AEON School and Shu Ren International School are both in San Francisco. Both schools offer Bespoke programmes, and Shu Ren International School also offers IB. Published annual fees are $11,800 - 39,500 at AEON School and $29,348 - 30,950 at Shu Ren International School, which puts Shu Ren International School roughly 18% higher. AEON School takes pupils from 10 to 18, and Shu Ren International School from 2 to 11. The two are similar in size, at around 175 and 185 pupils.
Global online platform serving grades 5 through 12.
Location
Berkeley, California, United States. 2125 Jefferson Ave, Berkeley, CA 94703.
Stages
Stages
Grades 5–12 (online).
Stages
Early Childhood (Ages 2-5) and Elementary (Kindergarten - Grade 5).
School type
School type
Online private school
School type
Private international school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
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Additional learning support
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Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Global; serves students worldwide.
Country affiliation
United States
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
Non-religious.
Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
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School day structure
Extended Day and Extracurricular Programs available; Summer School offered.
Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application fee - Application fee: USD 50. This application fee is applied to the student's tuition if the student is offered admission and enrolls.
Tuition fees (overview and how they are set) - Aeon School uses a family-based sliding‑scale (Reduced Tuition) model rather than a fixed published tuition by grade. Annual tuition for enrolled students falls within a published range of USD 11,800 to USD 39,500. The final annual tuition for a student is determined by a family's total household income, assets, and the number of children enrolled. This single-family assessment model applies across the school's grades (grades 5–12). - Because tuition is individualized under the sliding scale, the school does not publish fixed per‑grade or per‑term price lists; families receive the specific annual and installment amounts for their household during the admissions/enrollment process.
Tuition — typical billing schedule and payment terms - Standard billing: families are invoiced and may pay by bank transfer (standard option). Credit card payments are accepted for an additional small convenience fee. - Standard payment plan: billed in two installments per year, with each installment due prior to the start of each semester. - Pre‑pay annual plan: families may elect to pay the full annual tuition prior to the start of the school year to receive a discount on their annual tuition. - Monthly payment plan: a monthly payment option is available for an additional small administrative fee; families enroll in the monthly plan at contract/enrollment.
Boarding fees - Not applicable. Aeon School operates as an online private school (grades 5–12); there are no boarding facilities and no boarding fees.
Other charges and typical additional costs - The application fee is the only routinely stated compulsory fee in the admissions information (USD 50, applied to tuition on enrollment). - The school does not publish a mandatory uniform charge or a routine boarding charge. Any optional or incidental costs (for example, external standardized test fees, AP exam fees, course materials, or optional extracurricular costs) would be billed separately or paid by families as applicable; these are not shown as fixed mandatory school fees in the published admissions/tuition materials.
Refund information - The application fee is applied to tuition upon enrollment. There is no detailed, publicly posted multi‑line refund policy visible in the school's published admissions and tuition material; specific refund or withdrawal terms (for example, how refunds are handled after invoice/installation payments or mid‑semester withdrawals) are set at enrollment/contract stage and are communicated to families through the enrollment contract and invoice. The application fee's application toward tuition on enrollment is explicitly stated.
Fee payment options - Accepted payment methods and arrangements include bank transfer (standard invoice payment) and credit card (accepted with a small convenience fee). Families may choose one of the available payment plans (annual pre‑pay, two‑installment semester billing, or monthly plan with a small fee). Specific invoicing and payment instructions are provided to families when an enrollment contract is issued.
Brief note on published detail availability - Aeon publishes a sliding‑scale annual tuition range (USD 11,800–39,500) and an application fee (USD 50). The school does not publish fixed per‑grade or per‑term tariff tables; families receive an individualized annual tuition and the related installment amounts during enrollment. Detailed refund and withdrawal mechanics, any enrollment deposit amount, and itemized mandatory fees beyond the application fee are handled through the enrollment contract and individual billing.
Fee details
Applicable academic year: 2025/2026.
Application fee - One-time application fee: USD 100 (charged at application). The application fee is non-refundable.
- Note on first-year total: for a new enrollee the first-year total commonly shown includes the one-time application charge; an example published total for a 2-year-old's first year is USD 29,448 (annual tuition plus the one-time application fee).
What the tuition covers - Published tuition descriptions indicate the annual tuition covers classroom materials, access to learning technology, and enriching field trips and related program elements.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Published fees are presented as annual amounts. No publicly posted per-term billing schedule, specific installment plans, or late-payment penalties were found in the available fee summaries. Families should expect the school to bill on an annual basis or to offer school-managed payment arrangements; the published figures above are the annual amounts.
Sibling discounts and financial assistance - Sibling discount: a USD 2,000 tuition-credit is offered for the youngest sibling in families with multiple children enrolled. Financial assistance is offered for Kindergarten through Grade 5 applicants (details handled through admissions/financial-aid processes).
Boarding fees - Shu Ren operates as a day school for ages 2–12; there is no boarding program and therefore no boarding fees.
Other costs or fees - Optional / additional charges that may apply: optional hot-lunch orders, extended-day or aftercare program fees, extracurricular activity fees, occasional field-trip fees if outside regular programming, and any optional services selected by the family. Published material identifies lunch service and extended care as available options. Uniforms are listed as not required.
Refund information - The application fee is charged as a one-time fee and is reported as non-refundable. A publicly posted, detailed tuition-refund or withdrawal refund schedule was not available in the fee summaries consulted.
Fee payment options - No explicit, publicly posted list of accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer, credit card, check) was found in the published fee summaries. The school uses a parent/admissions portal for account management; billing and specific accepted-payment methods are administered through the school's billing office and parent portal.
Limitations and brief note on missing details - The figures above are the published annual tuition amounts and the one-time application fee reported in the 2025/2026 fee summaries. A per-term billing breakdown, explicit billing calendar, detailed payment terms, a full tuition-refund/withdrawal schedule, and a public list of accepted payment methods were not provided in the publicly available fee material consulted. Per-term numbers shown above are per-term equivalents (annual ÷ 3) calculated for convenience because only annual amounts were published.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
The school has Great Works as the cornerstone of its education, an interdisciplinary core curriculum that unites English, social studies, science, and the arts through integrated learning. Students read a common set of Great Books and undertake interdisciplinary projects that connect learning to local communities and global issues. Math is taught through Math Inquiry, a problem-based mathematics curriculum modeled on materials developed at Phillips Exeter Academy, fostering collaboration and deep mathematical thinking. Beginning in middle school, students who demonstrate exceptional mathematical talent may apply to the Institute for Advanced Mathematics. Language learning is delivered through Global Passport, a task-based language curriculum that combines project-based learning with authentic practice. Students may study Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, or Spanish.
Curriculum details
Blends the International Baccalaureate (IB) program with full Mandarin immersion for Early Childhood (ages 2–5) and Elementary (Kindergarten–Grade 5). The program centers on the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and uses a concept-based inquiry cycle to develop knowledge, skills, and dispositions for lifelong learning. Students are encouraged to ask meaningful questions, make connections across subjects, and apply learning to real-world contexts. Social-emotional learning is embedded in the curriculum, with the Responsive Classroom approach, Zones of Regulation, and Personal, Social, and Physical Education (PSPE) supporting wellbeing and global citizenship. Small class sizes and a close-knit community ensure every child is seen and supported. .
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
Small class sizes support individualized attention.
Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
Aeon graduates pursue a wide spectrum of pathways, from Ivy/Ivy-equivalent universities and selective private research institutions to public flagships, small liberal arts colleges, and specialized programs in engineering, design, business, STEM, and the arts. They are prepared not only to enter competitive programs but to thrive in them. University counseling lists acceptances to Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University, Stanford University, the University of California system (including Berkeley and UCLA), and New York University, among many others.
Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
Starting in middle school, students who demonstrate exceptional mathematical talent may apply to the Institute for Advanced Mathematics.
Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Applications are open for August 2026 and are reviewed on a rolling basis. The requirements include a $50 application fee; Admissions Application (Parent/Guardian Portion) and Admissions Application (Student Portion); Academic Records (unofficial, last 1–2 years); Teacher Evaluation; Additional Supplements (optional) such as letters of recommendation, portfolio, writing samples, and/or individualized learning plans; SSAT and/or Character Skills Snapshot are accepted. The process also includes a 45-minute Parent Meeting and a 30-minute Student Interview, and there is an optional Reduced Tuition Program Application for need-based tuition assistance.
Admissions
1. Connect with Us. Fill out our short Inquiry Form so we can get to know your family and start the conversation. The inquiry begins the admissions process and helps us understand your child's needs. Our admissions team will respond with next steps and available options, and you'll be invited to take the next step in person. Take the first step by connecting with Shu Ren to learn more about our Mandarin immersion program and community. 2. Come Visit. Join us for a personal tour—step into our classrooms, meet our caring teachers, and feel the warmth of our community. The visit provides an in-person look at the learning environment and the people who guide your child's day. You can ask questions and observe how our program operates in practice. 3. Start your Application. When you feel ready, we'll send you a personalized link to start your application. The admissions team is available to answer questions and offer support along the way. The application process begins once you access the personalized link and submit the required information. 4. Join Our Community. Enroll at Shu Ren and step into a global community where your child can grow, thrive, and discover their unique superpower. Enrollment marks the culmination of the admissions journey and the start of your child's Shu Ren experience.
Scholarships
Scholarships
AEON School is the official school partner of USA Fencing. Two scholarships are made available to members of the USA Fencing community. Rise Scholars: AEON partners with Rise to identify 100 Global Winners each year and AEON has offered 17 full scholarships to Rise Winners and Finalists in the Classes of 2022–25.
Scholarships
Sibling Tuition: We offer a $2000 tuition discount credit for the youngest sibling in families with multiple children enrolled at Shu Ren. Financial Assistance: If you're applying for Kindergarten through 5th grade and need financial support, connect with our Admissions Team to learn about available assistance.
