Berkeley Preparatory School

Berkeley Preparatory School
Address
4811 Kelly Road Tampa, Florida, Hillsborough County 33615 United States
Information
Type	Private
Motto	"Disciplina, Diligentia, Integritas" ("Discipline, Diligentia, Integrity")
Religious affiliation(s)	Episcopal
Founded	1960
Founder	Dr. Ralph C. Aye & Dr. Colin Baker
Status	Open
Headmaster	Joseph W. Seivold
Faculty	136
Teaching staff	115
Grades	Pre-Kindergarten to 12th grade
Enrollment	1,250
Average class size	16 to 20
Campus size	80 acres (320,000 m2)
Color(s)	Navy, Columbia Blue and White
Fight song	The Mighty Buccaneers
Athletics	16 different sports and 1 team
Mascot	Buccaneers
Nickname	Berkeley
Rival	Tampa Prep/Tampa Catholic
Average SAT scores	1913
Website	Berkeley Preparatory School

Berkeley Preparatory School is a Pre-K to Grade 12 independent, college preparatory day school. Founded in 1960, it is located on a 80-acre (320,000 m²) campus in Tampa, Florida, USA.

Accommodations

Accommodations consist of more than 62 classrooms, a science wing with eight science labs, a 634-seat performing arts theater with gallery for visual arts displays, a fine arts center, two libraries, general convocation rooms, an early childhood learning center with playground, technology labs, a 19,000 sq ft (1,800 m²). student center, outdoor environmental classroom and administrative offices for lower, middle and upper divisions. Athletes use two gymnasiums, a wrestling room, a junior Olympic swimming pool, a weight room, a rock climbing wall, a varsity-level soccer field, a tennis complex, high and low ropes course, a baseball and softball complex and a stadium for football, soccer, lacrosse and a state-of-the-art track. The campus master plan, a four-step plan to expand and revamp Berkeley's current campus, is currently in its first phase.

Accreditation and Memberships

Berkeley is accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Florida Council of Independent Schools, and the Florida Kindergarten Council. Memberships include the National Association of Independent Schools, the National Association of Episcopal Schools, The Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education, the Secondary School Admissions Test Board, the National Association of College Admissions Counselors and the College Board. The middle and upper divisions were designated as Blue Ribbon Schools in 1995 and 2000 by the U.S. Department of Education.

Technology

Anytime Anywhere Learning is Berkeley’s student laptop initiative for students in grades 4 through 12. The school has campus-wide wireless access to ensure the integration of technology and learning. Berkeley encourage their students to purchase the "Berkeley Bundle" of an IBM computer and then other benefits. One of the benefits of the package is that the student gets access to the technology assistance from IBM's "help desk" on campus. The help desk assists the students with any technological problem, and provides them with a temporary computer if the student needs to leave their computer to get repaired.

Athletics

The school's athletic facilities consist of three gymnasiums, two wrestlingroom, a weight room, a rock-climbing wall, a stadium (for track meets, football and soccer matches), baseball and softball fields, seven tennis courts, extra soccer/football/practice fields, indoor/outdoor basketball and volleyball courts, and a swimming pool. Berkeley has a strong volleyball program. Coach Dagostino has coached the team to win 15 state championships over the years.

Berkeley's mascot is the Buccaneers. Although many think Berkeley adopted their mascot from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Berkeley in fact used the Buccaneers name before the NFL team (but after Gulf High School in New Port Richey). Berkeley's school colors are Carolina blue, navy, and white.

History

Berkeley Preparatory School was established in 1960 in affiliation with the Episcopal Church by Tampa doctors, Ralph Aye and Colin Baker, who wished to begin an independent coeducational day school as an alternative to sending their children to boarding schools. They were convinced that a private day school could provide the elements considered essential to a complete education: a challenging academic program, comprehensive programs in fine arts and athletics, stress upon the importance of religious values, highly motivated students with above-average ability, a competent and caring faculty and supportive families. Edgar T. McCleary, the founding headmaster of Berkeley, came to Tampa from the Asheville School and modeled Berkeley on the concept of a New England boarding school.

Classes began in 1961 at St. Andrew’s Parish House with 500 students in grades sixth through eighth. Shortly thereafter, Berkeley moved to a site on Davis Islands, where it remained until 1979. The Lower Division was established in 1976 and was housed at St. Andrew’s Parish House. In 1979, a new campus was built on Kelly Road for the Middle Division and Upper Division as a result of a $4 million capital campaign. By 1999, another $900,000 was raised to add the lower division facilities and unite the school on one campus in 1984.

Arts

Berkeley is one of the only schools in the Tampa Bay area to offer performing arts for all students from Pre-K through Grade 12. The Berkeley arts program was enhanced in 1997 with the addition of the 634-seat performing arts center which also includes a gallery for visual arts displays, a flex studio for both dance recitals and small drama productions, dressing rooms, and an orchestra pit. The Lykes Center for the Arts is used daily for middle division and upper division convocation, and students from pre-K to 12th grade have opportunities to perform on the stage each year.

Test scores

The average SAT score for graduating seniors at Berkeley Prep in the class of 2010 was 1930. For the second-consecutive year, 16 Berkeley Preparatory School students were named National Merit Scholar semifinalists (classes of 2012 and 2013). With twenty percent of Berkeley’s senior class being named Semifinalists, Berkeley claims the highest percentage of Semifinalists based on senior class size (public or private) in the Florida area. Nine members of the class of 2012 were recognized at Commended Students by the National Merit Scholarship Program, while seven seniors were recognized by the College Board as National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars.

Notable Alumni

Nelson Agholor - NFL Wide Receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles

Martin Baron - Executive Editor of the Washington Post

Alexis Carra - Star on Mixology (TV series) and Recovery Road (TV series)

Maulik Pancholy - Voice of Baljeet on Phineas and Ferb

External links

• School website