Bilingual School in Berkeley, East Bay Area

Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley:
Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley is a French-English bilingual school in south-west Berkeley in northern Alameda County in the East Bay region of California. We provide a bilingual, international environment where children from preschool through to eighth grade are cared for, stimulated and challenged. We are the oldest bilingual school in the East Bay area. Our graduates go on to top high schools and colleges, and at last count they had lived, worked, and studied in 47 countries worldwide.

Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley is accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and the French Ministry of National Education. It is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, and the Association Nationale des Ecoles Francaises a l’Etranger. Our preschool is fully licensed by the State of California.

About Us:
Since we first opened our doors in 1977, enrollment at Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley has grown from 55 students to 525, and the number of languages we offer has increased from two to five (English, French, Spanish, Mandarin, and Latin). We offer a challenging and rigorous course of study in both French and English, set in a multicultural environment.

We offer families a strong sense of community. The closely-knit “family” of the school is vital in creating a nurturing environment for our children. Our international atmosphere and inclusiveness comes through in events that celebrate the wonderfully varied backgrounds of our students.

Our Aim:
Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley educates a diverse population of boys and girls, and we aim to inspire them to strive for academic excellence and to develop a high sense of personal and social responsibility.

We offer students a well-balanced program that combines the best of the French and American educational approaches. The curriculum in each grade is carefully integrated so that French and English instruction complement each other. The French educational system divides the primary grades into three cycles: Cycle 1 (preschool and K), Cycles 2 & 3 ((K-1-2-3-4-5) & Cycle 4

- Pre-Kindergarten, Preschool & Kindergarten programs (Cycle 1)
- Lower School programs:  Elementary Grade 1-5 (Cycle 2 & 3)
- Middle School programs:  Grades 6-8 (Cycle 4)

Additionally:  Extended day care & after-school enrichment classes, athletics, the arts and bilingual summer camps.

The teachers in our school are highly experienced and qualified professionals. All of the teachers in our French program hold credentials from the French Ministry of Education, and all are native speakers. All of the teachers in our English program are fully credentialed as well. Teachers at our Middle School hold single-subject credentials in the subject they teach, and our art, music, gardening, and PE programs are likewise taught by specialists.

Why Choose Bilingualism?
Bilingualism carries concrete advantages and improves abilities for children who grow up speaking a second language. Learning another language is a step towards joining the global community. When more than half the world’s population is bilingual, mastering a second language teaches ways of interacting with the world.