Berkeley History

Berkeley Preparatory School was established in 1960 in affiliation with the Episcopal Church by Tampa Bay area families 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 140 students in grades seven through 12. Shortly thereafter, Berkeley moved to a site on Davis Islands, where it remained until 1979. The Lower Division was established in 1967 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 $2 million capital campaign. By 1983, another $840,000 was raised to add the lower division facilities and unite the school on one campus in 1984.

 

In July 2011, the school welcomed Joseph W. Seivold as the sixth Headmaster of Berkeley. In October 2018, Berkeley announced it had achieved a milestone fundraising total of $65 million as part of Above & Beyond: The Campaign for Berkeley Preparatory School. The campaign helped fund campus-wide transformation and growth under the guidance of the Board approved Master Plan. 

Today, Berkeley is home to an 86-acre campus with more than 1,380 students in grades Pre-K through 12.