The Berkeley School

Features and Highlights

• Our Early Childhood program is based on the belief that young children flourish with gentle guidance, social connection, and the freedom to explore at their own pace. Our classrooms invite curiosity, play, and discovery, blending Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and emergent curriculum.
• Students’ intellectual, social, and emotional growth are developed through our core academic program and our small ms class sizes encourage personal relationships with teachers, rich classmate discussions, hands-on problem solving, and plenty of time for reflection on one’s own learning process.
• STEAM! Middle school students get an intro to robotics, circuitry coding, physics, scientific journals, biases, the periodic table, and chemical bonding! They understand mathematical foundations, approaches to problem solving, critical thinking, and explore key algebraic and geometric concepts.
• Robust Spanish program beginning in Kindergarten and ultimately delves into conjugation, vocabulary, pronunciation, and reading and writing. Students build speaking skills using games, poetry, dialogue, and chants.
• TBS hires and retains motivated teachers whose desire to meet students’ needs is only matched by their dedication to continuous professional growth. We have an incredible team.
• We believe letter grades don't fully capture a student's mastery of a subject. Learning is a dynamic process, and we aim to make every step of that journey visible. Consistent feedback, detailed progress reports, and twice-yearly conferences provide a clearer view of areas for growth and achievement

About Berkeley

Welcome to The Berkeley School - a beacon of educational excellence for 61 years. Located across two campuses in Berkeley, California, we serve 211 students from 2.3 years old through 8th grade. At TBS our mission is to, "ignite curious minds, awaken generous hearts, and engage a changing world." Since 1963, The Berkeley School has led the East Bay in real-world, experiential learning. A long history of civic engagement and community partnerships has embedded engaging with the outside world as a key element in each student’s learning and growth. Our approach to learning forms responsive teacher-student relationships that help each child feel seen, supported, and known, equipping them to be engaged learners. Our instruction goes beyond traditional boundaries, focusing on cultivating well-rounded individuals. We emphasize academic development, social-emotional growth, metacognition, and civic engagement. We prepare students for lifelong curiosity-driven critical thinking and collaboration. We empower students with essential life skills, fostering a love for learning that lasts a lifetime.