Our goal is for ​​​​​​​our students to be...
- Compassionate and caring
- Creative and motivated
- Critical thinkers and problem solvers
- Internationally minded
- Fluent in two languages, conversational in a third
- Change agents in a diverse world

Meet our ​​​​​​​Admissions Director


Sara Varela-Acevedo
Director of Admissions
Sara was born in Mexico City and grew up in San Diego, CA. Raised in a bi-cultural household, travel between Mexico and the U.S. set her strong roots in cross-cultural understanding and a love of travel. Sara completed her Bachelors in Biology and graduate studies in Teaching English as a Second Language at Gonzaga University. Her professional background is in international higher education, focused on student services, English language instruction, recruitment, admissions and enrollment. EBI’s mission resonates with Sara’s own educational philosophy and she is excited to be a part of and promote EBI’s community.
In her free time, Sara enjoys trying new foods, reading, travel, staying active through exploration and being the world’s best TÃa to her nephews and nieces.
2023-2024 Admissions FAQ
What are the age requirements to enroll?
Pre-Kinder – 3 years old as of September 1, 2023
Kindergarten – 5 years old as of September 1, 2023
When are applications due?
The preferred deadline for both the admission and tuition assistance applications is January 13, 2023. Applications received after this date will be reviewed on a rolling basis and offers made based on space availability.
What is the tuition?
Please visit the Tuition and Fees page for more information.
What is the school schedule for 2023-2024?
EBI has a tiered drop off/pick up system, with windows of time by grade. The school day for Pre-Kinder has start times between 8:15-8:45 am and pick up between 3-3:30 pm. The kinder and grade 1 students arrive between 8-8:15 am and have a pick up time between 2:45-3 pm. Lower School (grades 2-5) arrive between 8:15-8:30 am and have a pick up time between 3:15-3:30 pm. The Middle School students arrive between 8-8:15 am and are picked up between 3:30-3:45 pm. Extended day packages are available from 7:30 am-6 pm. Schedule is subject to change
Does my child need to speak Spanish to apply?
Pre-Kinder and Kindergarten
No Spanish language skills are required to enter our pre-kinder and kindergarten classes.
Grade 1
Students applying to first grade with limited Spanish language skills will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Lower School (Grades 2-5)
Grade level fluency in Spanish is required for admission to grades 2-5.
Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Grade level fluency in Spanish is required for admission to the bilingual program for grades 6-8.
No prior Spanish is required for admission to the new IB MYP Language Acquisition Track for grades 6-8.
Can I visit the school?
For more information, sign up for a virtual information session, or a virtual tour, contact our Admissions department of fill out our inquiry form to receive periodic admissions announcements from EBI. You can also read reviews of EBI on Berkeley Parents Network, Yelp, Niche and more.
Yes! EBI is hosting both virtual and in-person events through March for families to explore the programs and visit our two campuses. Explore visit options here.
How do I find out more?
For more information, sign up for a virtual information session, or a virtual tour, contact our Admissions department or fill out our inquiry form to receive periodic admissions announcements from EBI. You can also read reviews of EBI on the Berkeley Parents Network, Yelp, Niche and more.
Is there financial aid?
EBI is committed to supporting socio-economic diversity in our school and community, offering need-based tuition adjustment for qualified students​​​​​​​. Admission decisions are made independent of tuition assistance decisions. Please visit our Tuition Assistance Program page for more information.