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Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley - Elementary School Campus

United States, San Francisco

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The school at a glance
Instructs in French, English
Fees $38,150 - 43,200
Ages 2 - 11 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 1977
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum, French Curriculum
Taught languages French, Spanish, Mandarin
Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Early Years, Elementary
Introduction

Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley provides a dual-immersion education from preschool through eighth grade. The school follows the French National Ministry of Education curriculum alongside the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. Instruction is delivered through a co-teaching model where French and English teachers collaborate to build literacy in both languages.The 2.3-acre campus includes specialized outdoor learning environments such as a water creek, a dedicated garden, and an outdoor amphitheater. A unique feature of the elementary program is the "Vers le Pacifique" initiative, a social-emotional program focused on conflict resolution and identity development. Additionally, the school offers an Accelerated French Program specifically for students entering grades one through eight with little to no prior exposure to the language, allowing them to join the bilingual track. Students participate in physical education and arts regularly, with after-school clubs ranging from robotics to global cooking.

1009 Heinz Ave, Berkeley, CA 94710, United States

The Essentials

Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley - Elementary School Campus has instruction in French, English.

Location
Two Berkeley campuses: Elementary School Campus at 1009 Heinz Ave., Berkeley, CA 94710 and Middle School Campus at 901 Grayson Street, Berkeley, CA 94710. The school serves preschool through 8th grade. Both campuses are located in Berkeley, California.

Stages
Preschool & Kindergarten; Lower School; Middle School. An Accelerated French Program (AFP) offers late-entry points in Lower School (G1 and G2) and in Middle School (G6).

Type
Private bilingual day school

Pupil Nationality Mix
More than 60 nationalities represented in the school community.

Additional learning support
Lower School offers French as a Foreign Language (French as a Second Language) for students who need it; bilingual teachers support each student linguistically and academically.

Country affiliation
American International Section (Section Internationale Américaine) integrated into EB's primary program.

School day structure
Preschool/Kindergarten: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.; Elementary (1st–5th): 8:25 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.; Middle (6th–8th): 8:15 a.m. – 3:35 p.m. Extended Day care runs 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
Mid-morning snack includes fruits, vegetables, or French baguette. Lunch is eaten together in the classroom, after which students may read inside or play outside.

Governance and Ownership
The school is governed by a Board of Trustees.
Fees

Annual tuition at Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley - Elementary School Campus ranges from USD 38,150 to USD 43,200 for 2026/27.

Application fees

- Non-refundable application fee: USD 75 due when submitting the application form.

Enrollment deposit / reservation fee

- A non-refundable enrollment/reservation deposit equal to 10% of the annual tuition is required to finalize enrollment; this deposit is due within 10 days of acceptance. The 10% deposit is applied toward the annual tuition balance.

Tuition fees by school year (annual amounts for 2026–2027)

- Preschool & Kindergarten (annual): USD 38,150.
- Grades 1–5 (annual): USD 39,015.
- Grades 6–8 (annual; includes Middle School Accelerated French Program): USD 43,200.

Installment / per-payment detail (options available for the annual tuition above)

- Option 1 — One payment:
- One payment due in June.
- Early-payment discount: USD 100 off the annual tuition (school pays the Blackbaud annual fee for this option).
- Example: Preschool/K: USD 38,150 − USD 100 = USD 38,050 (one-time June payment).

- Option 2 — Two equal payments:
- Two equal payments due in June and September (payer may choose the 5th or the 20th of the month).
- A Blackbaud Tuition Management annual administrative fee of USD 50 applies.
- Example: Preschool/K: USD 38,150 ÷ 2 = USD 19,075 per payment (plus the USD 50 Blackbaud fee for the plan).

- Option 3 — Four equal payments:
- Four equal payments due in June, July, August and September.
- A Blackbaud Tuition Management annual administrative fee of USD 50 applies.
- Example: Preschool/K: USD 38,150 ÷ 4 = USD 9,537.50 per payment (plus the USD 50 Blackbaud fee for the plan).

- Option 4 — Twelve equal monthly payments:
- Twelve equal monthly payments between June and May of the following year.
- A 5% per annum interest charge applies to this plan (reduced to 1.50% per annum for families receiving Tuition Assistance or Bourses Scolaires).
- A Blackbaud Tuition Management annual administrative fee of USD 50 applies.
- Example (base monthly before interest): Preschool/K: USD 38,150 ÷ 12 ≈ USD 3,179.17 per month (the actual monthly amount will be slightly higher when the 5% annual interest is applied).

Additional program and grade-specific fees

- Lower School Accelerated French Program (G1–G3): additional annual program fee of USD 2,860.

Required and optional fees and typical other costs

- One-time enrollment fee (Preschool and Lower School only): USD 1,950 (required at enrollment).
- Tuition refund insurance: 1.4% of tuition (mandatory for a family's first year at the school, optional thereafter).
- Extended Day Package (optional; unlimited morning and afternoon care during school days for the year): USD 2,250.
- Extended Day drop-in rate (optional): USD 14.04 per hour.
- School Breaks Package (optional; day camps during Fall, Winter and Spring breaks for the school year): USD 1,250.
- Hot lunch (optional; price per meal): USD 6.75 to USD 7.25 (subject to change).
- Optional overnight field trips (Grades 5, 7 and 8): approximately USD 2,650.
- Required overnight field trips (Grades 3, 4 and 6): ranges from USD 695 to USD 1,370.
- After-school activities: costs vary by activity.

- Note on uniform: no separate uniform fee is listed among the school's required or optional fees.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Enrollment: accepted families must return a signed enrollment agreement and pay the 10% non-refundable deposit within 10 days of acceptance to secure the student's place.
- Balance payment: after the deposit, families choose one of the four payment options described above (one, two, four, or twelve payments); specific due months are June (one-payment option) or the months listed for the multi-payment options. Two-payment plan pay dates may be either the 5th or the 20th of the designated month. The four-payment schedule runs June–September; the twelve-payment schedule runs June–May.
- Administrative fees and interest: Option 1 carries no Blackbaud fee (school covers it) and a USD 100 early-payment discount; Options 2–4 incur a USD 50 Blackbaud annual fee; the 12-month plan incurs a 5% per annum interest charge (1.50% for families receiving financial aid).

Boarding

- Boarding fees: Not applicable. Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley is a preschool through grade 8 bilingual day school and does not operate a boarding program.

Refund information

- The enrollment/reservation deposit (10% of annual tuition) is non-refundable.
- Tuition refund insurance is offered (1.4% of tuition) and is mandatory for families in their first year at the school; this insurance is the mechanism the school lists for managing tuition refunds.

Fee payment options and accepted payment method

- The school's tuition and fee payment system is Blackbaud Tuition Management. Blackbaud Tuition Management accepts credit card payments; administrative fees for using Blackbaud vary depending on the payment plan selected.
Academics

Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley - Elementary School Campus teaches American Curriculum, French Curriculum for students aged 2 to 11.

Curriculum
The school offers a bilingual English-French curriculum from Preschool through 8th grade, with language development at the core of instruction in both languages. A co-teaching model supports students at their language and academic levels, with French as a Second Language support and learning specialists, and Etude after-school homework help. In Lower School, the balance of instruction shifts from French immersion to bilingual: Grades 1–2 are 80–20, Grade 3 65–35, and Grades 4–5 50–50. Vers le Pacifique begins in Preschool and Kindergarten and continues through Grade 2; Grades 3–5 focus on conflict resolution and identity. Middle School maintains bilingual and biliterate instruction across language arts, science, history, and math, with students choosing a third language (Spanish or Mandarin) and continuing content in both languages. The science program aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards and the French program; math blends Singapore Math and Eureka Math in a bilingual setting, and field trips, arts, and service learning are integrated.

Student Teacher Ratio
Average class size is 17 students. The school maintains a low student-to-teacher ratio.

Exam Results
High School placement: 95% of students applying to private high schools get their top choice.

Gifted and Talented
Accelerated French Programs are available at Lower School and Middle School for motivated, high-achieving students, providing small class sizes and advanced bilingual learning.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
EB fosters social and emotional learning by inviting students, families, and staff to bring their whole selves to school and by celebrating the diversity of experiences and perspectives within the community. The school is a place of warmth, joy, kindness, and belonging that welcomes all people. It nurtures curiosity, compassion, courage, and an enduring sense of community in its students. The EB environment emphasizes inclusion and equity, with ongoing efforts to provide equitable opportunities for every member of the school community. The school aims to create a supportive culture where students feel respected and empowered to engage with others across differences.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Accelerated French Program (AFP) provides late entry points at G1, G2 and G6 for students with no prior French exposure. AFP offers students the opportunity to acquire fluent proficiency in a second language and to be well positioned for high school placement after 8th grade.
Parent Experience

History
EB was founded by pioneering parents to provide bilingual education in the East Bay. It opened in fall 1977 with six teachers, 50 students, and 10 nationalities. The original Heinz & Ninth building became EB's campus when the school opened in 1977. The Middle School opened in 1988 and moved to 901 Grayson Street in 1991. Today EB serves more than 400 students from Toute Petite Section (2.5 years old) through grade 8, with more than 60 nationalities represented; alumni have lived and worked in 55 countries.

Community
EB's community is at the heart of the school experience; all parents are warmly invited to join in as active members of this diverse, fun, and inclusive group. World Celebrations showcases the many diverse cultures represented at EB and celebrates them through food, dance, and music. Welcome Day invites all parents and students to meet teachers and classmates; Halloween Parade, La Boum, Family & Friends Day, Move-a-thon, Spring Soirée & Fundraiser, La Place du Marché, and EB First Friday & Third Thursday Coffees are among the events that foster community.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
La Boum is hosted by the Parents' Association as a fall gathering for parents and caregivers. The Association coordinates Family & Friends Day, Move-a-thon, Spring Soirée & Fundraiser, La Place du Marché, and First Friday / Third Thursday coffees to connect families with the school community. To volunteer, contact the Parents' Association at askpa@eb.org or sign up on the Parent Portal. For general involvement questions, contact Anaïs Wilson at awilson@eb.org.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Two Berkeley campuses make up Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley: the Lower School Campus at 1009 Heinz Ave and the Middle School Campus at 901 Grayson Street. The school teaches in English and French as part of its bilingual immersion program. The Lower School Campus features a bilingual library with hundreds of books, a maker space and art room, a music room, an educational vegetable garden, a gymnastic space for preschool and kindergarten, and an expansive outdoor learning environment with a water creek and amphitheater. The Middle School Campus features a bilingual library, a science and art lab, a basketball court, an educational vegetable garden, an outdoor student lounge, and an outdoor stage with sound and lights. The South-West Berkeley neighborhood surrounds the campuses, offering local eateries, gyms, and spaces used for athletic practice nearby.

Sports Facilities
The Middle School Campus has a basketball court, and the Lower School Campus has a gymnastic space for preschool and kindergarten. At the Lower School, after-school sports opportunities are integrated into classes that include activities such as dance, martial arts, or yoga. In the Middle School, students can participate in co-ed fall flag football, winter basketball, and spring volleyball as part of the East Bay Independent Athletic League, where EB bilingual teams have accumulated numerous championships. The Jaguars have earned 70 league championship titles since 1992.

Academic Facilities
Lower School features include a bilingual library with hundreds of books, magazines, and pedagogical resources, a maker space and art room, a music room, an educational vegetable garden, a gymnastic space for preschool and kindergarten, and an expansive outdoor learning environment with a water creek and amphitheater. Middle School features include a bilingual library, a science and art lab, a basketball court, an educational vegetable garden, an outdoor student lounge, and an outdoor stage with sound & lights. These facilities support the school's integrated bilingual curriculum across both campus levels.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Enrichment & Aftercare offers clubs and after-school enrichment classes for preschool through middle school, including sports, science, visual arts, music, cooking, and language classes, with some activities conducted in French. The Extended Day program provides before- and after-school care with flexible options and schedules. Étude (French for Study Hall) is offered to Elementary students three days a week for quiet homework time with teacher support. Camps include Le Camp d'Été, a summer camp for Preschool to rising Grade 6, plus Fall/Winter/Spring Camps with themed activities and field trips. School Foodies hot lunch service is available on both campuses.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school is a preschool-8th grade bilingual immersion program with instruction in French and English. In Preschool & Kindergarten, Maternelle is project-centered and play-based, with French immersion about 80% of the day; five hours of English per week support language development as teachers from French and English collaborate. In elementary school, language development shifts from French immersion toward bilingual instruction, with grade-by-grade balances such as 1st–2nd at 80–20 (French–English) and 4th–5th at 50–50, fostering oral language, reading, and writing in both languages. The Accelerated French Program (AFP) provides late-entry points at Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 6 for students with no prior French exposure to develop fluency and support High School placement after 8th grade.

Arts & Creative
The visual arts, music, and theater are core components of the elementary curriculum; arts are integrated into classroom instruction in Grade 1, with specialists for music starting in Grade 2 and visual arts in Grade 3. Students explore art as a means of self-expression and connect artistic learning to other subjects within the school's STEAM focus.

Cultural & Language
The school offers a Section Internationale Américaine, a bilateral-bicultural program that integrates language and culture from partner countries, with primary-level International Sections in the U.S. since September 2020. The program supports bilingual and bicultural learning for students from elementary through higher levels and includes partnerships with local cultural institutions (e.g., Theater de Berkeley) and connections to French and international educational networks to facilitate exchanges and intercultural projects.

Social & Hobbies
In elementary and beyond, after-school enrichment includes activities such as yoga and soccer, and the Etude program provides group homework support after school led by bilingual teachers. The school encourages experiential learning through field trips and collaborative projects that extend classroom learning into real-world contexts.

Community & Service
Experiential trips and service learning are integral to citizenship education. Formal community service begins in fourth grade, with opportunities to engage in activities that connect students to the wider community and cultivate social responsibility.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Physical Education is emphasized as essential, with dedicated P.E. instruction from Grade 2 onward and a range of sports and movement activities, including dance. The school also runs after-school athletic and enrichment options and implements a Restorative Justice framework for social-emotional learning, including Vers le Pacifique, a bilingual SEL program that begins in Preschool and continues through Grade 2.
Languages

Language Provision
French and English are the languages of instruction. English Language Arts follows California Common Core Standards, while the French curriculum aligns with the official French Ministry of Education framework in AFP and related tracks. A third language (Spanish or Mandarin) is introduced in Middle School AFP. By the second year, AFP students can be prepared to take the DELF A1 exam, demonstrating French proficiency.

Bilingual Teaching
The school is a preschool-8th grade bilingual immersion school where students learn in French and English. Students speak, write, and think in two languages every day. Accelerated French Program (AFP) provides late entry points at G1, G2, and G6 for students with no prior French exposure to join the bilingual immersion track.

Immersion Programs
Lower School AFP provides a two-year bridge for Grade 1 and Grade 2 students with no prior French exposure; instruction is 85% in French and 15% in English, with two classrooms (bilingual and AFP) and a dedicated AFP teacher. Entry points are Grade 1 (CP) and Grade 2 (CE1), and students join the full immersion program by Grade 3 or Grade 4. In the second year, many AFP students are prepared to take the DELF A1 exam. Middle School AFP offers 40% daily instruction in French and 60% in English, with six accelerated French classes per week, and may integrate into the bilingual immersion program; the school is affiliated with AEFE and MLF, connecting students to a global network.
School Events
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