Berkeley Arts Magnet at Whittier

395 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

Berkeley Arts Magnet at Whittier (BAM) is a distinctive public elementary school in the Berkeley Unified School District that places a strong emphasis on integrating the arts into the core academic curriculum. Located in downtown Berkeley, the school operates on a philosophy that creativity and critical thinking go hand-in-hand. By infusing disciplines like visual arts, music, dance, and drama into daily instruction, BAM seeks to engage diverse learning styles and foster a collaborative, vibrant community where students are encouraged to express themselves while mastering rigorous academic standards.

The school is well-regarded for its inclusive culture and its commitment to social-emotional learning, which is woven into the fabric of the student experience. Beyond the classroom, BAM offers a rich array of enrichment opportunities, often supported by active parent involvement and community partnerships. Its central location allows for a unique urban educational environment, making it a popular choice for families who value a balanced approach to education that prioritizes both artistic development and academic achievement.

395

Total Students

21.9

Full-Time Teachers

18.0

Student/Teacher Ratio

30.1%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Berkeley Arts Magnet at Whittier
Demographic	Student Count
White	174
Hispanic	52
Black	38
Asian	51
Two or More	77
American Indian	2
Pacific Islander	1

White
174 (44.1 %)
Two or More
77 (19.5 %)
Hispanic
52 (13.2 %)
Asian
51 (12.9 %)
Black
38 (9.6 %)
American Indian
2 (0.5 %)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.3 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	Berkeley Unified
Phone:	(510)644-6225
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	395
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	21.9
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	18.0
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	109
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	10

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 78

Grade 1 54

Grade 2 69

Grade 3 64

Grade 4 66

Grade 5 64