Bentley School
Bentley School is a nonprofit K-12 private independent school operating two Bay Area campuses in Oakland (K-8) and Lafayette (9-12), serving over 700 students with a college-preparatory curriculum, Mini-Term experiential learning, Maker Studio, and dedicated college counseling.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1920
- HeadquartersLafayette, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Bentley School does
Bentley School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit private K-12 independent school founded in 1920 and operating two campuses in the San Francisco Bay Area: the Hiller Campus (K-8) at 1 Hiller Drive in Oakland and the Upper School campus (9-12) on a 12-acre site at 1000 Upper Happy Valley Road in Lafayette, California. The school serves over 700 students across Lower School (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and Upper School (9-12) divisions, guided by its longstanding motto 'Scire Desidero' (I Desire to Know). Core academic offerings center on a college-preparatory curriculum supplemented by the Mini-Term experiential learning week, a Maker Studio with robotics and design thinking, dedicated College Counseling, an athletics program competing in the Bay Area Conference, nearly 40 clubs and activities, and a 60-hour service learning graduation requirement with partners such as Save the Bay, the Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants, and the Alameda Food Bank.
The operating model is tuition-led, with 96% of operating revenue derived from tuition, fees, and other sources and the remaining 4% from fundraising. The annual development stack includes the Annual Fund ($901,218), the Gala and Auction ($359,338), Class Gift, Capital/Gift In-Kind contributions, corporate matching gift programs (operationalized via Double the Donation), planned/estate gifts, and vehicle donations through Cars2Charities, totaling approximately $1.48M in 2024-2025. Expense allocation is 71% to program, 17% to financial aid (supporting 180+ students), and 12% to general administration. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the in-house Admissions Office through campus tours, virtual visits, open houses, and parent-driven word-of-mouth referrals; the school has no third-party distribution partners and operates within a single-country domestic geographic footprint in California.
Leadership is structured around Head of School Christie Moncharmont and a Board of Trustees (President Mike Hughes; Vice-President/Chair Reagan Brooks-Jimenez; Secretary Marc Chhina), with senior operational roles including Director of K-8 Jacquie Escher, Director of College Counseling Sonia Ryan, Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Yancie Davis, Director of Athletics Rich Mazzola, Director of Advancement Anna Heidinger, and Director of Events and Community Engagement Dana Wentworth. The school has no parent company, no venture or private equity sponsorship, and no acquisition or restructuring activity; it is held in community trust for its educational mission.
Bentley School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bentley School
- Legal name
- Bentley School
- Website
- https://bentleyschool.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1920
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Bentley School is a nonprofit K-12 private independent school operating two Bay Area campuses in Oakland (K-8) and Lafayette (9-12), serving over 700 students with a college-preparatory curriculum, Mini-Term experiential learning, Maker Studio, and dedicated college counseling.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bentley School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent K-12 Private Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Montessori K–12 Schools (EDAJABAD)
Keywords
Where Bentley School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lafayette
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Bentley School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition: Primary revenue source covering most operating costs. Tuition provides the largest portion of the operating budget.
- Annual Fund: Flagship philanthropic initiative raising over $900,000 annually to supplement operating budget, supporting faculty compensation, financial aid, and program enhancements.
- Gala and Auction: Annual fundraising event raising nearly $335,000 for faculty professional development and student financial aid.
- Corporate Matching Gifts: Corporate matching gift programs where employers match employee donations, potentially doubling or tripling gift impact.
- Planned Gifts: Deferred or estate gifts that support Bentley while potentially providing tax or financial benefits to donors.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Bentley School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bentley School is a private, nonprofit K-12 independent school operating two California campuses: a K-8 Hiller Campus in Oakland and a 9-12 Lafayette Campus serving roughly 700 students with a college-preparatory curriculum. Its educational offering is anchored on the motto "Scire Desidero – I Desire to Know" and includes three sequential programs (Lower School K-5, Middle School 6-8, Upper School 9-12) supplemented by distinctive programs such as the Mini-Term experiential learning week, Maker Studio with robotics and design thinking, comprehensive College Counseling, competitive athletics, and a Service Learning program requiring 60 hours for graduation.
Product overview
Bentley School is a private K-12 independent school serving Oakland and Lafayette, California, with two campuses: the Hiller Campus (K-8 in Oakland) and the Lafayette Campus (9-12). The school offers a college-preparatory curriculum centered on its motto 'Scire Desidero' (I Desire to Know), with educational programs spanning Lower School (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and Upper School (9-12). The school provides specialized programs including Maker Studio for hands-on making and robotics, Mini-Term experiential learning weeks, comprehensive college counseling, competitive athletics, and over 35 clubs and activities. Additional offerings include service learning (60 hours required for graduation), outdoor education, performing arts, and an After School Program.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lower School Program (K-5) Kindergarten through 5th grade program at the Hiller Campus in Oakland, providing a nurturing environment with the Hiller Library, PACT (Partners Achieving Creativity and Technology), outdoor garden, and Maker Studio hands-on learning activities for younger students.
- Middle School Program (6-8) Grades 6-8 program at the Hiller Campus focused on outdoor education, technology integration, student support services, and a comprehensive curriculum preparing students for the Upper School.
- Upper School Program (9-12) Grades 9-12 college-preparatory program at the Lafayette campus, featuring a flexible schedule, Mini-Term experiential learning, comprehensive college counseling, competitive athletics, and extensive extracurricular programs on a 12-acre campus.
- Mini-Term Hallmark K-12 experiential learning week where each grade embarks on deep dives into learning and adventure, including Upper School domestic and international travel, Middle School electives, and Lower School themes ranging from oceanography to Rube Goldberg machines.
- Maker Studio Dedicated flexible indoor/outdoor makerspace equipped with woodworking tools, robotics kits, 3D printers, and design thinking curriculum. Students pursue guided and unguided passion projects through electives such as Intro to Robotics, Underwater Robotics, and Outdoor Cooking.
- College Counseling Comprehensive college counseling program with dedicated advisors who guide Upper School students through the application process, host panels with college admissions deans, and help students find the right institutional fit. Class of 2025 earned 503 offers from 209 institutions.
- Athletics Program Competitive athletics program including cross country, soccer, tennis, volleyball, basketball, baseball, golf, lacrosse, swimming, and track and field for Middle School and Upper School students, competing in the Bay Area Conference.
- After School Program Extended-day program offering supervision and enrichment activities beyond regular school hours for students at both the Oakland and Lafayette campuses.
- Clubs and Activities Nearly 40 clubs and activities including ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) Club, Model UN, Speech & Debate, Girls Who Code, Dance Ensemble, and various affinity groups, providing leadership and extracurricular opportunities.
- Service Learning Program Community service program requiring 60 hours for graduation, introducing students to service through Mini-Term and connecting them with Bay Area partner organizations including Save the Bay, Alameda Food Bank, and the Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants.
Quantifiable outcome
- 503 college offers from 209 institutions for 78 students (Class of 2025)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Bentley School
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Bentley School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Bentley School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EpicureancoreEpicurean serves as the food service vendor for The Commons at Lafayette, crafting fresh meals daily including a la carte items, hot entrees, homemade soups, vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free options, and grab-and-go choices.
- Bay Area Discovery MuseumminorThe Bay Area Discovery Museum's Try It Truck (mobile maker space) visited the Hiller campus, providing Lower School students (K-2) opportunities to build race cars and parachutes, testing them on ramps and in wind tunnels.
- Cars2CharitiesminorPartner organization handling vehicle donations to Bentley School, providing tax deduction opportunities for donors while supporting school fundraising.
- Save the BayminorEnvironmental organization serving as a service learning partner where Bentley students volunteer and learn about environmental conservation in the Bay Area.
- Center for Empowering Refugees and ImmigrantsminorCommunity organization providing service learning opportunities for Bentley students to support refugee and immigrant communities through volunteer work.
- Alameda Food BankminorFood bank organization where Bentley students volunteer during Mini-Term and as part of ongoing service learning requirements.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Bentley School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Nueva School: Independent K-12 school in Hillsborough (and San Mateo) with strong gifted/creative learning focus. Comparable K-12 tuition tier and Bay Area family target, with broader grade span and specialized learning orientation.
- Head-Royce School: Independent K-12 school in Oakland serving Bay Area families with college-preparatory curriculum and experiential programs. Direct competitor for Bay Area tuition-paying families across K-12 grades, operating in similar price and reputation tier as Bentley.
- Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton: Independent K-12 Catholic school on the Peninsula serving affluent Bay Area families. Comparable K-12 structure, tuition tier, and college-prep outcomes with similar community and experiential programming.
- Bellarmine College Preparatory: Large Catholic 9-12 college-prep school in San Jose serving Bay Area families. Comparable college-preparatory mission and outcomes, operates in broader Bay Area private school market though faith-based.
- The College Preparatory School: Highly selective 9-12 private school in Oakland emphasizing intellectual rigor and community. Direct peer in Upper School admissions market with overlapping applicant pool and similar college-prep positioning.
- Athenian School: Independent 6-12 college-preparatory school in Danville, East Bay. Comparable college-prep mission with similar experiential emphasis and Bay Area family target market.
- Lick-Wilmerding High School: 9-12 independent school in San Francisco with technical education and college-prep curriculum. Direct peer for Upper School college-preparatory Bay Area families, similar Bay Area tuition tier and outcomes profile.
- Marin Academy: 9-12 progressive college-preparatory school in San Rafael, Marin County. Comparable selectivity, tuition tier, and mission-aligned experiential curriculum serving Bay Area families.
- Bay School of San Francisco: 9-12 independent college-prep school in San Francisco. Direct competitor for Bay Area Upper School families, similar tuition tier and college outcomes focus.
- Urban School of San Francisco: 9-12 progressive independent school in San Francisco. Direct peer for Upper School admissions market, comparable college-prep outcomes and Bay Area family demographic.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Bentley School social profiles
Digital presenceBentley School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bentley School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Bentley School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bentley School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bentley School
What does Bentley School do?
Bentley School is a private, nonprofit K-12 independent school operating two California campuses: a K-8 Hiller Campus in Oakland and a 9-12 Lafayette Campus serving roughly 700 students with a college-preparatory curriculum. Its educational offering is anchored on the motto "Scire Desidero – I Desire to Know" and includes three sequential programs (Lower School K-5, Middle School 6-8, Upper School 9-12) supplemented by distinctive programs such as the Mini-Term experiential learning week, Maker Studio with robotics and design thinking, comprehensive College Counseling, competitive athletics, and a Service Learning program requiring 60 hours for graduation.
Is Bentley School a public or private company?
Bentley School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Bentley School founded?
Bentley School was founded in 1920. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Bentley School based?
Bentley School is headquartered in Lafayette, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bentley School make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Tuition is the primary driver. The others are annual Fund, gala and Auction, corporate Matching Gifts and planned Gifts.
Who are Bentley School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Nueva School, Head-Royce School, Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton, Bellarmine College Preparatory, The College Preparatory School, Athenian School, Lick-Wilmerding High School, Marin Academy, Bay School of San Francisco and Urban School of San Francisco.
Does Bentley School have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bentley School.
What industry is Bentley School in?
Bentley School's product category is Independent K-12 Private Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJABAD, Montessori K–12 Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.