Black Pine Circle School (Top Ranked Private School for 2026-27)

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Quick Facts (26-27)

Top Ranked CA School
Grades: Kindergarten-8
Enrollment: 291 students
Yearly Tuition: $41,585
Acceptance rate: 60%
Average class size: 20 students
Application Deadline: Jan. 22 / rolling
Source: ✓Verified school update

School Rankings

Black Pine Circle School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for:

School Facts

Religious Affiliation

Nonsectarian

Grades Offered

Grades Kindergarten-8

Students By Grade

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade
Grade	Black Pine Circle School
Kind	16
1	15
2	22
3	18
4	23
5	31
6	49
7	58
8	59

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Learning Difference Programs

Yes

Year Founded

1973

School Calendar

View School Calendar

Last Day of School

Thu. Jun 3, 2027

School Motto

A School of Thought

Student Body

Total Students

291 students

Student Body Type

Co-ed

% Students of Color

54%

State avg.: 52%

Academic Profile

Total Classroom Teachers

46 teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

10:1

National avg.: 11:1

% Faculty w/Advanced Degree

50%

Average Class Size

20 students

Matriculation DataMatric. Data

View Matriculation Data

Classroom Dress Code

Casual

List of Courses Offered

Link to List of Courses

School Membership(s)School Assoc.

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS-CA)

Tuition & Financial Aid

Admission Deadline

Jan. 22 / rolling

Yearly Tuition Cost

$41,585

View national tuition avg.

Tuition Notes

K–5: $39,175 6–8: $43,995

% on Financial Aid

30%

Acceptance Rate

60%

National avg.: 85%

Admissions Director

Greta B. Wong

Application URL

Online Application

Sports

Total Sports Offered

5 sports

Sports

BasketballCross Country

SoccerUltimate Frisbee

Volleyball

School Mascot

Jaguar

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.

24 extracurriculars

ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.

Club or Organization:

5th Grade Student CouncilAdvanced Math Team

Berkeley Chess School Chess ClubCanva Club

Chickens & Garden ClubCrafts Club

Creative Minds ClubCulinary Kids Club

Dungeons and Dragons ClubEngineering Club

Friday Maker ClubJoy of Math Club

Lego BuildersMini Garden Diorama Club

Mini Med SchoolOdyssey of the Mind

Prop Building ClubSoccer Club

STEM Escape Race!Taekwondo Club

Tennis Club w/ Higgins TennisTextiles Club

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Arts and Music Programs:

BandString Orchestra

School Notes

Since 1973, Black Pine Circle School's dedicated and passionate teachers K-8 have nurtured lifelong learners through a Socratic inquiry-based education that emphasizes both rigorous academics and the arts. BPC inspires and fosters students' intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, kindness, and integrity.
BPC's mission is to create a learning community that encourages humanity, empathy, moral depth, cultural understanding, and freedom in intellectual pursuits. Socially, it is our goal to instill mutual respect, compassion, and a sense of belonging among all of our students.

Our curriculum equally emphasizes science, math, and the arts. We actively engage our students in all aspects of culture and the arts, including music, art, drama, and world language. Our program highlights include: * Inquiry-based instruction, emphasizing critical thinking and questioning * Enthusiastic, creative, and knowledgeable teachers * Small classes * K8 classroom music and instrumental program (K-5 strings, orchestra, band, vocal ensembles) * Nationally recognized for math achievement * Hands-on science and gardening program * K8 visual arts * K8 technology integration * K8 Spanish * 68 Mandarin * Renowned drama program and weekly student assemblies * Outdoor education program * Community service program * K8 cross-grade activities * Student support team (K5 & 68 learning specialists and counselors) * Library

Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Itamar Moses '91 - Playwright, author, producer and television writer. He gained acclaim for writing the book for the Broadway musical The Band's Visit, receiving the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical. He wrote the play Completeness earning a nomination for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play. His musical comedy “Nobody Loves You," written with BPC alum Gaby Altar debuted at ACT, San Francisco in 2025.
- Aisha Tyler - Actress and talkshow host, known for playing Andrea Marino in the first season of Ghost Whisperer, and Dr. Tara Lewis in Criminal Minds since 2015.
- Elazar Sontag - James Beard Foundation and National Magazine Award-nominated. Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient.
- Farah Otero-Amad - Farah Otero-Amad is a trilingual video producer at The Wall Street Journal, where she scripts, shoots, hosts, and edits vertical videos that reach millions across social platforms. Her work makes global issues accessible and culturally resonant, from the economic impact of Bad Bunny’s residency in Puerto Rico to on-the-ground reporting at the FIFA World Cup. Previously, she was a video journalist at the New York Times, where she covered the 2024 presidential election, the Supreme Court’s TikTok ruling, and Columbia University protests. She also worked as a research and archival producer at Apple TV+’s Emmy-nominated "The Problem with Jon Stewart" and at NBC News. In 2024, Farah directed her first award-winning short documentary "Breaking The Cycle," about a hip-hop school in Medellín, Colombia. She earned her master of science from Columbia Journalism School and studied international relations at the University of Pennsylvania, where she was also a Division I athlete. She was awarded a Fulbright in Berlin for journalists and was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Media list in 2026.

Source: Verified school update

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Black Pine Circle School cost?

Black Pine Circle School's tuition is approximately $41,585 for private students.

What is the acceptance rate of Black Pine Circle School?

The acceptance rate of Black Pine Circle School is 60%, which is lower than the national average of 83%. Black Pine Circle School's acceptance rate is ranked among the top private schools in California with low acceptance rates.

Who are famous alumni from Black Pine Circle School?

Black Pine Circle School famous alumni include: Itamar Moses '91, Aisha Tyler, Elazar Sontag and Farah Otero-Amad.

What sports does Black Pine Circle School offer?

Black Pine Circle School offers 5 interscholastic sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Ultimate Frisbee and Volleyball.

What is Black Pine Circle School's ranking?

Black Pine Circle School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for: Lowest average acceptance rates, Largest student body and Most extracurriculars offered.

When is the application deadline for Black Pine Circle School?

The application deadline for Black Pine Circle School is Jan. 22 / rolling (applications are due on Jan. 22 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).

In what neighborhood is Black Pine Circle School located?

Black Pine Circle School is located in the Southwest Berkeley neighborhood of Berkeley, CA. There are 5 other private schools located in Southwest Berkeley.

School Reviews

5.00 out of 5 (3 reviews)

5 1/23/2026

We love the warm community at BPC, but I was especially impressed with the school's commitment to depth of discourse in the classroom. Living in the Bay Area, it is easy for schools to lean heavily into a single cultural or political narrative. We have found BPC to be a place that genuinely encourages empathy and many viewpoints. As liberals with family in red states, it's great to go to a school that doesn't politicize education and instead teaches students how to genuinely see the humanity in all people and understand many perspectives. The administration and faculty seem intentional about supporting diversity of thought. My children are learning to listen to peers with different experiences and values without judgment. It feels like a healthy, grounded environment where kids can develop their own worldviews rather than just adopting the popular one. Highly recommended for parents who want a well-rounded education.

- Posted by Parent - socraticparent

5 1/23/2026

Our daughter has been in BPC since Kindergarten and we are huge fans of the school. The faculty and staff have been amazing and truly care about giving the kids the best possible academic, artistic, musical, and community experience possible as part of their K-8 journey. The school does so much to teach the kids confidence in themselves and their ability to set goals and create a plan for success, and we see such a high level of independence and self-direction from kids across the grades. The parent community is welcoming and supportive both in and out of school, creating a real sense of connection with other families and the school.

- Posted by Parent - BPC Parent

5 7/24/2015

We are beyond thrilled to be at BPC Our children are absolutely thriving in an academically rich, engaging environment. There are a ton of programs, arts integration and the feeling here is all around, rock solid.

- Posted by Parent - sarak

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Berkeley, CA is $27,550 for elementary schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).

The average acceptance rate in Berkeley, CA is 71% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).