Mercato (the parent-run school store) sells spiritwear, yearbooks and other items; prices vary by item and are purchased separately through the school store (Il Mercato / shoplascuola.com). - Enrichment, camps and special programs: seasonal camp and enrichment program fees are charged separately (registration and per-program fees apply). Extended-care and enrichment have their own registration and billing processes. Refund information - The school's publicly available admissions and tuition materials do not publish a general, consolidated tuition refund or withdrawal policy for the academic year materials accessible to the public. For specific refund or withdrawal terms applicable to an enrollment contract, extended-care registration, or particular program, families are directed to contact the school's admissions or business office directly. Fee payment options - Extended-care payments and sliding-scale processing are handled through Clarity. Clarity-supported payment methods commonly include ACH (bank transfer), debit card, credit card, and wire transfer; credit-card transactions may incur standard processing fees. (Clarity is the platform La Scuola identifies for processing these payments.) - School store purchases are processed via the school store (Il Mercato) checkout system (shop platform). Contact for billing or program-specific fee questions: business.office@lascuolasf.org (Business Office) and admissions@lascuolasf.org (Admissions). |
| Diving deeper | Diving deeper | |
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Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements — | Boarding arrangements The school is a day school and does not offer boarding. |
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Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement — | Uniform requirement — |
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Food options
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Food options — | Food options Lunch and snacks are provided. Fresh fruit and vegetables are served daily. The school partners with 54 Mint restaurant and catering to provide organic, locally-sourced daily lunches for students, faculty, and staff. Vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free options are available. |
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House system
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House system — | House system — |
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Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership The school is governed by a Board of Trustees. | Governance and ownership The school is governed by a Board of Directors. The Board oversees the school's financial sustainability, approves the annual budget, oversees the creation of the strategic plan, and sets policies. |
| Academics | Academics | |
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Curriculum details
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Curriculum details IB World School offering Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP) in a Spanish-English bilingual setting. PK–8. Two campuses: Alcatraz Ave, Oakland (PK–1) and San Pablo Ave, Emeryville (2–8). Language Model: full immersion in early years with progressively balanced bilingual instruction through middle school. Accelerated Spanish Program (ASP) provides an on-ramp for Grades 2–8 with little/no prior Spanish. Faculty are native or near-native Spanish-speaking lead teachers with diverse international backgrounds. IB learning emphasizes inquiry-based learning, global citizenship, and biliteracy. Graduates are prepared for top high schools and future success. | Curriculum details IB Primary Years Program (PYP) for Elementary (K-5) and IB Middle Years Program (MYP) for Middle School (6-8). The school integrates the Reggio Emilia Approach with the IB framework. Language of instruction is Italian and English with a Montreal Model balance by grade: K-1 approximately 80% Italian / 20% English; Grade 2 approximately 70% Italian / 30% English; Grades 3-5 approximately 50% Italian / 50% English; Grades 6-8 approximately 30% Italian / 70% English. Spanish is taught in Grades 4-5. The curriculum uses transdisciplinary Units of Inquiry, culminates in the PYP Exhibition, and aligns with the Italian National Curriculum; the school is an IB World School for both PYP and MYP. |
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Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio Small class sizes; learning support; ASP placement as part of personalized pathways. | Student teacher ratio — |
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Exam results
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Exam results — | Exam results — |
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Higher education progression
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Higher education progression — | Higher education progression Graduates have attended high schools in San Francisco and beyond, including the International School of San Francisco, University High School, Lick-Wilmerding High School, The Urban School, Drew School, Saint Ignatius, Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, Lowell High School, Mission High School, and others. The first graduating class of 2020 is attending universities such as Georgetown University, Pratt Institute, University of Southern California, Loyola Marymount University, UC Santa Cruz, University College Dublin, University College London, and Bocconi University in Milan. |
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Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented — | Gifted and talented — |
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Academic calendar
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Academic calendar — | Academic calendar — |
| Wellbeing & support | Wellbeing & support | |
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Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning The school is an IB World School offering PK–8 Spanish–English bilingual education. Students become compassionate, multilingual, globally minded leaders. The lower school nurtures curiosity and develops students into inquisitive, knowledgeable, and caring young people. The school's community emphasizes inclusive relationships among students, families, faculty, and staff. | Social & emotional learning Pedagogy of Relationships centers on trusting and loving relationships between teachers and students to support emotional wellbeing and learning. Responsive Classroom and Restorative Justice guide the development of classroom and school communities and provide tools to address conflicts with empathy, respect, and open communication. The school maintains a caring, safe, and supportive environment where the wellbeing of everyone comes first. Foundations for SEL come from the CASEL framework, including social awareness, relationship skills, self-awareness, and self-management. Ongoing SEL skill-building includes check-ins, grounding, active listening, body language, relaxation exercises, and the development of respect and empathy. Values such as kindness, inclusion, health, communication, peace, self-advocacy, mindfulness, integrity, respect, empathy, responsibility, cooperation, compassion, resilience, and leadership guide SEL; lessons aim to build intrapersonal and social skills and to improve well-being and academic performance. |
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN) — | Special educational needs (SEN) La Scuola uses a Tier 1 and Tier 2 support model: strong classroom teaching (Tier 1) with small-group or targeted supports (Tier 2) to meet all student needs. Support is embedded in everyday classroom life; the approach differentiates for those who need more support or deeper challenge; it helps students leverage their strengths and learning profiles. All learners can access robust academics in both Italian and English. The school partners closely with families and specialists to support the whole child—academically, socially, emotionally, and linguistically. |
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English as an additional language
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English as an additional language The school provides a Spanish-English bilingual education with full immersion in the early years and increasing balanced bilingual instruction through middle school. It is the only IB World School on the West Coast offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in a Spanish-English bilingual setting. | English as an additional language La Scuola is a language immersion school with Italian as the primary language in PreK–Grade 3, and children do not need to speak Italian to enroll in the Italian immersion program. In Grades PreK–3 the primary language in the classroom is Italian; starting in Grade 4, students learn Spanish as a second language, and in Middle School students can follow paths with English, Italian, and Spanish. Languages are differentiated in instruction according to student ability, and the Middle School is inherently multilingual due to the languages taught and used. Many graduates continue language study in high school, and bilingualism is associated with cognitive and academic benefits. |
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Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing The school fosters a caring, inclusive community. Every child is known, supported, and inspired. The culture emphasizes meaningful relationships among students, families, faculty, and staff. | Mental wellbeing Emotional wellbeing is a central focus; La Scuola strives to provide a caring, safe, and supportive environment that prioritizes wellbeing alongside learning. The SEL program builds social-emotional skills through regular check-ins, grounding, active listening, body language, relaxation exercises, and the development of empathy and respect. Tools such as the Emotional Thermometer and growth-mindset practices support students in managing pressure and stress. Core values—kindness, inclusion, health, peace, and resilience—guide daily interactions and behaviors. The school also emphasizes fostering physical and emotional wellbeing as part of its health and safety practices. |
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding The school maintains a nondiscriminatory policy as to students. | Safeguarding La Scuola is Open to the World and emphasizes diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, rejecting discrimination on multiple grounds and aiming to empower all community members to participate fully. The Pollyanna Racial Literacy Curriculum, guided by the DEIB Director with Kindergarten through Grade 8 teachers, supports constructive conversations about race and racism. The school highlights languages spoken by families and staff, reflecting a richly multilingual community, and partnerships such as the SMART program extend opportunities to lower‑income families. These practices contribute to a safe, inclusive environment that protects and supports student wellbeing. |
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Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy — | Safeguarding policy — |
| Facilities | Facilities | |
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Facilities overview
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Facilities overview Alcatraz Campus in Oakland serves PK–1. Alcatraz is a joyful early-learning hub where language immersion, play-based inquiry, and foundational SEL take root. San Pablo Campus in Emeryville serves 2–8. San Pablo is a dynamic environment for project-based learning, deepening biliteracy, arts and music, library, PE/health, and design-minded innovation. Escuela Bilingüe Internacional is the only IB World School on the West Coast offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in a Spanish-English bilingual setting. | Facilities overview The Mission Campus houses K-8 students in the Mission District. The building is the first Reggio Emilia Approach-inspired campus in the Americas. The main entrance houses the food atelier, dining room, art, music, and makers ateliers, along with Middle School classrooms and gathering spaces. The Ateliers are central to the Reggio Emilia program, providing spaces to learn, explore, create, and experiment. The Mission Campus includes two other buildings: a historic St. Charles building with light-filled elementary classrooms and a Van Ness Avenue building that contains the gymnasium and additional ateliers. The piazza features a stage and a basketball court, and houses several ateliers, while play structures on the piazza follow Reggio Emilia principles. |
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Sports facilities
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Sports facilities San Pablo Campus provides PE/Health facilities to support physical education. | Sports facilities The Van Ness Avenue building contains our gymnasium and additional ateliers. The piazza includes a stage, a basketball court, and several ateliers for student recreation. Play structures on the piazza were designed by an Italian architect in accordance with Reggio Emilia principles. Outdoor time is part of the daily schedule, providing space for active play. |
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Academic facilities
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Academic facilities Alcatraz Campus (PK–1) is a joyful early-learning hub where language immersion, play-based inquiry, and foundational SEL take root. San Pablo Campus (2–8) is a dynamic environment for project-based learning, deepening biliteracy, arts and music, library, PE/health, and design-minded innovation. The San Pablo Campus includes a library and dedicated spaces for arts, music, and physical education. PE/Health facilities support physical education and health activities. The IB framework (PYP and MYP) is implemented across two campuses in a Spanish-English bilingual setting. | Academic facilities The St. Charles building features light-filled classrooms designed to be spaces of curiosity and wonder. These interiors reflect the Reggio Emilia curriculum's commitment to hands-on learning and its belief in the environment as the 'third teacher.' La Scuola's immersive approach to learning Italian can be seen in the classroom. The classroom environment supports cross-grade learning and daily teacher connections. The campus culminates Grade 8 with the IB Middle Years Program Community Project and includes a brand-new Mission Campus building that brings light, color, and energy to learning. |
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Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities Summer Camp. Aventura Extended Care. Auxiliary Programs. Community Programs. | Extra curricular facilities The Ateliers provide spaces to learn, explore, create, and experiment. The piazza includes a stage for performances, a basketball court, and several ateliers for student recreation. The school garden is used for hands-on learning, with students harvesting radishes from the school garden. Cross-grade learning is an integral part of La Scuola's community, and the IB Middle Years Program emphasizes Service as Action in Grade 8. |
| Parent experience | Parent experience | |
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History
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History The school opened in 2006 as an independent PK–8 school with two campuses in the San Francisco Bay Area: Oakland and Emeryville. It is the only Spanish-English bilingual IB World School on the West Coast, offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP). The school emphasizes a Spanish-English bilingual education within an IB framework and a diverse, international community. | History Founded in 2002. It began as an Italian language playgroup and has grown to operate across multiple campuses, including the Mission Campus (K–8), the Dogpatch Campus (Preschool), and the Silicon Valley Campus (PreK–Elementary), plus a Milano, Italy campus. It is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School and is recognized as an Italian Accredited School (Scuola Paritaria) abroad by the Italian Ministry of Education. |
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Community
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Community Community is at the heart of EBI; families from over 20 countries contribute to a bilingual, international culture grounded in equity, respect, and global citizenship. EBIPA, the active Parents Association, fosters connection through events like the Back-to-School Picnic, biweekly coffee carts, and class parent networks that coordinate volunteers. Students also have leadership opportunities through Student Council and other programs. The school celebrates annual community traditions such as Latinx Heritage Month, Grand Persons Day, Black History Month, and Día de los Muertos. | Community The Parents Association (PALS) works collaboratively with La Scuola faculty and staff to support and facilitate programming, experiences, ideas, and opportunities that welcome, engage, and foster the La Scuola community and support the school's mission to inspire brave learners to shape the future. La Scuola has a long and rich history of parent involvement and participation from its early beginnings as an Italian language playgroup, and now includes more than 250 families at three campuses. PALS organizes and supports events each year including: Welcome Picnic, Back to School Coffees, Staff and Teacher Appreciation, Book Fair, Holiday Party, Beach Clean-ups, The Annual Spring Fiera, Italian Heritage Parade, Lunar New Year Celebrations, Diwali Celebrations, World Day of Cultural Diversity, Mission Carneval, and Graduation. PALS supports the school through committees such as Library, Garden, Music, Yearbook, La Dolce Vita, Admin and Konstella, Community, Leadership, SPEAK, and Service Learning. Pal s contact: pals@lascuolasf.org. |
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Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association EBIPA is the Escuela Bilingüe Internacional Parent Association. It helps shape the inclusive, welcoming community that defines EBI. Every parent and caregiver is automatically a member and can participate in a wide range of activities throughout the year. EBIPA organizes events such as the Back-to-School Picnic and biweekly coffee carts, coordinates a class parent network, and supports schoolwide conversations on topics of interest to parents. Parents can host cooking nights, coordinate field trip volunteers, or simply connect with other families after drop-off. EBIPA helps create the joyful community that makes EBI special. | Parent teacher association PALS is the Parents Association of La Scuola and works collaboratively with La Scuola faculty and staff to support and foster the La Scuola community and the school's mission. It includes events such as the Annual Welcome Picnic, Back to School Coffees, Staff and Teacher Appreciation, Book Fair, Holiday Party, Beach Clean-ups, The Annual Spring Fiera, Italian Heritage Parade, Lunar New Year Celebrations, Diwali Celebrations, World Day of Cultural Diversity, Mission Carneval, Graduation, and committees including Library, Garden, Music, Yearbook, La Dolce Vita, Admin and Konstella, Community, Leadership, SPEAK, and Service Learning. Over 10,000 volunteer hours are contributed annually by parents across three campuses. |
| Extra-curricular | Extra-curricular | |
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Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual Enrichment Classes are offered in Spanish and English during the school year, including Digital Arts and Design, Music and Dance, Soccer, Martial Arts, Chess, Robotics, Coding, STEM Activities, and Cooking. School Year Camps are designed for PK–Grade 3 campers and include storytelling, arts, crafts, culinary arts, sports, and outdoor play. Summer Camp, Aventura, combines Spanish immersion with hands-on activities in STEM, Athletics, and Global Arts, with weekly themes and field trips. The programs emphasize bilingual inquiry-based experiences extending learning beyond the classroom. | Academic & intellectual The Ateliers provide space to develop ideas and tackle the unknown. The Reggio Emilia approach treats the environment as the 'third teacher' to inspire curiosity, creativity, and joy. The Ateliers include music, visual arts, design, and garden study that connect across disciplines in project‑based work. The tinkering lab emphasizes design thinking, modeling, coding, and hands‑on exploration across subjects. |
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Arts & creative
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Arts & creative Enrichment Classes include Digital Arts and Design, Music and Dance, Soccer, Martial Arts, Chess, Robotics, Coding, STEM Activities, and Cooking. Sample Enrichment Class Offerings feature Digital Arts and Design, Music, Dance, Robotics, Coding, STEM Activities, and Cooking. Movie Nights at EBI offer Spanish cinema for PK–Grade 3 to build language skills and community. School Year Camps also incorporate arts and crafts and culinary arts as part of their programming. | Arts & creative The Ambassador Ensemble is a plucked string orchestra that rehearses and performs for special events. La Scuola celebrates two all‑school concerts each year. The Visual Arts atelier enables students to create their own works and express themselves. Design and the tinkering program engage students in modeling, coding, and a wide range of media to bring ideas to life. |
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Cultural & language
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Cultural & language The school is Spanish-English bilingual, providing immersion in both languages. Cuenta Cuentos: Spanish Story Time offers stories, songs, and movement for toddlers through kindergartners, with a drop-in format to introduce Spanish language and culture. 4H projects at EBI include STEM, arts, and community service, fostering leadership and cross-cultural engagement. Community Programs emphasize bilingual experiences and language-rich activities, such as Spanish story times and cross-cultural projects. | Cultural & language La Scuola is a language immersion school with Italian as the primary classroom language in Preschool through Grade 3. Starting in Grade 4, Spanish is introduced as a third language, and in Middle School students pursue language paths with Italian as a second language and Spanish as a third, or vice versa. Specialist subjects may be taught in English or Italian, and the Middle School remains inherently multilingual with English, Italian, and Spanish. |
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Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies Enrichment Classes include Soccer, Martial Arts, and Chess. Movie Nights provide social events and Spanish-language cinema for the school community. 4H project-based activities offer hands-on opportunities in STEM, arts, and community service, supporting learners' hobbies and interests. Spanish Story Time (Cuenta Cuentos) promotes language-rich social interaction for young children. | Social & hobbies The school hosts music performances, including two all‑school concerts each year. Ambassador Ensemble provides additional performance opportunities at events. The Ateliers support collaborative inquiry across music, visual arts, design, and gardening projects, fostering teamwork and peer learning. Community events and school celebrations bring families together through the arts and learning experiences. |
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Community & service
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Community & service 4H at EBI provides leadership opportunities and service-learning through hands-on activities in STEM, arts, and community service. The Native Plant Garden is a student-led rewilding project engaging students in ecological stewardship. Community Programs emphasize joyful community experiences, including Spanish Story Time and 4H projects that connect students and families through bilingual activities. | Community & service The Garden & Environmental Studies program engages students in gardening, ecology, and stewardship, connecting learning with the environment and community. Students explore plant identification, garden visitors, and the cycle of food production, developing empathy and a sense of responsibility toward their community. Graduates understand the interdependence of nature and how it relates to lives around the world. |
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Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional 4H at EBI grows skills, responsibility, and leadership, with opportunities for public speaking and teamwork. Project-based activities include STEM, arts, and community service, supporting leadership development. Community Programs highlight leadership opportunities and bilingual collaboration within a connected, multilingual school community. | Leadership & professional Athletics foster leadership, commitment, and true sportsmanship, with student‑athletes representing La Scuola in the San Francisco International Athletic League (SFIAL). A large share of middle schoolers participate in athletic programs, building teamwork and school pride. Participation in ensemble performances and project work also develops collaboration, time management, and leadership skills within a learning community. |
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing Aventura Extended Care offers before- and after-school care with art projects, outdoor games, STEM activities, and collaborative challenges. Summer Camp features outdoor play, themed activities, and field trips that promote physical activity and well-being. Movie Nights and Spanish Story Time provide social, cultural, and language-building experiences that foster community and well-being. | Lifestyle & wellbeing The PE and Wellness program focuses on movement, fitness, and holistic development from preschool through middle school. IB‑MYP Physical and Health Education emphasizes healthy life choices, inquiry, and personal well‑being. Extended Day & Camps provide after‑school care with various registration options and nut‑free snacks, and include morning care on select days for younger students. |
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Language provision
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Language provision Spanish-English bilingual curriculum is taught across all grades from Pre-Kinder through 8th Grade. The IB framework is delivered from Preschool through 8th Grade, with inquiry-based learning and a focus on global citizenship. Bilingualism leads to biliteracy; students read, write, and think in both English and Spanish. Global citizenship is woven into daily learning experiences. | Language provision Languages taught include Italian, English and Spanish. Italian and English are the two main languages of instruction, balanced by the Montreal Model: Preschool about 10% English - 90% Italian; Grades K-1 about 20% English - 80% Italian; Grade 2 about 30% English - 70% Italian; Grades 3-5 about 50% Italian - 50% English; Grades 6-8 about 70% English - 30% Italian. Specialist subjects may be taught in English or Italian. |
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Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching The school provides Spanish-English bilingual education for students from Pre-Kinder through 8th grade. Students learn in Spanish and English within the International Baccalaureate framework. Dual-language immersion occurs daily across all grades, complemented by the Accelerated Spanish Program for students not yet at grade-level Spanish. Graduates become biliterate, reading, writing, and thinking in both English and Spanish. | Bilingual teaching La Scuola teaches using two main languages of instruction, Italian and English, balanced through the Montreal Model. From Kindergarten through Grade 1, Italian is the language of instruction about 80% of the time and English about 20%. From Grade 2, the balance is approximately 70% Italian and 30% English. From Grades 3–5 the balance is about 50% Italian and 50% English, and Grades 6–8 use about 30% Italian and 70% English; specialist subjects may be taught in English or Italian. |
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Immersion programs
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Immersion programs Dual-language immersion happens every day in Spanish and English for all grades. The Accelerated Spanish Program (ASP) supports Grades 1–8 students who are not yet at grade-level Spanish. In Preschool and TK, Spanish immersion begins from day one, with classroom activities conducted in Spanish and increasing use of English over time. Native Spanish speakers benefit from home-language development, reinforcing bilingualism. | Immersion programs Your child does not need to speak Italian to enroll in the Italian language immersion program. In PreK–3, the primary classroom language is Italian, and starting in Grade 4, students learn Spanish as a third language. In Middle School, students can follow different paths, with Italian as second language and Spanish as third, or vice versa, and the Middle School remains inherently multilingual with English, Italian and Spanish. |
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Awards
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Awards — | Awards — |
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Accreditations
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Accreditations — | Accreditations — |
| Admissions | Admissions | |
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Admissions
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Admissions Rolling Admissions Applications Accepted Year-Round. EBI reviews applications on a rolling basis, as space allows, throughout the year. Our Admissions Process guides families through the journey to be informed and connected. 1. Inquire: Contact our Admissions Office to learn more. The Admissions Office explains options for Preschool through Grade 8, including the Accelerated Spanish Program and the Spanish-English bilingual immersion with IB World School status. 2. Visit: Schedule a personal tour of our campuses to explore our spaces. 3. Apply: Complete your application through our online portal. 4. Student Visit or Assessment: We get to know your child. 5. Decision Notification: Admissions decisions are communicated promptly. 2025-26 Admissions Dates: September 1 — Priority Application Opens; November 19 — Priority Application Deadline; January 5 — Tuition Assistance Application Opens; January 16 — Application Deadline and TA Deadline; January 24 — Student Observations/Assessments; February 7 — Student Observations/Assessments; March 3–6 — Prospective Student Shadow Days; March 6 — Decision Notification (PK/TK); March 13 — Decision Notification (K-Grade 8); March 26 — Registration Due. | Admissions Apply to La Scuola International School. Sign up for an account with Ravenna to manage the application, register for campus tours and events, and view admissions decisions. Through Ravenna you can schedule a in-person tour or join a virtual event, and you can submit an application through Ravenna by January 15, 2026; enrollment decisions are sent in March 2026. Admissions are organized by grade level: Preschool process (ages Piccoli 2-3, Grandi 3-4, Grandissimi 4-5); Kindergarten process (age 5+ by September 1, 2026); Grades 1-5 process; Grades 6-8 process. Students are not required to speak Italian to enroll in preschool, kindergarten, grade 1, or grade 6; Grades 2-5 and Grades 7-8 are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Middle School instruction is primarily in English with 6 hours of language instruction per 6-day rotation, split 4 hours/2 hours between the second language and the third language (Italian or Spanish). Admissions events include Open Houses, Campus Tours, and Parent Education Series; see Tours & Events for details. The three La Scuola campuses include Mission (K–8) and Dogpatch (Preschool) in San Francisco, Silicon Valley (PreK–Elementary), and Milano (Italy). Sliding Scale Tuition is described separately; see Tuition & Affordability for details. |
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Scholarships
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Scholarships The Tuition Assistance program is available based on demonstrated financial need and funds availability, with more than 30% of families receiving some form of tuition assistance. Families apply through Clarity Financial Aid, creating an account, starting an application, designating EBI as a school, and providing financial information and documentation, with a $65 application fee. The Clarity process includes tax verification steps and applies English translations where required; deadlines for 2026–2027 specify January 16 for both Returning and New Families to complete the Clarity submission. International families must upload income verification documents with English translations. TA awards can be applied toward the Capital Improvement Fee, and TA recipients are exempt from that fee. For questions, contact the Admissions Team via admissions@ebinistracion.org (EBI), including Ned Pinger, Director of Finance and Operations, and the TA contact listed on the Affording EBI page. | Scholarships Sliding Scale Tuition Grants are awarded to families based on demonstrated financial need as determined by the Clarity application and the La Scuola Tuition Committee. The Clarity application is used to assess financial need, and the process is designed to include a $65 submission fee. Sliding scale tuition is available for Grandi (3-4 years old), Grandissimi (4-5 years old), and Kindergarten through Grade 8; there are no merit-based awards. Award determinations are made after reviewing the Clarity application and the school's budget, and awards are not guaranteed due to limited funds. The deadline for completing the sliding scale tuition application and submitting supporting documents is January 21, 2026 for current families and February 1, 2026 for prospective families. Award letters are mailed with enrollment contracts. Questions about sliding scale tuition can be directed to Nichole Leon, Director of Admissions, SST & DEIB, at nichole.leon@lascuolasf.org. The school is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and does not receive state or federal funding. |
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Waitlist
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Waitlist — | Waitlist — |
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