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American International Montessori School

United States, San Francisco

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Mandarin, Japanese
Fees $26,500 - 33,000
Ages 1 - 12 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 2009
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Montessori Curriculum
Taught languages English, Japanese, Mandarin
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

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

Food Options
Food preparation is part of Infant Community. Two children have the opportunity to prepare the vegetables that will be served for lunch, and they push the food cart to the kitchen where our chefs cook lunch. The lunch ritual then starts with pre-lunch words or a short song in both Japanese and Chinese.
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

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
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 others with a handshake and eye contact, express their feelings with words, respect personal needs and workspaces, and work together to maintain the class community. They follow directions and participate in group activities, building social competence across ages. Social and executive skills are integrated throughout both Infant Community and Elementary programs to support personal responsibility and positive interactions.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The Language Program uses dual Mandarin Chinese/Japanese immersion from the Infant Community. In Infant Community, two teachers per classroom typically include one Mandarin-speaking teacher and one Japanese-speaking teacher. For Preschool/Children's House, Mandarin Chinese or Japanese immersion classrooms are available, with native-speaking teachers. In Lower Elementary, Mandarin Chinese or Japanese immersion tracks continue, with teachers speaking Mandarin, Japanese, and English to support multilingual development. About half of AIM students arrive not speaking Japanese or Chinese and become conversational in a second language after about three years.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is supported through social and executive skills development. The elementary program builds in autonomy, responsibility, and collaboration through weekly work plans and group activities, fostering persistence, time management, and sustained attention. The preschool program emphasizes social skills like empathy, respect, and positive interaction, while the Infant Community teaches self-regulation and appropriate social behavior. Across programs, children practice expressing feelings, following routines, and resolving conflicts in a supportive, multilingual environment.
Parent Experience

History
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 to more than 130 children and a staff of over 25. The full-immersion approach enables students to comprehend, speak, read, and write in two languages.

Community
AIM has an active, engaged parent community led by the Parent-Teacher Association. Each family contributes 5 volunteer hours per child per year, and many families participate more. The parent community is highly involved and organizes community-building activities. Recent activities include events every 4-6 weeks (waffle breakfast, carnival, book fair, and game day) and weekend play dates or park potlucks; parents also volunteer for chaperoning field trips, helping with library tasks, snacks and flowers, and various office tasks.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Led by the Parent-Teacher Association, the AIM parent community coordinates activities and fundraising. Events every 4-6 weeks include a waffle breakfast, a school carnival, a book fair, and a game day. Weekend and evening activities include monthly play dates, park potlucks, community bike rides, moms' nights out, and class potlucks. Volunteers support field trips, furniture-building for the yard, library cataloging, snacks and flowers for classrooms, and office tasks. The PTA also raises funds for projects such as the school library and outside improvements.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The South Berkeley campus houses the toddler/preschool and elementary programs. Classrooms are spacious and bright with natural light and are equipped with high-quality Montessori materials displayed on low wooden shelves. Classrooms include child-sized tables and chairs made from natural wood, friendly classroom pets, and plants. The campus has two large play yards, one for elementary and one for toddlers/preschool, with age-appropriate play structures and space to run, garden, or develop motor skills by riding tricycles, playing ball, and jumping rope. Older children can build with builder boards and wooden blocks.

Sports Facilities
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 coordination and creativity. The playground environment supports daily outdoor play, including garden activities and care for campus greenery and animals. After-school enrichment programs like Soccer Shots offer structured sport activities.

Academic Facilities
AIM has Infant Community classrooms with Montessori-trained, native-speaking Japanese and Mandarin teachers in each classroom. Language tracks are chosen before enrollment and cannot be switched. Preschool/Children's House programs include Mandarin immersion on the AIM campus and Japanese immersion on BIM's campus. The Elementary program provides bilingual immersion in English/Chinese or English/Japanese for mixed-age groups (lower elementary 1st–3rd grade and upper elementary 4th–6th grade) with dedicated teachers, each fluent in one language. The elementary classroom operates in an all-day immersion environment with three Montessori teachers, one native speaker of each language (Japanese, Chinese, English) delivering lessons in their respective languages throughout the day.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Enrichment & After School Programs include LEGO Engineering/Pre-Engineering, Songs, Games and Movements, MOCHA Art Class, and Soccer Shots. In-class enrichments and playground learning provide daily outdoor time with a variety of equipment, and elementary students participate in outdoor and garden activities as part of recess. Twice a week, enrichment classes cover physical education, gardening, art, and Yosakoi Japanese dance. Field trips and in-class presentations bring guests and experiences into classrooms, and year-round cultural events such as Setsubun celebrate China and Japan while broadening students' world awareness.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The Elementary program offers authentic, bilingual Montessori instruction for mixed-age groups (lower elementary 1st–3rd; upper elementary 4th–6th). Students learn in English plus a second language (Japanese or Mandarin) and engage in cross-disciplinary, hands-on activities. The curriculum integrates art, music, and movement into daily learning, with field trips and real-life applications of knowledge. AIM emphasizes education for life and encourages students to apply what they learn in real-world contexts.

Arts & Creative
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.

Cultural & Language
AIM equips children to become bilingual and literate in English and a second language (Japanese or Mandarin). It is the East Bay's Montessori program that offers immersion in Japanese or Mandarin through sixth grade.

Social & Hobbies
Twice a week, elementary students participate in enrichment programs such as physical education, Yosakoi Japanese dance, gardening, and art, alternating each semester. Music and other performance activities are also part of the enrichment offerings.

Leadership & Professional
The school develops leadership potential and multilingual communication, with classroom experiences designed to cultivate independence, collaboration, and responsible participation in school life.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The campus features two large play yards and outdoor spaces for active play. AIM operates from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with half-day, full-day, and extended-day options. Enrichment activities include physical education, Yosakoi Japanese dance, gardening, and art that support students' health, fitness, and well-being.
Languages

Language Provision
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/Japanese and continues through 5th grade. The school welcomes children who already speak Japanese or Chinese at home, and English-only speakers may be admitted if they join the program before age four; older students may be admitted based on individual assessments.

Bilingual Teaching
A bilingual immersion model is used. Toddlers (18 months–3 years) participate in dual immersion, Japanese and Chinese. Preschool and Kindergarten (3–6 years) choose from Japanese/English or Chinese/English programs. The private elementary program (1st–6th grade) offers bilingual immersion in either English/Chinese or English/Japanese.

Immersion Programs
A full immersion Montessori program is offered in Japanese and Mandarin Chinese for ages 18 months through 5th grade. For toddlers, the entire day is in the target language. In the Children's House, mornings (9 am–1 pm) are taught exclusively in Chinese or Japanese, with English introduced in the afternoon by a separate English-speaking teacher. The elementary years continue with all-day immersion, supported by three Montessori elementary teachers, one native speaker of each language (Japanese, Chinese, English).
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
The school has not added events
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