As a parent of two young children, I'm wrestling with how best to prepare them for a world that's changing so rapidly. With AI coming, what skills will really matter? Two years into our journey at Escuela Bilingüe Internacional (EBI), I've come to appreciate the value of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, especially its focus on inquiry-based learning and bilingualism. A few reasons this feels more relevant than ever: Intellectual curiosity IB helps students develop a love of exploring ideas, formulating questions, and seeking deeper understanding--skills that will set them apart in a world of instant answers. Cross-disciplinary thinking IB encourages students to make connections across subjects and approach problems creatively. Bilingualism and cultural fluency Learning in two languages strengthens cognitive flexibility and helps students navigate a more connected, global society. Global and ethical perspective The program develops empathy, collaboration, and a strong sense of ethics, which our world needs now more than ever. read more

We initially chose EBI for its Spanish immersion program and were soon delighted to discover it's also an International Baccalaureate (IB) school. While raising bilingual children is important to us, the IB curriculum has become the most enriching part of our experience. Its inquiry-driven approach inspires curiosity, deep thinking, and a genuine love of learning that keeps our children engaged. Our top priority was to find a school where our kids would enjoy learning, ask big questions, and develop a global perspective--and EBI has exceeded our expectations. The teaching at EBI is high quality. The educators are thoughtful, skilled, and dedicated to helping each child succeed. They create a supportive learning environment that emphasizes both academic and social-emotional growth. Group work and collaboration are central to the school's approach, helping students build important interpersonal and problem-solving skills. EBI has been a great fit for our child with a learning difference, and also the one that doesn't have a learning difference because of their commitment to differentiated learning, which supports all learners! The inquiry-based model allows them to engage with the material without relying on memorization or worksheets. We appreciate the strong Learning Differences and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) support team as well! The EBI community--teachers and parents alike--have been fabulous! read more

I absolutely adore EBI. My daughter started last year in kindergarten and spoke zero Spanish. I watched her this morning give a full report, in Spanish, from the beautiful book that she had made in her first grade class. She is absolutely thriving! She is greeted each day with smiles from her peers, the staff and her incredibly enthusiastic and dedicated teacher, Maestra Rosy. She has even requested to be enrolled in the aftercare program a couple days a week to stay even longer at school! I think that really says something. EBI is more than just a Spanish Immersion school. It's a beautiful community full of incredibly interesting parents and staff from diverse backgrounds who have all converged for the purpose of raising "Global Citizens." The IB education looks at how we are all connected and teaches our children to be critical thinkers. I feel blessed to be a part of this community and would highly recommend them to perspective families. My only regret is that we didn't enroll her starting in PK! read more

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We have been a part of the EBI community for 8 years for three kids. It is the best educational decision we made. Wonderful teachers, great leadership, and the school is really on the right track as it's strengthening and building itself and its programs. read more

We couldn't be more impressed with EBI. From the moment our daughter stepped into the classroom, it was clear that every part of the day is thoughtfully designed to support children's development--socially, emotionally, and academically. The level of care and intentionality the teachers bring to their work is extraordinary. Each activity has a purpose, and yet everything is presented through joyful, play-based learning that keeps our daughter engaged and excited. The early literacy foundation has been especially impressive. Through songs, stories, and playful exploration of letter sounds, our daughter is developing phonemic awareness and letter recognition in both Spanish and English in a way that feels completely organic. At the same time, the focus on social-emotional learning has helped her grow in confidence, empathy, and independence. The International Baccalaureate framework gives real depth to the curriculum--even in preschool. The units of inquiry encourage curiosity and critical thinking, and it's amazing to see how much meaning the kids are able to make of the world around them, even at this age. She started with no Spanish and by midyear was understanding and responding to her teachers with ease. The exposure to native speakers from different Spanish-speaking countries has made the language immersion feel natural and rich. We've also loved being part of the EBI community--it's warm, inclusive, and genuinely invested in creating the best environment for kids and families. EBI has been a gift to our family. We're so grateful for this thoughtful, joyful, and deeply intentional learning environment. read more

EBI is a Spanish full-immersion PK-8 school that is spread across two nearby campuses. The lower school (PK-1) is located on Alcatraz between Telegraph and College roughly in the Rockridge area behind a church. The upper school (2-8) is on San Pablo Ave in Emeryville on a newer campus. Our daughter started at age 5 without any background in Spanish. Her class was roughly comprised of (a) kids with a Spanish-speaking background at home, (b) kids who had been immersed in Spanish-speaking childcare or preschool, and (c) kids like our daughter who could only count to 10 in Spanish. It's been crazy to watch the progress in real-time. It doesn't look anything like what we all went through to learn a second language in high school or college. It's the real deal to the point that our daughter opts into Spanish at home as much as she opts into English, and we aren't native Spanish speakers ourselves. We are happily struggling to keep up. If you're trying to figure out where to send your kid to school, consider the following: - Most private schools are much more similar to one another than anyone wants to admit. There are very few that are truly unique, and that offer something *fundamentally* different than any other school. EBI is one of those schools. - There's plenty of stuff you can learn later in life, but language fluency typically only happens at an early age. The earlier, the better, but don't freak out if you're starting your kid a little bit later. They'll still get there, and they won't feel any of the anxiety that older kids and adults sometimes feel learning something new. - It's not just about language. A lot of the benefit at EBI is exposing your kid to an international mindset. - No school is perfect. I've yet to meet a parent at any school who hasn't struggled with some kind of administrative, educational, or social challenge. EBI has its share of quirks too. Everyone deals. read more

Our 5 year old daughter has been at EBI for 2 years and will be going to Kindergarten at the school in the fall. Our family chose EBI primarily for the Spanish Dual Immersion, diversity in student body, academic reputation, and what we perceived as a great parent community. Our daughter's pre-kinder years at EBI have been wonderful and our experience with the school and parent community has been fantastic. We are not a Spanish speaking family, but in the two years that our daughter has been at the school, her Spanish has flourished; she speaks and understands Spanish very well and every day her grasp of the language grows. In this last year in particular, our daughter has blossomed in so many ways and we attribute this to the steady guidance of her amazing teachers who have been warm, caring, and have supported her emotionally and academically. The staffing of the classrooms are designed so that the children receive a lot of care of attention. Our daughter is happy to go to school every day and always comes home with a smile on her face. My husband and I have been blessed to have found a community of parents that are diverse, dedicated, and simply fantastic. The commitment and dedication amongst the parent community was most evident to me recently. The school was recently in a period of transition (not uncommon for independent schools), but the parent community showed up in a big way to support support the teachers and administration. The experience demonstrated the strength, commitment, and solidarity of the EBI community and proved it can navigate ups and downs and come out the other side successful. My husband and I plan to send our daughter here through 8th grade and are so grateful we have found such an amazing place for our daughter and for ourselves. read more

We have truly enjoyed every single day at this school. Our two young daughters have really thrived here. Their spanish is fluent, we've met wonderful parents, they feel love and part of something bigger every single day. I love the IB programs and we're very happy at EBI. read more

We have two boys, one of whom was at EBI from kindergarten through eighth grade and the other started in pre-K and will start middle school in the fall. We started at EBI with our older son because of the Spanish immersion and were not disappointed. The longer we've been there however, the more we've learned how the IB approach differs from the alternatives, and have come to value that nearly as much. Additionally, we deeply appreciate the small school environment with a high teacher to student ratio and staff and faculty who are deeply committed to the families here. When an issue arises (and anyone with kids in school knows that it's simply a matter of time before one does - Covid anyone? --holy moly... ) there is an abundance of support, and people with whom to solve problems -- there's absolutely nowhere else I'd rather be in those situations. We've had a great experience at EBI and would recommend it highly to any family looking for Spanish immersion and a small school environment (And you can always call their admissions and ask to visit or speak to current parents etc.) read more

We have been at EBI with our two kids for ten years. We've stayed for a few key reasons: warmth, community, and intellectual engagement. The lower school has a wonderfully warm learning environment for younger kids. The students pick up Spanish incredibly quickly through total immersion in Pre-K, and dual immersion starting in kindergarten. The IB educational approach--which integrates instruction across subjects--keeps the students really engaged, as does the project-based approach to learning. The teachers are impressive. (Who would expect to discover that their child's pre-school teacher used to be a judge in South America?) At the upper school, students continue to grow, becoming fluent speakers and writers in both languages, again through the IB-based integrative approach. The curriculum emphasizes project-based learning and the development of public speaking skills. We have been particularly impressed with academics in the middle school, with excellent teachers in Math, Spanish literature, English, Music, and other subjects. Eighth graders prepare for Spain's DELE certification in Spanish. Perhaps the most wonderful part of the school is the parent, teacher, and staff community, which brings together a highly international mix of families with ties to or interests in Latin America and Spain, and an orientation towards community service and global engagement. There is intellectual exchange, dancing, shared service days, and more. We will miss this community when our kids graduate! read more

I currently have three kids at EBI, and they started in 1st, 4th, and 6th grades. While they had some exposure to Spanish when they began, my kids all entered a bit behind some of the other children in Spanish and Mandarin. My oldest entered through the Language Acquisition Track (LAT), designed to support students who have limited Spanish to have accelerated learning in the first part of middle school. The school supported curricular adjustments to focus on Spanish and in just one year he was moved to the immersion classes with his peers! We have experience across both campuses and all ages/learning types. Overall, the EBI community has been truly incredible; the teachers are working hard to meet the needs of a diverse set of children in multiple languages, and the administration is willing to work with families to help meet students' needs. All three of my children, who are quite different from each other, are thriving at EBI. read more

Our daughters, now in 7th and 8th grade, have attended EBI since pre-K so we have been parents at the school for about 11 years. The school has given our children a tremendous educational, Spanish fluency and an enriching cultural and IB curriculum experience they couldn't have received elsewhere. I am a graduate of Town School and University High School in SF and my wife and I chose to educate our children in a multilingual environment with tremendous cultural and racial diversity because we thought it would open up greater opportunity and enrichment for them. The school's mission is to help develop true global citizens able to navigate the complex challenges of our community and world and we really resonated with this vision and are extremely glad we made this choice. The other huge positive of EBI is the tremendous community it offers with extremely devoted, generous parent community which has enriched our lives and those of our children. read more

I highly recommend Escuela Bilingüe Internacional (EBI). We commute from Half Moon Bay to Oakland each day because we love EBI so much. Our 5-year-old daughter loves EBI. She wakes up every day excited about going to school to see her teachers and play with her classmates. She never wants to come home after school. In fact, my daughter made my wife and I put her in the after-school program Aventura. We were dubious at first because being in school from 8:30 am to 5:45 pm (normally 3 pm) seemed like a long day, but our daughter was relentless, we finally caved in, and we are delighted by the results. It is amazing to see how much our daughter has grown mentally and emotionally since starting at EBI. She has become an inquisitive little girl who constantly tackles problems, comes up with creative solutions, and takes the initiative on all sorts of things, for example, eating healthfully. The staff and teachers are wonderful people, as are the parents. EBI is a school that lives and breathes the principles of global citizenship and cultural diversity, both in terms of its faculty and student body. It is amazing to see all the kids in my daughter's class speaking to each other in Spanish and even Spanglish while playing. With its international baccalaureate and socio-emotional learning curriculum, EBI also provides an excellent Spanish-English bilingual education based on the highest international academic standards. The school offers a plethora of fun opportunities for every child-friendly activity imaginable, including art, dance, fitness, music, and science, among others. Aventura is open ended, letting the students explore their interests. For example, our daughter was part of an art exhibit done in collaboration with celebrated artists and the local community. We are grateful that our daughter was able to complete her entire year of kindergarten at EBI in person despite the global pandemic. The school managed the pandemic superbly, consulting with experts and letting them manage the school's reopening. The result was that the school never had to shut down after reopening. Based on what our friends told us, other schools did not fare so well. I cannot think of a better testament to how well the staff run the school than this. We could not be happier with our decision to put our daughter in EBI and look forward to seeing her continue to learn and grow and build lifelong friendships at EBI. read more

I have 2 children at EBI and we've been there almost 3 years. One of our kids came in knowing some Spanish (from another preschool) and one did not. Both of them have had truly wonderful experiences. All of their teachers throughout the 3 years have been gems - engaging, supportive, and skilled as educators. Every time I connect with them, it's clear how well my children are known and seen and they're always extremely responsive to our reach outs. We've also very much appreciated the strong community of families. We've found them to be consistently warm, welcoming, and down to earth, and we love how the diversity of experiences and backgrounds at the school is celebrated. I couldn't recommend EBI more highly. Although we chose it for the Spanish opportunity, in reality Spanish has really just been the cherry on top of our overall experience. read more

After not even a full year at the school with a preschooler and Kindergartener, my husband and I agree this is the best decision we've ever made as a family and are beyond thrilled with everything we've experienced so far-the teachers and staff, the curriculum, and above all, the community and support we feel. We cannot wait to see what the rest of this year and subsequent years will bring! read more

My children have been attending EBI for elementary school for five years and our experience has been quite different from the glowing opinions expressed below. Initially we were pleased with the quality of the education, but in recent years the school has reduced the number of elementary school STEM teachers to the point where there is now one teacher covering all of math and science education in both Spanish and English for three grades (3rd - 5th). The limited amount of time spent on math instruction has led to the students falling significantly behind both the school's published curriculum and the public school common core math standards. The internal community, which we found initially to be quite warm and welcoming, has also taken a turn for the worse over the recent years with board members regularly stepping in to condescendingly shut down parent comments and questions on the discussion platforms which even hint at a critique of the school administration. It's gone from an open and friendly place to one where you will be shamed if you don't think every aspect is perfect. read more

EBI kids are surrounded by loving and encouraging teachers and staff. The parent community is so welcoming and resourceful. As an immigrant parent trying to expose my children to our native language (not Spanish) at home, I am very happy to say EBI has been so tremendously helpful in keeping my kids engaged and excited to learn Spanish and English at school while maintaining our native language at home. read more

We have one child who just 7th grade and has been at EBI since 1st grade. Overall, we are happy with the experience that our child has had at EBI and we feel like she is prepared for high school. We do not speak Spanish at home, but our daughter is now fluent in Spanish. (Perhaps our funniest confirmation of this fact was from an anesthesiologist who was a native Spanish speaker, and who put our child under for a minor procedure. She let us know that our daughter was chatting away in Spanish as the anesthesia was taking effect, much to the doctor's surprise!) The middle school program is small, the classes and curriculum are innovative and creative and there are some great teachers among the middle school teachers particularly in Math and Spanish language and literature. The kids get personal attention, are challenged to think critically, and go on an annual educational trip, the most exciting being a trip to a Spanish-speaking country in 8th grade. EBI is going through a leadership transition and the Board, staff and parent community are approaching this as an opportunity to further strengthen the school. read more

EBI has been AWESOME for our son and us. Here's what we love about it: 1. Spanish immersion - bilingualism. Our son is in 1st grade (his 5th year at the school), with EBI as his only exposure to Spanish, and he can say a lot quite fluently. 2. Bilingualism - shaping a flexible brain. It turns out learning 2 languages shapes kids' brains to be much more flexible and see things from multiple perspectives, which promotes both cognitive and moral development. We see this in action in conversation with our little dude. So cool! 3. International baccalaureate program. The school runs on the IB curriculum, which emphasizes holistic, humanitarian, multidisciplinary learning. He's rocking the 3 R's but also making connections about his place in the world, how we are interconnected, and how to be a solid citizen. 4. Teachers. They hail from all over Latin America and are so loving, committed, creative, and attentive. A true gift. 5. Community. The families are diverse, kind, welcoming, and fun. 6. Administration. They are thoughtful, expert, inclusive, receptive, warm, and bright. 7. Mandarin Chinese. They start learning it in 3d grade. Wow. 8. No Spanish needed. Kids can enter at ANY GRADE including 6th grade with NO SPANISH. We love EBI! read more

My daughter just finished her 3rd year at EBI, and we love it more than ever. It's quite simply a great group of people. The kids are great: communicative, creative, compassionate. The teachers are great: enthusiastic, skilled, motivated. The parents are great: involved, fun, and down-to-earth. When something needs to be done, the whole community just rolls up the sleeves, and gets the job done. The learning at EBI seems effortless...there is no busy work, no boredom, no burnout. My daughter and her classmates seem to think that everything at EBI is fun: Science, Math, Art, Music, P.E., Writing, and Reading. The children read, research, compose, and present their projects with equal fluency in English and in Spanish. In our house we're particularly excited that Mandarin lessons begin next year. How cool is that? I won't have any idea what she's saying...but I'm thrilled nonetheless! read more

My three year old daughter is sooo happy with her class. She was very sad the first couple of days. Then soon enough she couldn't get enough. She asks if she is going to school today even though it's a weekend or evening. Our neighbors from Mexico are so impressed how well she speaks and understands Spanish. The teachers, staff, children, and parents all contribute to a warm sense of community. We can't wait for next year to see how many more pleasant surprises are in store. read more

My daughters have been at EBI for five years and are thriving in the nurturing yet academically challenging environment. The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is teaching my girls about global awareness and citizenship, environmental care, and to be kind to others. Native Spanish speakers have complimented the perfect accent they have mastered, a result of having teachers from numerous countries, primarily Central America. The facilities are well designed to provide for a great learning environment. We selected EBI for numerous reasons for our girls, including the gift of learning Spanish and Mandarin language, and we couldn't be happier with our choice. read more

Our family is now in our fourth year at EBI. Like many families at the school, we became interested because of the Spanish immersion program, had our eyes opened by the international baccalaureate (IB) program and were blown away by the community at the school. We believe this combination makes the school completely unique in the Bay Area. If you are considering EBI make sure of a few things - - Take a tour! - Understand the mission of the school, it's embrace of diversity and global mindedness, and consider the values of your own family. 1. Language It's pretty striking to walk into a first grade class and hear little blonde kid speaking Spanish, during math, in a perfect accent. That struck us during an early tour of the school before we applied. Mandarin starts in 3rd grade - we've been very impressed so far. The Spanish immersion in K-2 is 90% Spanish and 10% English. So math and all "subjects" are taught in Spanish. 2. The IB program We knew nothing about IB before investigating EBI. The students are taught an interdisciplinary program that synthesizes history, science, art, writing and math through lenses such as the human body, space exploration, natural phenomenon, and more. Three attributes that we've seen come out from the program are risk taking, a thirst for inquiry and global mindedness. True story - I had three 8 yr old boys in a carpool after baseball practice playing 20 questions. Two of the mystery subjects they came up with were Sonia Sotomayor and Malala Yousafzai. I was blown away. 3. Community EBI is only 10 years old. It's still very much an adolescent school. It has the benefits of a stable program with a sizeable enrollment and great facilities. The school thrives and depends on parental and community involvement. The founding families of the school painted the walls, built the gardens and staffed the administration of the school. That spirit of involvement is strong. We've enjoyed the opportunity to get involved and help shape the program of the school over time. Not only have our kids learned and grown, but we have as well. I'm most excited looking forward to middle school in a few years. There's a new Design program that has just started which combines technology (programming, 3D printing, robotics) with video production and design principles. This is a new language in its own right and an interdisciplinary set of skills that is vital in the world around us today. read more

This is our daughter's second year in Pre-K at EBI and we absolutely cannot imagine a better school. The students EBI produces are extraordinary- here's why: 1.- The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. If ever there existed a curriculum that maximized the number of self-actualized students in a school, this would be it. The IB Program has structured, transdisciplinary units of inquiry that get the students thinking about complex, global topics starting at even the earliest ages (for example: what our rights and responsibilities are as members of a local and global community; how humans use their understanding of scientific principles; what it means to be human; etc.). And the use of math is imbedded into all of it. All of this starts in Pre-K, and wow does it pay off! 2.- Spanish Immersion. There are, last I checked, native Spanish-speaking teachers from at least 14 different countries represented in EBI's faculty. The consequence? The students thereby have the unrivaled opportunity to learn directly from primary sources about a staggering number of different cultures and experiences that the average American student never gets exposed to. And the teachers here are phenomenal! Also, by virtue of the school's Spanish immersion, EBI students graduate as biliterate. Not merely are they fluent in English and Spanish, but they are also literate in both languages. 3.- Diversity. The amount of diversity at EBI is staggering, even by Bay Area standards, and it's made that way quite by design. EBI's tuition assistance program ensures that families with lower incomes can afford to send their children to EBI. Why? Because having a diverse school boasting families from all backgrounds is integral to EBI's mission. My husband and I were initially worried that our daughter would be alienated because she has two dads, but then we learned that the appreciation of diversity is so important to EBI that each class spends a significant amount of time discussing the differences and similarities of families, and that differences are taught to comprise an asset and not a detriment. It's so profoundly simple and effective that one wonders what the world would be like if all pre-schools took this approach to appreciating and respecting diversity. 4.- Community. Relaying how phenomenally warm and welcoming the faculty, staff, and parents at EBI are might prove difficult given how much of an outlier the school is, but here it goes. I have never witnessed such a welcoming environment. Ever. Dropping off my daughter in the morning is a complete joy given her excitement to be going to school, and especially given the excitement and enthusiasm of the other children being dropped off. It needs to be seen to be believed. The existing EBI families are friendly and welcoming to one another, and are especially so to new families. The teachers, most importantly, are tremendously loving and attentive to the children. My daughter's teachers each give her a big hug every morning when I drop her off, and that love is so incredibly important for creating a real sense of community at the school. 5. Mandarin. The world is shrinking, and raising tomorrow's children in the same manner that we ourselves were raised (i.e., Isolationist) is, in my opinion, a huge miscalculation. As an international school, EBI's curriculum recognizes the importance of global mindedness and the appreciation of different cultures and worldviews. Knowing additional languages is invaluable in the world of tomorrow, and EBI's decision to begin teaching its students Mandarin in the third grade is, I believe, a truly brilliant touch. EBI graduates, therefore, are English/Spanish biliterate and conversational in Mandarin, which means that they can effectively communicate in the world's three most populous languages. And this is only upon graduating from the 8th grade. Just imagine all of the opportunities afforded them with such an early advantage. Why it is most families decide to continue on at EBI through 8th grade is now very clear to me. It's an extraordinary school that seems to thank its existence to the chance convergence of a handful of visionary educators whose work created a dynamo that in turn attracted and retained more brilliant people. My daughter, who was so dispirited at her previous preschool, now loves going to school. She comes home speaking rapid-fire, flawless Spanish, and while I have absolutely no idea what she's saying, I'm reassured in knowing that her mind is working at a higher level and that she's profoundly excited to learn. And she's not alone. Go to campus during morning drop-off and you'll see kids literally sprinting from cars in order to get to school faster. Take a campus tour and see it for yourself. EBI is a truly marvelous and exceptional school that seems only to get better with each passing year. read more

I have not been an active reviewer on Yelp before, but I just had to share about the incredible school that our children go to. We have been at EBI for 6 years now and absolutely love it. We have a 3rd grader and a preK child at the school and their experiences are both amazing. The teachers are so loving and committed to providing the students with a strong educational experience. Our younger son is quite shy and the teachers have been so supportive and encouraging in helping him to come out of his shell and really thrive. The Spanish-English bilingual program is exceptional. We are English-speaking parents with some basic Spanish and have amazed by how our 3rd grader is fluent in Spanish and reading above grade below in both languages. And the International Baccalaureate program makes them not only lifelong learners but also develops a strong set of values they will have the rest of their lives. We love the community of families too. It really is a special place! read more

As someone whose son has attended EBI since it opened its doors in 2006, I could not be more proud to recommend it to others. We are native Spanish speakers who speak Spanish to our son at home, but we chose to enroll him at the school so he could learn to read and write in Spanish and maintain his cultural identity. What I like about EBI is not only is the Spanish curriculum stellar, taught largely by native Spanish speakers who have college degrees and professional experience in their home countries, but it is culturally Latino. The children celebrate Dia de los Muertos, for example, by helping build an altar and participate in a parade at school every year. The music teacher, who is from Venezuela, not only teaches them culturally relevant rhythms and songs but she has the children write their own music -- in Spanish! The physical education teacher is from Cuba and was actually on the national volleyball team there. I can't think of anywhere else in the Bay Area that my children -- our daughter will start in the fall -- will hear so many Spanish accents and receive so much cultural enrichment. And by the way, there are many non-native Spanish speakers at the school who are welcome with open arms and learn Spanish like any native Spanish speaker. It has been thrilling to witness that. Other things that EBI offers is the prestigious International Baccalaureate (www.ibo.org) curriculum, which EBI is in the process of being certified as an IB school. I had never heard of it before my son attended EBI, and so far, I have been very impressed. He is a very curious learner and asks a lot of questions -- I attribute that to the IB method of teaching. EBI also offers Mandarin, which I believe starts in 3rd grade. It is taught by a native Chinese teacher. I can't wait for my son to learn! Finally, the community at EBI is what keeps me there -- despite the initial growing pains that come with a start-up. The families are understanding -- you have to be at a new school! -- down-to-earth and warm. These are people I volunteer with at school and hang out with at home. They are wonderful. read more

EBI is more than a school, its a community made up of excellent educators and involved parents. It is our 5th year at EBI and we have a son in 1st grade and a daughter in pre-k. EBI is a fairly young school so it can be a challenge for parents doing some initial research in assessing where this place would rank amongst other schools. But, if you look enough in parent sites like the Berkley parent network and you spend a day at their information sessions, then you can really get a sense of its mission statement, and that's educating and fostering global citizens. This school makes a point of getting parents involved in decisions and is transparent on its financial/growth/education plans. I also like how they keep you looped through text, live stream (for concerts you cant attend), emails, we joins, etc. At one point, I had a teacher that would send us daily photos and videos of what our kids learned with detailed activities. For working parents this is especially helpful in knowing how your child spends their day. They also offer free workshops for parents in regards to early child development skills like communication and also educates parents on the goals of the IB curriculum. We debated a lot where to send our kids, we make an hour and a half drive daily (traffic on CA4) to go to this school so this is definitely not out of convenience. One previous yelper complained about the grounds and greenspace and the facilities, and although this is a work in progress, they have a beautiful campus in San Pablo that's been undergoing a rigorous renovation for the past 2 years to prepare it to be its only campus. Curently the lower grades (prek-1) is in Alcatraz campus and has will eventually be moved to San Pablo. Its definitely not the ideal situation, but your kids spend most of their time learning and interacting with teachers, that my greater concern would be the educators that you entrust your kids with. This is really why we chose this school, their educators are exceptional, warm and inviting. That quality is not something you can buy and its something that has to happen organically. They have early morning coffee for drop off, they have tons of parent/Kids night out, and other intangible things that you will not always find from researching the school beforehand. It may not be the right school for everyone, but we cant imagine our kids in better hands. Thanks EBI! read more

Our son started in pre-k just a few weeks ago, and we are already bursting with enthusiasm for EBI's teachers, parent community, and staff. We expected a rocky transition (recently potty trained, new baby sister, new house.....even before he set foot in school, he was overwhelmed!) And those first few days were tough, just as we expected: our kid was the one crying and begging to go home. What we didn't count on was how lovingly and thoughtfully new community members are welcomed at EBI: from the start, our son was greeted by staff and faculty who not only knew his name, but were genuinely excited to see him and eager to help him transition. After two days of school, a switch had flipped: he LOVED it. And I can see why when I pick him up or drop him off. Coming in and out of school is one of the warmest experiences I've ever had; I can feel how happy he is and how strongly our (often shy & anxious) son feels that he belongs. He runs in every morning and doesn't look back to see his mom or dad. He wants to be at school at night, on the weekend -- it is his favorite place. And, boy, how quickly he is learning! He sings songs in Spanish at home, counts to ten in Spanish while playing on his own, and does yoga poses that he learned in school. His social and emotional skills, like self-calming, seem to strengthen every day. We couldn't be happier or more impressed with EBI. read more

I'm updating my review of EBI because my daughter is now in second grade and her second year at the school. We love it! She is thriving.The teachers are excellent. The afterschool program is great. There are a range of afterschool enrichment classes that kids can take including music lessons, chess club, and coding. But for us, the biggest plus is the entire EBI community. There is a deep commitment to teaching students to respect difference; to see the value in diversity; and to work hard to understand different points of view both at an individual and societal level. The translates into academic rigor and mutual support and respect in the classroom. I'm posting a link to a video which highlights some recent EBI graduates and provides a great window into the student experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgEPt846x7k&feature=youtu.be. 9/1/2016 - Our daughter did summer camp at EBI and just joined the First Grade class this year. She's been at the school as a student for two months. Although our experience has been short, I am delighted with EBI so far. The entire community, from staff to teachers to parents to other first graders, has been warm and welcoming. Our daughter is a "slow to warm" child and we thought this would be a difficult transition for her. So far, after two months, she seems to be thriving. She's made some friends in her class; she loves her teacher; she loves the Afterschool Program. We could not be happier. We're also very pleased with the academics although that was not our first priority. We moved from Palo Alto and our child was in a high-performing public school immersion program there. The academics at EBI seem comparable to us but the social experience is a better fit for our family. read more

For any who may be on the fence or wondering, I dont think you can get much better than EBI if you are looking for a warm, enriching, stimulating environment for your child or for an inclusive, stimulating environment for your family. We have recently begun our 3rd year as an EBI family and are only getting happier and more fulfilled by the experience. As some have wisely stated, you come for the Spanish and stay for the IB. If you are not familiar w the International Baccalaureate curriculum model, do attend an EBI parent information meeting. In short, my child who entered at 3 and is now 5, LOVES his school. He is excited abt what he is learning and eagerly shares his new and developping knowledge of various subjects and Spanish language skills. He doesn't realize he's doing this necessarily, but it is my sheer delight to hear/see him read, write and reason in ways that I know I have not taught him at home. The school is big on community and it shows; families are warm and engaging, easy to talk to. Plenty of opportunities for learning in different ways and areas. Students visit the library and new music room, do movement (yoga, etc) 2x/week and have fun playing and learning in the Spanish and English classrooms as well as at PE outside. English instruction kicks in at an hour/day in Kindergarten. Too much to say here but it's truly a unique and wonderful environment which is clearly preparing students for vibrant and meaningful lives beyond the school walls. Do check it out! read more

My kids have gone to EBI FOR 9 years and I couldn't be more pleased. Their Spanish is perfect but more importantly to me they are learning to be critical thinkers and thoughtful citizens. I would give more stars if I could! read more

My son is in pre-k here and loves the school. His teachers make him feel safe and a part of a community. They do a great job of recognizing every kid. As the kids come into class in the morning each one gets a hello and hug. The language aspect is amazing, but the inclusive community and the way each kid feels special is what really makes this school such a find. I appreciate how diversity and community etiquette is valued at every level of interaction from what it feels like to be welcomed at the school to the verbiage in the family handbook. Everyone says hello to each other as they walk their kids in and out of campus. If you are looking to join a school that is a community, one that feels representative of the Oakland we all love, this school is for you. My partner and I feel so grateful to have found EBI for our son. He has only been enrolled a couple of months, and he's already grown more independent and started using Spanish at home. Don't hesitate to take a tour. read more

Escuela Bilingüe Internacional - Elementary Schools Near Me - Oakland, California

My grandson is just wrapping up his first year in Pre-K at EBI, and it's been an amazing experience for him. It's true that the Alcatraz campus is not flashy, as noted by one reviewer, but what EBI has to offer is real substance, not a glossy exterior. The art works on display are authentic productions of 3-7 year old children, and are proudly displayed as such. The focus at EBI is on developing independence of thought and a love of learning, not impressing parents on a brief tour. So EBI is worth a deep and considered look. What EBI does offer is academic rigor appropriate to the developmental stage of the child, coupled with a very strong commitment to social and emotional development. The school is highly regarded for its math and music programs, as well as its IB program. The result is strong, independent children who love school and love learning for itself. My attention was originally drawn to EBI a few years ago when I encountered a group of EBI children on a field trip at Lawrence Hall of Science. I was extremely impressed by the politeness, friendliness, self-confidence and self-awareness of those children. One six year old girl explained the philosophy of the school to me, with astonishing clarity for one so young. After a year at EBI, my grandson speaks both languages fluently (for a four year old) and reflects spontaneously upon the nature of language and the fact that people speak different languages but some are bilingual or multilingual. He has started making bilingual puns! He readily and accurately translates (in both directions) for his grandparents. He adores school and loves his teachers. He literally hates to miss a day. He is fiercely fond of his wide group of friends from EBI. EBI also, as you would expect, fosters a real awareness of global issues. I've been amazed by the international diversity among its families, faculty, and staff. EBI is producing a wonderful generation of world citizens I am so glad my son and his wife chose EBI for their son. We are all looking forward to his coming years there. read more

oakland at its best. a diverse community of interesting people with a common goal of making an ideal space for our kids. we grow together, learn from each other, and the kids thrive. the teachers are amazing, and at the root of it all, that's what matters most. i feel so lucky to have found EBI and to be a part of this community. read more

We're in our third year at EBI and can't say enough good things about it. Last night my seven-year-old son sat next to me and said, "I just want to finish reading this book before I take a bath." It was a 66-page chapter book in Spanish, and he whizzed through it in a couple of hours. In addition to their immersion in Spanish, the kids have made some wonderful friends and love every one of their teachers. We've been so impressed with the level of education, the dedication of the staff, and the involvement of the parents. We highly recommend EBI. read more

Both of our sons attend EBI and we love it. Our 5 year old is fully bilingual and our 3 year old is darn close. (Both parents are English only speakers). We can't wait for 3rd grade when they will start learning Mandarin! We were attracted to the Spanish Immersion program at first but we have come to recognize that the International Baccalaureate (IB - http://www.ibo.org/ - an inquiry based, international focused curriculum ) is exceptional. The focus on promoting intercultural understanding and respect as well as life long learning in a world context makes for us the language acquisition icing on the cake. As a product of 13 years of public schools, I NEVER thought I'd be sending my kids to an independent school. Frankly, this school is far more diverse in every way (economically, race, sexual orientation, religion, you name it) than any of our public schools. Take a look, it is a special place. read more

At EBI we have found everything that we would hope for in a school. We were first drawn to EBI for the Spanish immersion. It had been a deeply held priority that our children be fluent in Spanish and English. Then, as we learned more about the IB program- its scope, sequence, and style, we found that the IB approach resonated just as deeply as the Spanish immersion. The program is well-thought out, thorough, and educationally spot-on. The teachers have been incredible, so warm and enthusiastic, knowledgeable and kind. It has truly been a pleasure to become part of this community. read more

We started at ebi in 2006 for pre-k and we are a English speaking only family and my daughter who had very little Spanish in her life before moved right in to it and is now in kindergarten and doing very well. I love this school and all the amazing people who run it Jon the director took over and has done an amazing job and takes the time to know all the kids individually. The school is mostly run and taught by native speaking Spanish, which means she learning Spanish from all around the world. There is a very strong parent involvement and community. I can't say enough good things about this school! They are always striving for more and better! read more

We feel so lucky to be part of the EBI community! Our children (in 1st grade and preschool) are thriving and speaking Spanish beautifully. Besides the languages, the IB curriculum really sets EBI apart from many other independent schools. Learn about it at www. ibo.org. Here is part of the IB mission statement: "The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect." At EBI this is really taken to heart in the community and the academics. read more

We're two months into year one at EBI (for pre-k), and are so happy with our choice. Initially we were drawn to EBI for Spanish (which my son is picking up quickly!), but what I'm really thrilled about are the community feel and IB curriculum. It's hard to describe, but this is exactly the type of learning environment that I know will work for my son. The teachers and staff are loving and supportive, the units of inquiry are comprehensive yet age appropriate, and the transition has felt very natural read more