East Bay Schools Guide

School of the Madeleine

The School of the Madeleine is a K-8 Catholic school with a vibrant tradition of education and service in the city of Berkeley, CA. The mission of the School of the Madeleine is to inspire students to grow as educated, morally informed individuals who are spiritually, academically, and socially prepared to become responsible citizens and leaders.

The Crowden School

The Crowden School for grades 3–8 provides a transformative academic education, with chamber music at its core. Crowden’s unique philosophy of collaborative learning empowers our students to thrive in life.

You don’t have to already play an instrument to attend The Crowden School—we accept beginners! If your child is curious about the world, enjoys being part of a team, or can’t stop singing in the shower, they will benefit from a Crowden School education.

Sterne School

From Strengths to Greatness

Sterne School is a co-ed independent day school serving 4-12th grade students from all over the Bay Area. Sterne offers a personalized learning experience, with small class sizes and wrap-around support. At Sterne, highly-trained teachers take the time to understand each student’s learning profile, and every student benefits from a wealth of strategies, tools, and accommodations. Ours is an environment that amplifies strengths and gives every student the space to unlock their potential and achieve their own version of success.

The Berkeley School

At The Berkeley School, students are given the tools to achieve their full potential as individual scholars, members of their local communities, and active citizens of the world. A progressive, PreK-8 independent school, our culturally responsive curriculum focuses on current events and key conflict-resolution opportunities, empathy development practices, and student-led community campaigns, all of which reinforce our core belief: what matters in education is what matters in life.

St. Paul’s Episcopal School

St. Paul’s is an independent K-8 day school located steps from Lake Merritt that welcomes families of all faiths.

Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley

Every day our students learn to speak, write, and think in two languages, becoming open-minded, adaptable learners who discover their best selves while respecting the differences of others. We believe that when students see the world without borders or barriers, they can confidently and capably seize any opportunity. When students are equipped with that boundless perspective, they belong anywhere in the world.

East Bay German International School

EBGIS is a dual-language immersion school offering preschool through high school programs. Our highly trained and experienced international faculty implement a rigorous and developmentally appropriate German and English curriculum while our small class sizes permit teachers to give individualized support to all our students.

Mentoring Academy

Mentoring Academy’s students are very successful: in their academics, social growth, psychological health and commitment to their own development including college admissions, national testing, happiness, and essential life skills. The major reasons are:

• Very small classes, 2 to 5 students, with lots of individual 1:1 time. 
• Focus on developing important relationships with mentors, […]

Prospect Sierra School

Prospect Sierra students are passionate about learning. Our exceptional teachers inspire students to seek deep, meaningful understanding; to develop strong academic skills; and to become creative and independent thinkers. Prospect Sierra cultivates compassion, fairness, respect, and individuality within a community that celebrates diversity, authenticity, and service.

Bishop O’Dowd High School

We are a college preparatory community, guided by the Catholic educational tradition, to engage students in a rich curriculum that encompasses mind, body and spirit, and emboldens our graduates to lead and serve a more just, joyful and sustainable world.

At O’Dowd, we nurture the whole student.

Aurora School

Aurora School’s mission is to nurture children’s love of learning by cultivating academic excellence, emotional intelligence, and social engagement.

Aurora is a progressive K-8 independent school where teachers foster academic strength and the ability to solve problems with a focus on social justice. Social/Emotional Learning is essential to our curriculum, with an emphasis on self-awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. Our community of students, parents and staff practice empathy, kindness, and inclusivity and move through the world with positive intention.

Montessori Family School

The easiest way to understand what is special about an authentic Montessori classroom is to see it in action.

During “work period,” you’ll find children picking trays of beautifully painted, multi-colored objects from a carefully arranged shelf of other “work” trays. A child will find a spot to work, either on a rug or at a table, and will methodically lay out each piece of the set. Some children work alone, others in pairs or groups. Seeing a child (as young as 3!) work with this level of precision and independence never loses its shine.

Walden Center & School

Walden Center & School is a small, progressive, K-6 elementary school where children are taken seriously so they can be their authentic selves.

Escuela Bilingue Internacional

At EBI we prepare students to thrive and excel in a diverse, changing world with character and empathy. EBI has two campuses in the East Bay: Oakland and Emeryville. EBI is proud to be the only independent school in California to offer an invaluable combination of Spanish Immersion and the world-renowned International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme and Middle Years Programme. […]

East Bay School for Boys

The East Bay School for Boys empowers middle school boys to cultivate their intellectual, physical, and emotional selves to become the engaged, thoughtful, and courageous men of tomorrow.

Park Day School

Discover a school that will nurture your child’s love of learning. Within Park Day’s Kindergarten-8th grade program, dedicated teachers and engaged students collaborate to create a dynamic and joyful learning community for mastering academic and interpersonal skills. Students construct meaning and deep understanding through inquiry and discovery-based teaching. Our practices promote critical and creative thinking, […]

Redwood Day

At Redwood Day, everything we do is designed to keep every child engaged and growing.

Academically, that means a world-class curriculum, the best teachers, and a focus on the individual student. Our teachers are at the forefront of cutting-edge educational practices. They connect our curriculum to each child, helping students gain the skills they need to reach for the next academic challenge.

The Marin School

The Marin School: Personalized High School Education at its Best, College Prep Since 1981

Our mission is to provide a collaborative learning community that inspires confidence, creativity, integrity, and academic excellence through a deep belief in each student’s potential.

Julia Morgan School for Girls

Julia Morgan School for Girls, the only all-girls middle school in the East Bay, is a progressive learning environment where students thrive both academically and socially as their authentic selves. Our rigorous academic curriculum is seamlessly interwoven with our vibrant community culture. When JMSG students graduate, they leave with ownership of their learning and are prepared to effectuate their skills in a changing world. […]

Berkwood Hedge School

We are an independent K-8 school with lower and upper school campuses located in the Downtown and historic Northside neighborhoods of Berkeley. A leader in social and environmental justice issues, we are well known for a hands-on curriculum that promotes deep and intuitive learning. A solid and enduring core philosophy – a rich academic and arts program, […]