Before Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley was founded, there were no bilingual schools in the East Bay. Five families, along with EB’s first principal Jeannette Rouger, thought that young children should not have to commute long distances for a quality bilingual education, and decided to found their own school. EB opened its doors in Fall 1977, with six teachers and 55 students in prekindergarten through third grade.The “little house” held administrative offices, and classes were held in some of the current Lower School classrooms. The playground was a vacant lot half a block away.

From these beginnings, the school grew rapidly. After only three years, its enrollment had already doubled, and EB graduated its first class of seven fifth graders. The Middle School opened its doors in 1988, and moved to its  current location at 901 Grayson Street in 1991.

Now, EB has 525 students in grades PK through 8, with more than 40 nationalities represented. Our graduates have gone on to top high schools and colleges, and at last count, the alumni who have stayed in touch with us had lived in 47 countries worldwide!