Lower School:
A Spanish Immersion
Elementary School

A bilingual IB elementary school in the San Francisco Bay Area

Kindergarten through Grade 5 in Spanish and English, in Emeryville, serving families in Oakland, the East Bay and San Francisco.

K–2 tours
Grades 3–5 tours
Contact admissions

K–2
Kindergarten to Grade 2
Most Wednesdays, 9:30 AM

3–5
Grades 3 to 5
Most Thursdays, 9:00 AM

Can’t make a tour date?
We’ll suggest a class visit or a call.
Contact admissions

What is EBI’s Lower School?

The Lower School at Escuela Bilingüe Internacional (EBI) is a private Spanish-English dual language immersion elementary school for kindergarten through Grade 5, in Emeryville, serving families in Oakland, the East Bay and San Francisco. From kindergarten to Grade 3, 85% of the school day is in Spanish; in Grades 4 and 5 it is 65%.

Exploring the world with curiosity and purpose

Our Lower School nurtures students’ natural curiosity and helps them develop into inquisitive, knowledgeable, and caring young people. Through the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP), students learn how to ask questions, conduct meaningful research, and take action to make a difference in their communities and the world.

At a glance

Grades
Kindergarten through Grade 5

Campus
San Pablo campus, 4550 San Pablo Ave., Emeryville

Spanish
85% of the school day in K–3, 65% in Grades 4–5

Curriculum
IB Primary Years Programme (PYP)

Specialists
Music, Art, Library, and Physical Education

New to Spanish?
None needed in K–1. Accelerated Spanish Program in Grades 2–8

Hours
8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Extended care 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Student-teacher ratio
8:1 on average across EBI

Tuition
$40,700 in 2026–27. More than 30% of families receive Flexible Tuition

How does Spanish immersion work in our elementary school?

EBI is a Spanish-English dual language immersion school. Students use the language of instruction with teachers and peers during class time, and can use the language of their choice during free time.

Learning in two languages, thinking in many more

At EBI, bilingualism is a cornerstone of our academic and personal growth philosophy. Our elementary students are immersed daily in both Spanish and English, acquiring advanced literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

TKin Spanish, with no English instruction
100%
Kindergarten to Grade 3of the school day is in Spanish
85%
Grades 4 and 5of the school day is in Spanish
65%
Grades 6 to 8of the school day is in Spanish
50%
IB Primary Years Programme model

An IB school in the Bay Area: the Primary Years Programme at EBI

Building skills for a lifetime of learning

EBI is an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, teaching the Primary Years Programme from TK through Grade 5 and the Middle Years Programme in Grades 6 to 8. The Primary Years Programme forms the foundation of our Lower School curriculum: a concept-driven, inquiry-based framework designed to foster deep understanding across multiple disciplines.

The IB advantage
Download the PYP guide

Does my child need to speak Spanish to join?

Kindergarten or Grade 1

No Spanish is required.

Grades 2 to 5, new to Spanish

Students without grade-level Spanish enter the Accelerated Spanish Program, which builds fluency in small, IB-aligned classes.

Grades 2 to 5, with grade-level Spanish

Students join the Bilingual Program.

Three EBI students sitting and smiling

Why families choose EBI for elementary school

  • Inquiry-driven learning across disciplines

  • A Spanish-English bilingual elementary school

  • Emphasis on global citizenship and cultural understanding

  • Spanish-integrated arts, music, and PE programs

  • A safe, nurturing, inclusive environment

  • An international primary school (IB PYP) in the Bay Area

Meet our faculty

Lower School questions families ask

  • Yes. EBI is an independent private school in Emeryville, founded in 2006 and serving families across the Bay Area from TK through Grade 8. It is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, and classes are small, averaging 8 students per teacher.

  • Yes. Kindergarten is part of the Lower School at our Emeryville campus. 85% of the school day is in Spanish, and no Spanish is required to enter.

  • From kindergarten to Grade 3, 85% of the school day is in Spanish. In Grades 4 and 5 it is 65%.

  • A concept-driven, inquiry-based framework designed to foster deep understanding across multiple disciplines. EBI is authorized to teach it from TK through Grade 5.

  • Kindergarten through Grade 5 runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Extended care is available from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

  • Tuition for kindergarten through Grade 5 is $40,700 for 2026–27. Through Flexible Tuition, EBI’s need-based program, many families pay less; more than 30% of families receive it. See Affording EBI.

  • At EBI’s San Pablo campus, 4550 San Pablo Ave. in Emeryville. We serve families in Oakland, the East Bay and San Francisco.

  • EBI’s Lower School is in Emeryville, in the East Bay, and serves families in Oakland, the East Bay and San Francisco. Kindergarten through Grade 8, our Lower School and Middle School, are on one campus at 4550 San Pablo Ave.

  • Students continue into EBI’s Middle School for Grades 6 to 8 and the IB Middle Years Programme.

Visit our Lower School

See a Spanish immersion classroom in action and meet the teachers.

Schedule a tour
Contact admissions

K–2
Kindergarten to Grade 2
Most Wednesdays, 9:30 AM

3–5
Grades 3 to 5
Most Thursdays, 9:00 AM

Can’t make a tour date? Contact admissions and we’ll suggest a class visit or a call.