Berkeley Preparatory School

4811 Kelly Road

Tampa, FL 33615

22 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by other on January 10, 2022

Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!Really Good!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by parent on April 21, 2021

If you are sending your children to Berkeley based on your perception of it being an Ivy feeder school, I strongly urge you to ask the school how many of the kids accepted into Ivys are sports commits. You will be shocked and it is truly disingenuous of the school to sell itself to prospective families with stats that indicate otherwise. If you are sending your children to Berkeley for great teachers, a high-tech campus, and tons of extra curricular, you will be satisfied.
Submitted by parent on May 20, 2020

Fantastic. Both my kids went/go here. My daughter HS only and my son MS and now HS. My daughter is now starting Med school in a couple of months and my son has achieved greatly in both in major national events and programs. We love it so much we moved close to it to further participate in activities as we had lived 45 minutes away. Highly recommended.
Submitted by student on November 01, 2017

Berkeley is not as great as it is made out to be. The facilities are great and the campus is gorgeous, but the people truly tell the story of this school. The administration as a whole cares more about its reputation than the students well being. I have a friend who was suspended for 5 weeks for defending himself against another, and the other kid got the exact same punishment. Who has ever heard of a 5 week suspension? This was basically forcing the student out because he couldn't possibly keep up with the academics of Berkeley, keeping Berkeley's reputation intact. A few years ago, a student was caught with drugs on campus, which normally results in an automatic expulsion. However, the student's family has a lot of money, so instead of giving her a fair punishment, Berkeley had the family donate money and the student got a much lesser punishment. The academics at Berkeley aren't even that great for the hefty 20,000 tuition. You would be much better off with most public schools. In conclusion Berkeley is a very political and unfair school that I do not recommend you send your child to.
Submitted by other on March 08, 2017

At Berkeley there is this commonly known phenomenon known as the "Berkeley bubble" and what that means is that everything that at Berkeley there is an invisible bubble separating you from the outside world. There is so much wealth at this school that the kids don't even have a concept of money there are multiple people at this school who have wealth in the billions, yes with a B! The administration tries to run the school based off of fear and the idea of an honor code that students are supposed to live by. If you have money or your parents are on the board then you won't get in trouble. One student cheated on an exam and got a stern talking to and another copied one answer on a quiz and got suspended the only difference between these students is that one of their parents is on the board...Pretty much if you have money you are fine. There is a certain guidance councilor who pretends to be everyone's friend so students trust him and tell him gossip that they hear in exchange for candy and cookies among other things and this councilor then tells the dean of students and then people get in trouble for things that end up getting blown way out of proportion like gossip tends to do. However besides the administration the faculty is pretty good besides the fact that most of the teachers are in fear of the administration. Most of the students are bright besides the ones that came in lower school and are dumb but cheating their way through. All in all if you aren't super rich or a genius then you have to watch your back at this school or one little mistake might cost you your spot here.
Submitted by other on September 01, 2016

Four grandchildren in lower and middle division all love school and feel extremely safe in every way
Submitted by parent on September 01, 2016

Great school, great teachers. Due to the nature of my husband's work, our children have attended schools in and out of the USA since kindergarten. We find Berkeley to be a well run school, with great teachers, a solid curriculum and nurturing environment. I am confident they will leave Berkeley well prepared for the challenges of university life.
Submitted by student on July 13, 2016

Fantastic and caring teachers and administrators, greatest facilities, traditions, unifying initiatives. Prepares motivated students for the world's top colleges and universities. Great spirit and wonderful alumni network around the globe.
Submitted by parent on February 18, 2016

Our two children both attend this school in lower division. It was so stressful making the "right" decision for their education. I am sure they would of been fine at Mabry but we truly feel we made the right choice. This school is amazing. From the education to the culture to the warm welcoming parent community. This truly is a family and making this decision was one of the best we have made. To the reviews about money, yes the school is expensive and yes there are plenty of people with money, but no one there acts as if they are better then anyone else because of it. This is just an awesome place and the best thing you can do for your children if you live in Tampa Bay.
Submitted by other on September 17, 2015

I attended Berkeley from kindergarten to 12th grade. I am a "lifer" and echo many of the sentiments that are written on this page. Berkeley is an amazing school, with amazing academics and a tight-knit community.I am now in medical school (at one of the best in the nation) and truly believe I would not be here today if it was not for Berkeley. The teachers at Berkeley were amazing (shout out to Mrs. Deweese, who is THE BEST!). The teachers inspired me to learn, and the curriculum pushed me to have strong study habits. I felt extremely prepared for my AP exams and score a 4 or 5 on all of them, allowing me to enter college with many credits. I would highly recommend Berkeley to high-achieving, driven, and involved students. However, that being said, BPS is not for everyone. It is very academically challenging and the student must be willing to put in the work. If the student is not willing to put in the effort, I would say BPS may not be worth it. I know some students who were very stressed about the academics and could not handle the work load. If your child is struggling in school already, BPS may not be the best fit.
Submitted by parent on November 15, 2014

Our 2 children have attended this school for the past 2 years. We couldn't be happier, best school in Tampa Bay Area - especially with regard to academics. Parents and teachers are wonderful people, not "rich snobs" or anything like that. By the way, of the 5 1-star ratings I found on this site for Berkeley, 4 were written in 2011 and sounded very similar. I suspect they were from the same disgruntled parent. Since these reviews are anonymous, we will never know!
Submitted by other on February 10, 2014

I toured this school while looking for private education for my three children. Everyone said this was the place to send your children, if you could afford it. While I found the grounds to be nice and the marketing staff friendly, I was put off by what I saw in the classrooms I toured. I spent some time in a first-grade classroom while the teacher was giving a test. She gave the questions verbally, so I was able to hear them. I found her questions to be very poorly constructed and lacking quality. We then went to the science room where a documentary on monkeys was being shown. The students appeared bored and the science teacher disinterested in their level of interest. We then went to the library. The students were being taught how to take notes while reading. Again, the students seemed very disinterested. Several asked to use the bathroom. Notes were being passed. I could tell my tour guide was unhappy with what we were seeing, hardly a good sell for three-children's tuition. I still considered moving forward with the application process, but after reading the literature on the average SAT scores, I chose not to do so. I found the scores and school to be mediocre, at best.
Submitted by parent on November 21, 2013

To the last comment about "beening rich and snobby, stay that way". If that's how you feel you must have monsters for children and you are a very sad person. Your comment was the first I seen, and now I will not send my child to that school. I make over 600,000 a year net income and my kids couldn't tell you that. Its about the person you are and what you do for others, Not about wealth. Please write that down.
Submitted by other on October 03, 2013

I attended this school for my last two years of high school and I was very pleased with my progress. The school helped me in all areas of academics because I was certainly lacking when I enrolled. I did not fit in socially but that was not why I was there. I was certainly not among the elite but felt I was treated fairly. I am thankful to all involved in my educational journey. There was one math teacher that was full of himself but he was a good math teacher nonetheless.
Submitted by other on July 26, 2013

And also to add to my last post; serious discipline issues. No one has ever been kicked out of the school for doing nothing wrong. You have to commit an infraction in order to be expelled/put into suspension. And if that is the case, you deserve it. Don't be upset because your child cheated on their homework and got suspended, it happens! Obviously if they're suspended they shouldn't have been there in the first place, so i just find it unfair when people make those types of comments that kids were thrown out for not "being the student the school wants them to be". They were thrown out because nobody wants a cheating/lying/violent/disrespectful person at their school; it's common sense people.
Submitted by parent on April 29, 2013

My daughter started in 4th grade and loves it. The teaching is much more interesting than in the Public School (she came from an A+ rated school in Tampa). The teachers are wonderful and the administration seems receptive.
Submitted by parent on September 09, 2012

I've lived and travelled all over the world and attended top rated private schools in the American and British systems. This school is amazing. I have three kids, two in upper division and one in lower division. The faculty at Berkeley go the extra mile so that every kid feels special, known and understood. That's an often missed foundation upon which to build academic learning. The school's academic qualifications are well known. Beyond academics, what I love about Berkeley is the way it focusses on the whole person, not just the academic development. We used to be in IB, but my child was doing homework until very late every night and had no time for extracurriculars. My child was growing academically, but what about the rest of her education? Berkeley has a no cut sports program and strongly encourages participation. The homework is not so heavy that kids can't take part in a few of the hundreds of clubs and groups. The result is a well-rounded, mature individual. You'll notice it immediately when you walk through upper division. The kids treat adults with respect. These are things you won't see in the brochures.
Submitted by parent on July 03, 2012

My child has attended Berkeley's lower division for two years now. She transitioned from another private school out of state, and had quite a bit of work to do to catch up to Berkeley's rigorous academic pace and standards of conduct, but the faculty and staff stood ready to help us equip her for the transition, and worked with us in order to help her to maintain her progress at home. The teachers are all eager to help students succeed. They work diligently to find interesting ways to present complex material. In my experience, more is expected of the parents here than at other schools-- I think this is a key to a child's success that is often overlooked elsewhere. There are adequate opportunities for parents of both genders to actively volunteer. The school trains its students to be leaders, and the children have a great example in Headmaster Seivold his faculty, his staff, and the many alumni that actively work to maintain and improve this school.
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2012

Experience is tied to expectations. At least this is how we have approached our experience with Berkeley. If your expectation is that your child will receive a rigorous college preparatory education, that your concerns will be listened to by a strong and caring faculty and administration, that your child will be held to high standards in academic performance and personal behavior, be provided with wonderful opportunities and leave the school with lifelong friends and connections, then this school is for your child. If your expectation is that you get to call the shots, that your child is perfect, that he or she could never break any rule, that his or her failings are someone else's fault, that he or she should be shielded from consequence of any kind, then this school is definitely NOT for you. In our experience (we have had children go through all three divisions), the vast majority of Berkeley parents are supportive of the school's mission and 'get it' about their child's strengths and weaknesses, the way the school staff are committed and dedicated to helping their child grow as a person, and what a privilege (not a right) it is to go to a school like Berkeley.
Submitted by parent on May 06, 2012

Definitely the best school in the Tampa Bay area. The community is tight knit; it is truly like an extended family. The teachers truly care about each student - they get to know them as people, love them for who they are and play to each child's strengths. With the competitiveness of the college process today, it is imperative that each child is known for their own individual qualities. The school takes its time making sure that each child has an appropriately successful outcome. There is nowhere else I would have my son in all of Florida