The Berkeley School

What The Berkeley School does

The Berkeley School (TBS) is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) TK-8 independent school operating across two Berkeley, California campuses: the University Avenue Campus at 1310 University Avenue (a 1904 Santa Fe Depot historic landmark, TK-8) and the Early Childhood Campus at 2030 Francisco Street (preschool). Founded in 1963 as Berkeley Montessori School — the first Montessori school in Berkeley — it was renamed in 2009 to reflect an expanded pedagogy blending Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Harvard Project Zero's Teaching for Understanding, Zaretta Hammond's Culturally Responsive Teaching & the Brain, and Universal Design for Learning. Enrollment is drawn from 29 Bay Area zip codes; roughly 48% of students identify as students of color and approximately 35% of families receive need-based tuition assistance (the Individual Family Tuition program), with the school awarding over $1M annually in aid. Outcomes are anchored to a 7:1 student-teacher ratio, a faculty credentialed through Project Zero and Reggio Emilia observation, and 93% of graduates enrolling at their first or second choice high school.

The school's product portfolio comprises four core programs — Transitional Kindergarten, Elementary (TK-5), Middle School (6-8), and Academics — plus two ancillary lines: the Depot Extended Day Program (TK-6 before/after-school care with optional judo, chess, gymnastics, cooking, carpentry, STEM, robotics enrichment) and Tinker Coop, a separately incorporated 501(c)(3) community makerspace housed on the University Avenue Campus that delivers after-school and summer STEM/robotics programming open to surrounding-school students. Revenue is overwhelmingly tuition-driven (TK-5 at $38,640/year, 6-8 at $42,500/year, plus Depot subscriptions tiered from $3,200 to $11,550 depending on days used), supplemented by Individual Family Tuition aid receipts from families (5-100% of top-rate tuition), the annual TBS Fund, and specialized campaigns (Norman Johnson Fund for the Arts, Engage A Changing World Fund). Marketing and admissions run through a Finalsite/Ravenna enrollment stack, a viewbook/content-marketing funnel, Yelp/Niche/Great Schools/Berkeley Parents Network review presence, Instagram/Facebook/Vimeo social channels, and guided campus tours plus open houses. Operating accreditations come from NAIS, CAIS, ISSFBA, and 501(c)(3) status under Federal Tax ID 94-1571768.

Name

The Berkeley School

Legal name

The Berkeley School

Website

https://theberkeleyschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Berkeley School is a private, nonprofit TK-8 independent school in Berkeley, California, founded in 1963 and serving Bay Area families with progressive, inclusive Montessori-rooted education, a 7:1 student-teacher ratio, neurodiversity support, and a Depot extended-day program plus Tinker Coop community makerspace.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. TK-8 Tuition: Primary revenue from tuition fees for Transitional Kindergarten through 8th grade education. TK-5th grade tuition is $38,640 annually; 6th-8th grade tuition is $42,500 annually. Extended day program available for additional cost.
2. Extended Day Program (The Depot): Before and after school care and enrichment program. TK-5th grade extended day costs $5,500 full year or $25/hour. Transportation available for $300/month. Additional optional enrichment classes (judo, chess, gymnastics, cooking, carpentry, STEM, robotics) offered by external providers for extra cost.
3. Individual Family Tuition (Financial Aid): Need-based tuition assistance program where families contribute between 5% and 100% of top-rate tuition. Approximately 37% of families pay less than top-rate tuition. School awards over $1M annually in tuition assistance.
4. Annual Fund and Philanthropy: Annual fundraising campaign (The TBS Fund) supporting yearly operating initiatives. Special funds include The Norman Johnson Fund for the Arts and The Engage A Changing World Fund. School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Federal Tax ID: 94-1571768).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Berkeley School is a private TK-8 independent school in Berkeley, California offering progressive, inclusive education rooted in Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Project Zero methodologies. It serves students ages 4-14 through three core divisions (TK-5 Elementary, 6-8 Middle School) plus supplementary programs including The Depot Extended Day care, Neurodiversity Support, and the Tinker Coop community makerspace. The school operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charging annual tuition and supported by philanthropic donations.

Product overview

The Berkeley School is a private TK-8 independent school offering a unified educational program rooted in Montessori principles with influences from Reggio Emilia, Project Zero, and Universal Design for Learning. The core educational offerings include the TK Program, Elementary Program (TK-5), and Middle School Program (6-8), supplemented by The Depot Extended Day Program for before/after school care. Additional offerings include a Neurodiversity Support Program for personalized learning, and the Tinker Coop community makerspace for STEM/robotics enrichment. The school serves students ages 4-14 with a focus on inclusive, progressive education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tinker Coop: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit community makerspace housed at The Berkeley School's University Avenue Campus, providing after-school and summer STEM and robotics programs for grades 4-8.
• The Depot

Products and services

• Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Program A combined TK/Kindergarten classroom for 4-6 year olds at The Berkeley School's Early Childhood Campus, informed by decades of Montessori expertise, focusing on social-emotional and cognitive growth through community-oriented, experiential activities that build academic foundations.
• Elementary Program (TK-5) A personalized, hands-on learning experience that builds core academic skills in literacy, mathematics, science, and cultural studies while developing metacognitive and executive functioning skills through small class sizes, low teacher-student ratios, and hands-on STEM education. Designed for TK-5 students at The Berkeley School.
• Middle School Program (6-8) A supportive community for 6th-8th grade students offering challenging academics supported by small class sizes, in-depth learning experiences, and intergenerational relationships that nurture students during rapid growth, preparing them for high school through math, English, science, civic studies, Spanish, arts, and sports.
• The Depot Extended Day Program Before and after school care and enrichment program for TK-6th grade students at The Berkeley School, offering Spanish classes, arts and crafts, games, free play, homework time, PE, team sports, and optional enrichment classes including judo, chess, gymnastics, cooking, carpentry, STEM, and robotics. Open to BUSD, OUSD, WCCSD, independent school, and homeschooled students with transportation available.
• Neurodiversity Support Program Neurodiversity-affirming education that identifies students' learning strengths, challenges, preferences, and interests to personalize instructional approaches and support a wide range of learning needs including dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and other learning profiles. Small class sizes and 7:1 student-teacher ratios enable individualized support.
• Tinker Coop Community Makerspace A 501(c)(3) nonprofit community makerspace housed at The Berkeley School's University Avenue Campus, providing after-school and summer STEM and robotics programs for grades 4-8, along with community-building activities like family maker nights and improv classes. While TBS students have priority access, Tinker Coop welcomes students from surrounding schools.
• Individual Family Tuition (IFT) Financial Aid Need-based tuition assistance program awarding over $1M annually, where families contribute between 5% and 100% of top-rate tuition based on need. Approximately 37% of families pay less than top-rate tuition, reflecting the school's commitment to socioeconomic diversity in the East Bay.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of graduates enroll at their first or second choice high school
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tinker CoopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTinker Coop is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community makerspace housed at TBS's University Avenue Campus. It provides after-school and summer STEM and robotics programs for grades 4-8. While TBS students have priority access, Tinker Coop also welcomes students from surrounding schools and seeks relationships with mission-aligned organizations such as Berkeley Youth Alternatives.
• Berkeley Youth AlternativesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTinker Coop (housed at TBS) seeks relationships with Berkeley Youth Alternatives as part of its community outreach mission to empower young people and strengthen community connections.
• Harvard Project ZerocoreOthersMost TBS faculty attend Harvard's Project Zero Classroom Institute, where cutting-edge pedagogy-neutral research into teaching and learning is disseminated. This ongoing professional development partnership keeps faculty at the forefront of educational research.
• Reggio Emilia Preschools (Italy)coreOthersAll TBS faculty spend time observing at Italy's renowned Reggio Emilia preschools as part of their professional development, integrating Reggio Emilia principles into TBS teaching practices.
• California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS)coreOthersMany TBS faculty lead workshops for CAIS and other local and national professional organizations. School is accredited by CAIS.
• California Teacher Development Collaborative (CATDC)coreOthersMany TBS faculty participate in and lead workshops for the California Teacher Development Collaborative. Lisa Haney, CATDC Executive Director, serves on TBS Board of Trustees.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aurora School: Oakland-based progressive K-5 school serving similar East Bay families with a personalized, inclusive approach to elementary education—overlapping primary customer segment and pedagogy.
• Live Oak School: A private progressive TK-8 school in Berkeley with a similar student-centered, social-emotional learning focus. Operates in the same Berkeley market with overlapping Montessori-/Reggio-influenced pedagogy and comparable tuition band.
• Park Day School: Independent progressive K-8 school in Oakland serving East Bay families with a mission-driven, social-justice-oriented educational approach and similar family demographic to TBS.
• Black Pine Circle School: Berkeley-based progressive K-8 private school with a low student-teacher ratio and project-based, critical-thinking curriculum—directly comparable size, geography, and pedagogy to The Berkeley School.
• Head-Royce School: Independent K-12 school in Oakland serving Bay Area families with progressive pedagogical orientation, accreditation (NAIS/CAIS), and pricing tier consistent with TBS. Larger and broader grade range make it an incumbent variant.
• Prospect Sierra School: Independent TK-8 progressive school in the East Bay (El Cerrito/Tiburon campuses) with similar emphasis on social-emotional learning, project-based work, and inclusion of diverse learners.

Regional players

• Marin Primary & Middle School: Independent K-8 progressive school in Marin County serving Bay Area families with similar hands-on, project-based pedagogy and tuition tier; comparable in mission but serves a different sub-region.

Broad incumbents

• The College Preparatory School: Elite Bay Area independent school serving similar families; while 9-12 rather than K-8, it is a destination high school for TBS graduates and competes for the same East Bay family market at a higher grade level.

Emerging players

• AltSchool (now part of Big Blue Academy): Tech-enabled, personalized progressive school model that shares TBS's emphasis on individualized learning and small-group instruction, though focused on K-12 with a blended online/in-person approach.
• Montessori schools (e.g., Strawberry Canyon / Berkeley Montessori House of Children): Berkeley-area pure Montessori schools that compete for the same early-childhood and elementary families seeking Montessori-rooted pedagogy. Smaller and more purely Montessori than the blended TBS model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/channels/tbsvideos
• Facebookfacebook.com/theberkeleyschool
• Instagraminstagram.com/the_berkeley_school
• Xx.com/tbschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-berkeley-school

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Berkeley School