The San Francisco Bay Area, a global hub of innovation, culture, and diversity, is renowned for its thriving educational landscape. As of February 20, 2025, the region hosts 19 international schools, offering a diverse array of curricula including IB, American, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Italian, and Montessori systems. These schools cater to students from early childhood to Grade 12, blending global educational standards with the Bay Area’s unique multicultural context to prepare students for international opportunities. With fees ranging from affordable to premium and options for co-educational and multilingual environments, the Bay Area provides a wealth of choices for families. This detailed guide lists all 19 schools, explores their unique offerings, and includes a personalized search tool to help you find the perfect match.
Overview of International Education in the San Francisco Bay Area
The Bay Area’s international schools reflect its status as a melting pot, serving a mix of local and expatriate families across cities like San Francisco, Palo Alto, Berkeley, and Oakland. The IB curriculum is prominent, alongside American and Montessori systems, emphasizing inquiry-based learning and global perspectives. Multilingualism is a hallmark, with programs in English, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish, aligning with the region’s diverse population and tech-driven economy. Emphasis is placed on holistic development, integrating academics with extracurriculars, creativity, and modern facilities. Fees vary, with some schools transparent about costs and others requiring inquiries, catering to diverse socioeconomic needs in this dynamic metropolitan region.
Complete List of International Schools in the San Francisco Bay Area
Below is a detailed breakdown of all 19 international schools in the San Francisco Bay Area, including their curricula, languages of instruction, age ranges, fees (where available), and standout features.
1. Silicon Valley International School
- Description: An independent immersion school in Palo Alto offering Chinese, German, and French tracks.
- Curriculum: IB
- Languages: English, Chinese, French, German
- Ages: 3-18
- Fees (2025/2026): $38,470–$46,900
- Highlights: Multilingual IB program with a focus on global competence.
2. San Francisco Pacific Academy
- Description: A bilingual school emphasizing math and languages with a Russian heritage focus.
- Curriculum: American, Russian
- Languages: English, Russian
- Ages: 5-14
- Fees: Not publicly available
- Highlights: WASC-accredited with a rigorous curriculum.
3. The Renaissance International School
- Description: A Montessori with campuses in Oakland and Piedmont offering trilingual immersion.
- Curriculum: Montessori
- Languages: English, French, Spanish
- Ages: 2-14
- Fees: Not publicly available
- Highlights: Includes art, music, and language immersion.
4. La Scuola International School
- Description: The world’s only Reggio Emilia-inspired IB school with Italian immersion in San Francisco.
- Curriculum: IB, Reggio Emilia Approach
- Languages: English, Italian
- Ages: 2-14
- Fees (2024/2025): $43,770–$43,200
- Highlights: Inspires brave learners with a unique pedagogical blend.
5. Yew Chung International School Silicon Valley
- Description: A welcoming Mandarin-English immersion school in Silicon Valley.
- Curriculum: Chinese, International
- Languages: English, Chinese
- Ages: 2-14
- Fees (2024/2025): $33,000 (flat rate)
- Highlights: Encourages students to follow their gifts.
6. Bertrand D Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy
- Description: A non-profit K-8 school offering affordable bilingual education in San Francisco.
- Curriculum: American, Chinese
- Languages: English, Chinese
- Ages: 3-14
- Fees (2024/2025): $18,000 (flat rate)
- Highlights: Most affordable option with a rigorous curriculum.
7. German International School of Silicon Valley (GISSV)
- Description: A bilingual immersion school in Mountain View and San Francisco with German accreditation.
- Curriculum: American, German
- Languages: English, German
- Ages: 3-18
- Fees (2024/2025): $27,825–$31,975
- Highlights: WASC-accredited with access to top U.S. and European universities.
8. Escuela Bilingüe Internacional (EBI)
- Description: An IB World School in Oakland offering Spanish-English immersion.
- Curriculum: IB
- Languages: English, Spanish
- Ages: 3-14
- Fees (2024/2025): $31,876–$39,953
- Reviews: 1
- Highlights: Authorized IB program with a bilingual focus.
9. The Quarry Lane School
- Description: A private IB school in Dublin with a college-prep focus from preschool to high school.
- Curriculum: IB
- Language: English
- Ages: 2-18
- Fees (2024/2025): $21,034–$47,065
- Highlights: Offers a global education with a wide fee range.
10. Springbridge International School
- Description: An independent bilingual school in Campbell with Japanese or Mandarin options.
- Curriculum: American, Chinese, Japanese
- Languages: English, Chinese, Japanese
- Ages: 3-14
- Fees (2024/2025): $15,394–$23,894
- Highlights: Affordable trilingual education.
11. Shu Ren International School
- Description: A Mandarin immersion IB PYP school with locations in Berkeley and San Jose.
- Curriculum: IB
- Languages: English, Chinese
- Ages: 2-12
- Fees (2024/2025): $27,950–$30,950
- Highlights: Focuses on early language immersion.
12. Lycée Français de San Francisco (LFSF)
- Description: A leading French immersion school accredited by the French Ministry of Education.
- Curriculum: American, French
- Languages: English, French
- Ages: 2-18
- Fees (2024/2025): $33,900–$43,550
- Highlights: Prepares students for a changing world with bilingual adaptability.
13. The International School of San Francisco
- Description: A bilingual French-American school with IB in high school.
- Curriculum: IB, American, French
- Languages: English, French
- Ages: 3-18
- Fees (2024/2025): $39,180–$57,160
- Highlights: Offers dual diplomas (U.S. and IB) with a global perspective.
14. Lexington Elementary School
- Description: A public IB PYP school in Los Gatos with a focus on environmental literacy.
- Curriculum: IB
- Language: English
- Ages: 3-11
- Fees: Not publicly available (public school)
- Highlights: Trilingual opportunities and a pioneering LexEcology initiative.
15. Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley
- Description: A French-American school nurturing creative, multilingual learners.
- Curriculum: American, French
- Languages: English, French
- Ages: 2-14
- Fees (2024/2025): $35,280–$39,950
- Highlights: Prepares students for an interconnected world.
16. AEON School
- Description: A hybrid international school in Santa Clara blending in-person and innovative learning.
- Curriculum: International, Hybrid
- Language: English
- Ages: 10-18
- Fees (2025/2026): $9,000–$49,800
- Highlights: Affordable base option with real-world Friday excursions.
17. Chinese American International School (CAIS)
- Description: A Pre-K to 8th-grade Mandarin-English immersion school in San Francisco.
- Curriculum: American, Chinese
- Languages: English, Chinese
- Ages: 3-14
- Fees (2024/2025): $39,600–$42,600
- Highlights: Founded in 1981 with a focus on dual-language fluency.
18. East Bay German International School (EBGIS)
- Description: A dual-language immersion school in Emeryville with IB in high school.
- Curriculum: IB, German
- Languages: English, German
- Ages: 2-18
- Fees (2024/2025): $26,300–$33,300
- Highlights: Offers multiple language tracks (German, French, Spanish).
19. American International Montessori School
- Description: A Montessori in Berkeley with Japanese or Mandarin immersion options.
- Curriculum: Montessori
- Languages: English, Chinese, Japanese
- Ages: 2-12
- Fees: Not publicly available
- Highlights: Authentic Montessori with bilingual enrichment.
Curriculum Options
- IB: Prevalent (e.g., Silicon Valley, EBI), offering PYP, MYP, and DP.
- American: Common (e.g., Quarry Lane, CAIS), aligned with U.S. standards.
- Montessori: Renaissance and AIM provide child-centered learning.
- French: Lycée Français and Ecole Bilingue offer French immersion.
- German: GISSV and EBGIS provide German-language education.
- Chinese: Yew Chung and Bertrand Hsu focus on Mandarin immersion.
- Japanese: Springbridge and AIM offer Japanese tracks.
Fee Structures
- Budget-Friendly: AEON ($9,000–$49,800), Springbridge ($15,394–$23,894), Bertrand Hsu ($18,000).
- Mid-Range: GISSV ($27,825–$31,975), Shu Ren ($27,950–$30,950), Yew Chung ($33,000).
- Premium: La Scuola ($43,200–$43,770), International School of SF ($39,180–$57,160), Avenues ($27,500–$68,850).
- Not Disclosed: 5 schools (public or private requiring inquiries).
Personalize Your Search
To find your ideal school, answer these questions for a personalized score:
- Curriculum: IB, American, Montessori, French, German, Chinese, or Japanese?
- Age Range: Early years (1-5), primary (6-11), secondary (12-18), or full (1-18)?
- Budget: Low (<$20,000), mid ($20,000–$40,000), premium (>$40,000)?
- Languages: English only, English-French, English-German, or trilingual options?
- Location: San Francisco, East Bay, Silicon Valley, or flexible?
Examples:
- IB + Full Range + Premium: Silicon Valley or International School of SF.
- American + Mid-Range + Bilingual: EBI or CAIS.
- Affordable + Multilingual: Bertrand Hsu or Springbridge.
Conclusion
The San Francisco Bay Area’s 19 international schools offer a dynamic range of educational options, from the trilingual Silicon Valley International School to the innovative AEON School. Whether you prioritize affordability, multilingualism, or global curricula, there’s a school to match your needs as of February 20, 2025. Use the personalization tool to rank your top choices and ensure your child thrives in this vibrant, tech-savvy region.
