Admissions at EBI

Come see our international community for yourself

Escuela Bilingüe Internacional offers more than an education. We give students the foundation for a lifelong love of learning, both independent and collaborative.

Founded in 2006 as the West Coast's first independent Spanish-English dual immersion International Baccalaureate World School, EBI has grown from a small, visionary community into a Pre-K through Grade 8 educational leader. Our bilingual, inquiry-based approach shows up in the everyday: students explore, create, and question side by side. They learn to honor the cultures, identities, and traditions of the people around them, and they discover that showing up for one another teaches them as much about themselves as about the world.

Whether your child is beginning their educational journey in our pre-kinder programs, transferring during lower or middle school, or entering through our Accelerated Spanish Program, we welcome families who share our passion for bilingual education and international-mindedness.

Smiling EBI students in uniform outdoors on campus at a Spanish-English bilingual IB school in the Bay Area
Smiling EBI students in uniform outdoors on campus at a Spanish-English bilingual IB school in the Bay Area

Why Families Choose EBI

  • Bilingualism and biliteracy in Spanish and English

  • An International Baccalaureate education that fosters curiosity and critical thinking

  • Inquiry-based learning that encourages exploration and problem-solving

  • An average 8:1 student-teacher ratio that supports discussion-rich classes, project-based learning, and cross-disciplinary units of inquiry

  • A diverse and inclusive community where students feel a sense of belonging

  • Strong academic preparation and outstanding high school placement outcomes

  • Social-emotional learning integrated throughout the educational experience

Dancers in traditional Indigenous regalia and feathered headdresses performing for Latin Heritage Day outside EBI, a bilingual school in Emeryville
A teacher and two young students in a Spanish-English bilingual classroom at EBI
Take a Tour
Inquire
Start Your Application

Have additional questions? Email us at admissions@ebinternacional.org

2025–2026 Admissions Dates

Apply

  • September 1: Priority application opens

  • November 19: Priority application deadline

  • January 16: Application deadline

Tuition assistance

  • January 5: Tuition assistance application opens

  • January 16: Tuition assistance deadline

Visit and observe

  • January 24 & February 7: Student observations and assessments

  • March 3 to 6: Prospective student shadow days

Decisions

  • March 6: Decision notifications, PK and TK

  • March 13: Decision notifications, K through grade 8

Enroll

  • March 26: Registration due

Our Admissions Process

We look forward to guiding your family through the admissions process! Applying by the deadlines listed below gives your family the best access to open spots and to tuition assistance. After that, we continue to accept applications based on availability, including over the summer.

Your child doesn't need to speak Spanish to apply at any grade. For students entering in grades 2 through 8, our Accelerated Spanish Program helps them build fluency.

  1. Inquire or Visit: Summer tours are by appointment. Email admissions@ebinternacional.org to set one up. Join an admissions event or open house at our Oakland / Emeryville campuses on our Visit and Inquire page.

  2. Apply: Complete your application through Ravenna, our online portal.

  3. Student Visit or Assessment: We get to know your child!

  4. Decision Notification: Admissions decisions are communicated promptly.

Learn about our tuition rates and fees on our Affording EBI page.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Pre-Kinder (PK): 3 years old as of September 1, 2026

    Transitional Kindergarten (TK): 4 years old as of September 1, 2026

    Kindergarten: 5 years old as of September 1, 2026

  • EBI offers rolling admissions and continues to review applications for enrollment on a space-available basis. If you are interested in EBI for the 2026-2027 academic year, it is not too late to apply! Submit your application through Ravenna.

    The admissions deadlines for the 2027-2028 academic year will be posted soon.

  • Please visit the Tuition and Fees page for more information.

  • Our Alcatraz Campus (410 Alcatraz Ave in Oakland) is home to our pre-kinder and transitional kindergarten (TK) students, and our San Pablo Campus (4550 San Pablo Ave. in Emeryville) serves students in kindergarten through Grade 8.

  • PK and Transitional Kindergarten (TK): 8:45 a.m.-3 p.m.

    Kinder and Grade 1: 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

    Grades 2-5: 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

    Grades 6-8: 8:15 a.m.-3:10 p.m.

    Extended care packages are available for early care starting at 7:30 a.m. and late care until 6:00 p.m.

    We will post the 2026-2027 school schedule soon.

  • Pre-K through Grade 1
    No Spanish language skills are required to enter our PK, TK, kindergarten, and grade 1 classes.

    Grades 2-5
    No prior Spanish is required for admission to the Accelerated Spanish Program for Grades 2-5.

    Grade level fluency in Spanish is required for admission to the Bilingual Program in Grades 2-5.

    Middle School (Grades 6-8)
    No prior Spanish is required for admission to the Accelerated Spanish Program for Grades 6-8.

    Grade level fluency in Spanish is required for admission to the Bilingual Program for Grades 6-8.

  • Yes! EBI is hosting campus tours and information sessions on both campuses. Explore visit options here.

    Not local? Contact the Admissions Office at admissions@ebinternacional.org to schedule a virtual meeting.

  • For more information, sign up for one of our many events, 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.

  • 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.

  • EBI partners with GoKid, a convenient school carpooling program, to make the school commute easier for our parent community. EBI parents who live near each other can find each other on a map, start chats, and set up and manage carpools, saving time and reducing traffic. EBI families receive an invitation email and get started from there. To learn more about how it works, check out this short demo. 

    Current families who need support should contact support@gokid.mobi.

Explore the EBI Viewbook

Inside the viewbook, you’ll find:

  • How EBI’s Spanish immersion foundation develops bilingualism over time, from pre-kinder through middle school

  • What the IB approach looks like in practice at EBI, including inquiry-driven learning, interdisciplinary projects, reflection, and action

  • A closer look at student life PK–8, from early play-based learning to middle school leadership, projects, and global experiences

  • How EBI supports every learner, including social-emotional learning, small class sizes, and the Accelerated Spanish Program for students new to Spanish

  • Moments that define life at EBI, through photos, parent voices, cultural celebrations, and community traditions

  • Where EBI graduates go next, and how students are prepared for high school and beyond

EBI Viewbook cover for Escuela Bilingüe Internacional, a Spanish-English bilingual IB school, with the tagline "Many Cultures. Una Comunidad."

Testimonials

  • Confidence to love and value themselves

    Our experience with EBI has been truly phenomenal. The community has been something that we have come to cherish and cannot imagine being anywhere else. Each of our two kids has completely opposite personalities, but they each have had an incredible experience at EBI—academically, socially, and emotionally. They are supported in both their individual strengths and challenges with the dedication of the teachers and staff, both in and out of school. The growth we see in our children week by week, month by month, and year by year brings us such joy as parents, but above all, a sense of confidence in each of our kids to love and value themselves.

    — Akemi & Carlos Mercedes
    Parents of Miles (6) and Kai (8)

  • Truly 'the village' for our family

    The faculty and staff at EBI are the cornerstone of the school and have truly been ‘the village’ for our family over the years. They see each of our children for who they are—different personalities, different needs—and give them exactly the support they have needed to thrive. We’re so grateful for the caring community and the bilingual, IB education that has shaped our kids into confident, compassionate young people who love to learn!

    — Victoria & Michael Keeton
    Parents of Juliet (13) and Benjamin (EBI grad)

  • From no Spanish to fully bilingual

    Henry started at EBI in grade 6 with some Spanish exposure, but no formal study and a gap of a few years. The individualized attention that first year laid the groundwork for Henry to be fully integrated with his classmates by the middle of grade 7, and by the end of grade 8, he was performing as Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream—in Spanish! It was a truly astonishing trajectory, and he considers himself fully bilingual at the end of this journey. The community was so welcoming when we joined and the connections we made are continuing into high school. 

    — Jenny Moussa Spring
    Parent of Henry (EBI grad)

  • EBI students excel

    EB students excel when they get to Bishop O’Dowd. They come prepared and motivated, with a tremendous work ethic. We always look forward to having them on our campus.

    — Kerryn Pincus
    Enrollment and Admissions Director at Bishop O’Dowd High School

  • Prepared and mature

    We are so pleased with the students we've gotten from EBI. They are prepared and mature, and they handle the transition well. We hope to continue our relationship with EBI for years to come!

    — Ricky Lapidus
    Interim Head of School at Head-Royce School

This is EBI!

Take a minute to watch a small snapshot of what schoolday learning looks like at EBI: dynamic small classes, engaged and creative teachers, and warmth and collaboration among peers and across grades.

Come take a tour and see it for yourself.

Meet Our Admission Team