The Berkeley School, formerly the Berkeley Montessori School (BMS), was the first Montessori program in Berkeley, established by families who wanted to provide an education for their children based on the Montessori method. Since its founding in 1964, TBS has steadily built a strong reputation for the excellence of its programs and the character of its school community. Montessori remains central to our history, and we know that the core values and practices of Montessori are valid and effective. We also embrace progressive education practices that speak to the needs of our current and future students. In 2009, the Board of Trustees voted to change the school’s name to The Berkeley School, to reflect the wider range of teaching pedagogies at work in the school. In addition to Montessori, TBS teachers employ Reggio Emilia and Project Zero methodologies.

Our teachers reinvest in their classrooms by recognizing the importance of social-emotional development and conflict resolution skills, empathy, and cooperation. Low student-teacher ratios ensure that every child can connect with our highly-skilled teaching staff. At The Berkeley School, we prepare our students to become successful lifelong learners, innovators, and creators.

The Berkeley School is accredited by the Schools Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). We also hold full accreditation from the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS).