Bentley School
Bentley School is a coeducational private day school with campuses in Oakland and Lafayette, California.
History
Lucy Soule and Edith Ainsworth founded the school in 1920 as an all girls elementary and middle school; boys were admitted from the early 1930s. Originally called the Margaret Bentley School in honor of Soule's grandmother, the school changed ownership and principals a number of times in the 1940s, eventually landing in the apt hands of Esther Branch. In 1970, the school moved into the mansion formerly owned by helicopter mogul Stanley Hiller, Jr. This estate rested on the border of Oakland and Berkeley. However, this compound burned down in the Oakland Hills firestorm of 1991. After spending a year at a disbanded high school in Berkeley, the school rebuilt its original blueprints and reopened in 1992. In 1998, Bentley expanded, opening a high school in Lafayette, California.
Athletics
Bentley Upper School offers junior varsity and varsity basketball, volleyball, tennis, baseball, softball, golf, swimming, soccer, and cross country. The school is one of ten schools in the Bay Counties League - East.
Bentley Lower School offers junior varsity and varsity basketball, volleyball, tennis, softball, soccer just like the Upper High School
Tuition and Financial Aid
For the 2007-2008 school year. Tuition for Kindergarten through Grade 5 is $18,960. This includes childcare at no additional charge before school from 7:30 AM and after school until 6:00 PM.
Tuition for Grades 6 through 8 is $20,255. This includes childcare at no additional charges before school from 7:30 AM and after school until 6:00 PM.
Tuition for Grades 9 through 12 is $24,835. The Lafayette Library is open at 7:30 in the morning for students and after school until 5:30 PM. Bentley School offers financial aid to students whose families demonstrate financial need.