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Strengths Languages, Outdoor Education, Performing Arts
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Cultural and Language, Arts and Creative
Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary
Introduction
American International Montessori School (AIM) is a bilingual Montessori day school serving toddlers to elementary students on two Berkeley/Oakland–area campuses. Founded in 2009 by Ernest Mahr, AIM offers three Montessori programs: Infant Community (18–36 months), Children's House (3–6 years), and Elementary (1st–6th). Language immersion is embedded across all divisions, with toddler tracks in Japanese and Mandarin, and elementary bilingual options in English/Chinese or English/Japanese. Immersion is 100% in the target language for younger children, with English introduced in the afternoon for older students; elementary classrooms maintain all-day language immersion. Classrooms emphasize authentic Montessori materials and native-speaking teachers. Two campus sites host distinct language tracks, with Montessori-trained staff across every classroom. The campus features bright, natural-light rooms, child-sized furnishings, two large play yards, and abundant outdoor and garden activities. After-school enrichment includes sports, art, and dance—most notably Yosakoi Japanese dance—and annual cultural events like Setsubun, broadening students' world awareness and curiosity.
3339 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley, CA 94703, United States
Gallery
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Vibes and Culture
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The Essentials
American International Montessori School has instruction in English, Mandarin, Japanese.
Location
3339 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley, CA 94703, USA. The campus is in Berkeley, California.
Stages
Infant Community (18–36 months), Children's House (3–6 years), and Elementary (1st–6th grade). Montessori Method is followed in all classrooms.
Type
Montessori day school offering Infant Community, Children's House, and Elementary programs with language immersion across programs: Toddlers dual Japanese/Chinese; Preschool/Kindergarten Japanese/English or Chinese/English; Elementary English/Chinese or English/Japanese. Montessori Method is used in all classrooms.
School day structure
AIM is open from 8:00am to 6:00pm, Monday through Friday, with half-day (3-year-olds only), full day and extended day schedules available. Extended care is subject to availability.
Diving Deeper
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Fees
Annual tuition at American International Montessori School ranges from USD 26,500 to USD 33,000 for 2026/27.
Annual registration & materials fee - USD 1,000 non-refundable annual registration & materials fee due upon enrollment; this fee may be pro-rated according to start date and covers materials, activities, snacks, cultural celebrations and in-school enrichment activities.
Billing schedule and payment terms (general) - Tuition is charged on an annual basis. Tuition may be paid in 10 equal installments or as a one-time payment with a 5% discount when paid in full at enrollment (paid-in-full discount applies only upon initial enrollment/re-enrollment and where the school's paid-in-full conditions are met). For mid-year start dates, at least 50% of the school-year tuition must remain to use the paid-in-full discount. Failure to confirm enrollment by the school's stated deadline will disqualify a family from the paid-in-full and sibling discounts.
Infant Community (ages 18–36 months) — annual and per-installment amounts (2026–2027 academic year) - Annual tuition (year-round program, 8/17/26–7/30/27): - Half-Day (9:00 AM–12:30 PM): USD 29,200 (if paid in 10 installments: USD 2,920 per installment). - Full-Day (9:00 AM–3:30 PM): USD 33,000 (if paid in 10 installments: USD 3,300 per installment). - Extended care (annual): - AM Care (8:00 AM–9:00 AM): USD 1,900 (USD 190 per installment, if on a 10-installment plan). - Extended Day (8:00 AM–6:00 PM): USD 5,600 (USD 560 per installment). - Pre-arranged drop-in daily fee (24 business hours' notice with confirmation): AM: USD 15; PM: USD 30. - Infant Community tuition is inclusive of daily hot lunch and the toilet-training program.
Children's House (ages 3–6) — annual and per-installment amounts (2026–2027 academic year) - Annual tuition (year-round program, 8/17/26–7/30/27): - Half-Day (9:00 AM–1:00 PM; 3-year-olds only): USD 26,500 (if paid in 10 installments: USD 2,650 per installment). - Full-Day (9:00 AM–3:30 PM): USD 29,200 (if paid in 10 installments: USD 2,920 per installment). - Extended care (annual): - AM Care (8:00 AM–9:00 AM): USD 1,700 (USD 170 per installment). - Extended Day (8:00 AM–6:00 PM): USD 5,400 (USD 540 per installment). - Pre-arranged drop-in daily fee (24 business hours' notice with confirmation): AM: USD 15; PM: USD 30.
Elementary (Grades 1–6) — annual and per-installment amounts (2026–2027 academic year) - Annual tuition (academic year 8/17/26–6/4/27): - Full Day (8:00 AM–3:40 PM): USD 29,000 (if paid in 10 installments: USD 2,900 per installment). - Extended care (annual): - Extended Day (8:00 AM–6:00 PM): USD 3,800 (USD 380 per installment). - Pre-arranged drop-in daily rate (24 business hours' notice): PM: USD 30.
Discounts - Sibling discount: 5% applied to eligible sibling tuition. - Paid-in-full discount: 5% when the school's paid-in-full conditions are met (see billing terms above).
Boarding / residential provision - Boarding is not applicable; AIM operates as a day program (school hours listed as 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday–Friday). No boarding fees are published.
Other costs and routinely listed additional charges - Annual registration & materials fee (USD 1,000) is described as non-refundable and covers classroom materials, activities, snacks and in-school enrichment. - Pre-arranged drop-in fees and extended-care option fees are listed above under each program. - No uniform fee or separate transportation fee is listed in the published tuition & fees documents for the 2026–2027 program materials.
Refund information - The USD 1,000 annual registration & materials fee is expressly non-refundable. No comprehensive tuition-refund schedule or general tuition refund policy is published in the tuition & fees documents for the academic year materials reviewed.
Fee payment options (methods) - The published tuition & fees materials specify the billing schedule and paid-in-full/10-installment options but do not list specific accepted payment methods (for example: credit card, ACH/bank transfer, or check) in the tuition & fees documents.
Key administrative notes related to fees - Confirmation deadline: Families must confirm enrollment by the school's stated deadline (noted as February 13 in the tuition materials) to remain eligible for the paid-in-full discount and sibling discounts. - Academic calendars and exact program start/end dates differ by program year (Infant/Children's House year-round dates vs. Elementary academic-year dates); check the program-specific academic calendar when planning billing and start-date proration.
Academics
American International Montessori School teaches Montessori Curriculum for students aged 1 to 12.
Curriculum
Infant Community serves 18-36 months in a Montessori environment with language learning in Chinese and Japanese. Children's House serves 3-6 years and follows the Montessori Method in all classrooms. Preschool/Kindergarten offers a Chinese/English or Japanese/English immersion track. Elementary (1st-6th) provides bilingual immersion in English/Chinese or English/Japanese. Immersion is 100% in the target language for toddlers, with English introduced in the afternoon for older children and all-day immersion in the elementary classroom. There are two campuses, AIM and BIM; language tracks must be chosen before enrollment and switching between tracks is not allowed, with Montessori-trained, native-speaking teachers across all classrooms.
Wellbeing
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Parent Experience
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Facilities
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Extra-Curricular Activities
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Languages
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Reputation
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Admissions
Admissions
1. FILL OUT THE INQUIRY FORM. The admission team responds to inquiries within 2-3 business days. Submitting the inquiry initiates consideration for your child's placement. You may then proceed to the Open House to learn more about AIM and the admissions process.
2. ATTEND OPEN HOUSE. Next open house is Friday, May 1, 2026. This is a great opportunity to see the classroom and speak with teachers, parent ambassadors and the admission team.
3. SUBMIT AN APPLICATION & SCHEDULE PARENT TOUR. You will receive a link to sign up for a private tour once you submit your application. The tour offers opportunities to see the classrooms in action.
4. RECEIVE INVITATION FOR IC OR CH. When a spot opens up, the admission team will contact you to arrange an expectation meeting with the teachers (IC) or a child visit (CH). Notifications are typically 4-6 months before the joining month. The admission decision will be emailed typically within 2-3 weeks.
5. ENROLLMENT COMMITMENT & WAITING POOL. AIM requires a minimum enrollment commitment through 6 years old for IC/CH, thereby completing the three-year CH program, and a similar three-year commitment for Elementary. Families who cannot commit will not be considered for enrollment. A Waiting Pool System is used; families are added to the waiting pool upon receipt of the completed application form and fee, and if more than two families are suitable for the program, the order of application submission is respected.
Waitlist
The school uses a Waiting Pool System rather than a traditional waiting list. Families are added to the waiting pool upon receipt of the completed application form and fee. The pool balances classroom composition; if more than two families are suitable for the program, the order of application submission is respected.
School Events
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FAQs
What curriculum does American International Montessori School follow?
Infant Community serves 18-36 months in a Montessori environment with language learning in Chinese and Japanese. Children's House serves 3-6 years and follows the Montessori Method in all classrooms. Preschool/Kindergarten offers a Chinese/English or Japanese/English immersion track. Elementary (1st.
What are the tuition fees at American International Montessori School?
Annual tuition fees range from USD 1,000 to USD 33,000 depending on the year group. **Annual registration & materials fee** - USD 1,000 non-refundable annual registration & materials fee due upon enrollment; this fee may be pro-rated
What age range does American International Montessori School serve?
The school serves students aged 1 to 12. Infant Community (18–36 months), Children's House (3–6 years), and Elementary (1st–6th grade). Montessori Method is followed in all classrooms.
Where is American International Montessori School located?
3339 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley, CA 94703, USA. The campus is in Berkeley, California.
What wellbeing support does American International Montessori School offer?
Montessori places a major emphasis on intra-personal and inter-personal skills through grace and courtesy. In preschool, children can work independently when they choose, while the elementary program centers on regular work in pairs and small groups to foster collaboration. Students learn to greet o
What sports facilities does American International Montessori School have?
Two large outdoor play yards provide space for gross motor activities, with age-appropriate play structures and opportunities for running, gardening, and outdoor play. Children ride tricycles, play with balls, and use open-ended equipment such as builders, blocks, and outdoor games to develop coordi
How do I apply to American International Montessori School?
1. FILL OUT THE INQUIRY FORM. The admission team responds to inquiries within 2-3 business days. Submitting the inquiry initiates consideration for your child's placement. You may then proceed to the Open House to learn more about AIM and the admissions process. 2. ATTEND OPEN HOUSE. Next open hous
What type of school is American International Montessori School?
American International Montessori School is a Co-educational school with 100 students. Montessori day school offering Infant Community, Children's House, and Elementary programs with language immersion across programs: Toddlers dual Japanese/Chinese; Preschool/Kindergarten Japanese/Engl
What languages are taught at American International Montessori School?
Languages taught include Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, and English. The program provides dual immersion for toddlers (Japanese/Chinese) and choices of Japanese/English or Chinese/English for preschool and kindergarten. The elementary program provides bilingual immersion in English/Chinese or English/J
What is the history of American International Montessori School?
Ernest Mahr founded AIM in 2009 after directing two other immersion-Montessori schools in the area. Located at the Berkeley/Oakland border, AIM offers a Montessori program with language immersion for children from 18 months through 12 years (toddler/preschool through 6th grade). The school has grown
What extracurricular activities are available?
Art, music, and movement are integrated into the core experience rather than treated as add-ons. In elementary classrooms, students have opportunities to be creative and to make music during the day, and dance, singing, and karate are offered as part of the daily schedule at no extra charge.
What are the school hours at American International Montessori School?
AIM is open from 8:00am to 6:00pm, Monday through Friday, with half-day (3-year-olds only), full day and extended day schedules available. Extended care is subject to availability.
