Elementary Division 2024
Program Information
Deep knowledge acquisition
Each Elementary Division course offers young students the opportunity to become budding experts in a chosen topic. Whether focusing on a specific academic subject or building skills more broadly, each engaging curriculum focuses on learning in depth and having fun!
Robust engagement
We've always united teachers who are passionate about their subject with students who love to learn. Class sessions are highly interactive and aim to maximize the value of every minute.
A community of learners
ATDP courses aren't just about the curriculum. Every summer, students come from far and wide to share their interests with one another, work in class together, and make new friends.
Key details
Class Schedule
- July 8–26, 2024 (three weeks) meeting on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays (no class on Wednesdays).
- Morning classes are from 8:30 a.m. to noon, and afternoon classes are from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. Refer to each course’s description for details on course topics.
App Deadlines
- Early Deadline: February 28, 2024
- Standard Deadline: March 27, 2024
Eligibility
- For students currently in grades K through 6. Courses are offered by grade level.
Note: ATDP is no longer offering online classes in the Elementary Division. With the end of strict COVID restrictions, our families have let us know that they want in-person classes.
Cal Adventures Sports & Arts Camp
Cal Adventures offers a separate program to complement ATDP's academic courses, enabling families to schedule a full day of activity on site at the same location. Read more about Cal Adventures.
Please also consider Explorations on Wednesdays if your goal is to plan a full week of activity.
Program calendar
Application datesATDP evaluates applications on an ongoing basis in the order they are received, beginning when an application is complete. The earlier you submit a complete application, the better your chances at receiving placement into your preferred course! |
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Early – Returning students receive priority · Financial Aid available | ||
Application Deadline | Wed., February 28, 2024 | |
Placement Information Available | Thurs., April 11, 2024 | |
Tuition Deadline (or first tuition installment) | Wed., May 22, 2024 | |
Standard – Financial Aid available | ||
Application Deadline | Wed., March 27, 2024 | |
Placement Information Available | Fri., April 26, 2024 | |
Tuition Deadline (or first tuition installment) | Wed., May 22, 2024 | |
Extended – Financial Aid NOT available · Limited course availability · Rolling acceptance | ||
Application Deadline | Thurs., May 30, 2024 | |
Placement Information Available | within 2 weeks of completed application | |
Tuition Deadline (or first tuition installment) | within 2 weeks of placement notification | |
Pre-program dates |
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Full refund deadline | Wed., June 5, 2024 | |
Final date for tuition payments (drop dead) | Thurs., June 27, 2024 | |
Orientation Meet & Greet | Sat., July 6, 2024 | |
Program dates |
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Classes begin | Mon., July 8, 2024 | |
Classes end | Fri., July 26, 2024 | |
Post-program dates |
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Final evaluations issued | Late August, early September |
Courses
Our classes unite teachers who love to teach with students who love to learn. While our classes are academic, they are also age appropriate and activity-based. Each course focuses on one specific subject, allowing students to gain deep knowledge. The inspired curriculum makes learning fun.
Classes meet within a three and a half hour window. Morning classes are from 8:30 a.m. to noon, and afternoon classes are from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. Schedules will include recess/screen breaks. For estimated maximum homework times, see each individual course description in the catalog.
Students completing Grades 4 to 6 with strong academic records are allowed to enroll in a second academic class if there is space. Any invitation to enroll in a second class is made available with the acceptance notification.
Please also consider Explorations if your goal is to plan a full day or week of activity. Students enrolled in a Elementary Division course can register for Explorations without applying separately.
Each course will concentrate on one subject area, such as The Art and Science of Math (for 4th graders) or Human Physiology (for 6th graders). Please carefully review the course descriptions for your grade level.
We generally recommend that parents discuss all the course options with their child and that they choose together the class that best capitalizes on the child’s academic strengths and deep interests. The subject chosen should be one that the student will want to learn about for three weeks and explore in depth with hands-on projects and interesting activities.
Our teachers, including lead instructors and instructional associates, are carefully chosen from a pool of exceptionally talented public school, private school, and university instructors. In addition to their demonstrated excellence as classroom teachers, they share a serious commitment to rich, deep academic talent development.
Attending
Students who have been accepted to ATDP and who applied by the early or standard postmark deadlines will receive their acceptance notification in their account and via email approximately one month later (see the program calendar). This notification will come along with our ED Student & Family guide, which contains important information and instructions for confirming your enrollment and preparing to attend class.
To confirm course placement, a parent or guardian of a student who plans to attend must complete the online Enrollment Form—which includes emergency information, policy agreement, and tuition payment—by the May 22 tuition deadline.
The policy agreement will include our safety plan for 2024, which we will calibrate in response to evolving public health conditions, guidelines, and UC Berkeley policies. Agreeing to these policies is a condition of enrollment.
Total cost for each ATDP course can be found under the individual course’s description. This includes the base tuition fee, program fee, and classroom supplies, but does not include the application processing fee.
Sibling Discount
For families confirming enrollment for two or more siblings, a $35 tuition discount is available for each student. For example, if two siblings attended, each student would receive one $35 discount from tuition, for a total family discount of $70. This discount is taken from the course's base tuition only, not from the application fee or the program fee.
Refunds
A parent whose registered student is unable to attend must withdraw the student in writing and may request a tuition refund prior to Wed., June 5, 2024. No refund will be made in the case of a student who fails to attend classes or is withdrawn from ATDP for failure to meet the standards of appropriate behavior, including completion of homework. See our refund policy.
For 2024, classes will be held at Michelle Obama Elementary School, located at 629 42nd Street in Richmond, seven miles north of UC Berkeley. Our ED program is relocating this year due to renovations at Washington School.
Obama Elementary is situated near East Richmond Heights, just a minute or two off of Interstate 80 exits 16 (southbound) or 16B (northbound). Many families choose to carpool, and information about our automated commuter directory will be provided in the student’s acceptance materials.
For families that want a full day of activity on site, see also Cal Adventures Sports & Arts Camp.
There are no excused absences at ATDP. As expectations are high and courses are fast-paced, even one absence makes it difficult to keep pace. Therefore, students are expected to attend every class session. Missing too much class time for any reason may result in dismissal from the program without refund. See our attendance policy.
Applying
Please review the application instructions below before applying.
Ready to go? Log in or register a new account, then go to your account menu.
The Application Process
ATDP evaluates applications on an ongoing basis in the order they are received, beginning when an application is marked complete. The earlier you submit a complete application, the better your chances at receiving placement into your preferred course!
- The application process is the same for new and returning students.
- Students must reapply every year, and returning students are not guaranteed automatic readmission or placement in their first choice of course.
- Incomplete applications are not considered for placement.
Am I a new or returning student?
A student who applied in a previous year and then withdrew without completing a course will be considered a new student for admission purposes. Students who have attended the Elementary Division previously and are applying to the Secondary Division for the first time are also considered new students, but their previous participation is noted.
Deadlines
Early Application Deadline - Wed., February 28, 2024
- Financial aid available
- Returning students receive priority
- A limited number of spots in each course will be reserved for early applicants. Based on the number and relative strength of other early applications, an early applicant may be automatically deferred to a standard applicant if no early acceptance decision is possible.
Standard Application Deadline - Wed., March 27, 2024
- Financial aid available
- Availability may be limited in the case of very popular courses
Extended Application Deadline - Thurs., May 30, 2024
- Financial aid NOT available
- Course availability may be very limited
Instructions
Step 1: Choose a Course
Browse our course offerings, then choose one course that interests you and up to three alternates. Keep our attendance policy in mind: all ED courses run during the three weeks of July 8–26, 2024.
Course availability may change throughout the application season as courses fill. Check our list of course offerings for frequent updates.
Step 2: Prepare Required Materials
Please prepare the following items in the order listed below. Items numbered 1 through 5 are required for a complete application. Please include federal tax documentation (item 6) if you wish to apply for financial aid.
Items 1-5 can be submitted in the online application as a PDF (recommended) or image file. Due to campus policy, tax documents (item 6) must be provided as a paper copy via fax or mail.
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1. Application Fee
There is an application fee for each prospective student. The fee is $50 for domestic students. For students attending school outside the US, the fee is $80. This fee is non-refundable. It covers only the cost of application processing and does not apply toward tuition or facilities fees. Available payment methods include:
- Online payment by credit/debit card (preferred)
- Check or money order made payable to “UC Regents.” Write “ED” and the student’s first and last name on the memo line. Mail your check payment to ATDP (see “Mailing Instructions” below).
Mailed payments WILL delay your application. We strongly recommend making your payment online if at all possible.
- Those applying for need-based financial aid may apply for an application fee waiver if the fee poses a financial hardship. See our Financial Aid page for details.
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2. Teacher Referral Form
ATDP’s Teacher Referral Form (TRF) is a brief online form that collects feedback from your teacher, and must be completed as part of your online application before it can be submitted. It must be completed by the student’s current primary teacher or another current teacher who instructs in any academic subject (e.g., mathematics, science, language arts; not elective, advisory, or extracurricular classes). The teacher’s academic subject need not match the subject of the ATDP course(s) to which you are applying.
Remember that your teacher’s time is valuable. Ask your teacher ahead of time before send them an online request. We recommend sending your teacher this form at least one week before you plan to submit it with your application.
You have two options for requesting that your teacher complete it:
- Identify your teacher in your online application (preferred). We’ll email your teacher a link to an online form for them to complete. Note that you won’t be able to submit your online application until your teacher completes the form.
or - Send your teacher a request before applying online. You can request a Teacher Referral Form early by visiting atdp.berkeley.edu/trf/student and providing your teacher’s information. We’ll email your teacher a link to an online form for them to complete. Once they’re done, we’ll email you a code that you can use to add the completed form to an online application. (Teachers can also send referrals to students that they feel would be a good fit for our program!)
Do not request a letter of recommendation. Do not submit more than one Teacher Referral Form with your application materials.
- Identify your teacher in your online application (preferred). We’ll email your teacher a link to an online form for them to complete. Note that you won’t be able to submit your online application until your teacher completes the form.
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3. Copy of Report Card
Submit a legible copy of your first semester (or most recent) report card for the current (’23–’24) school year.
We request that you send final grades, but if those are not available, you may submit your most recent progress report. Do not delay submitting your application to wait for final grades; if necessary, we may ask for an updated report card after receiving your application. If you need assistance obtaining a copy, contact your school office.
If your school does not issue grades or marks, please submit whatever kind of progress report is provided.
Screenshots of online reports are only acceptable if they clearly include the student's name and date of the grades displayed, and we may ask for an updated report card after receiving your application.
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4. Copy of Achievement Test Scores
Students in grade 2 and below may skip this item. Students in grade 3 may skip this item if they have not taken any achievement tests.
Submit a legible copy of your most recent California standardized test (CAASPP) or other standardized achievement test scores (e.g., Stanford Achievement Test, Iowa Test of Basic Skills, or other school-administered test that gives national percentile scores). The test must have been taken within the past three years (i.e., 2023, 2022, or 2021) and include scores in the areas of math and reading/ELA.
Do not delay submitting your application to wait for more recent test scores. Include whatever acceptable test scores you have from the last three years.
If you have not taken a standardized achievement test in the past three years, please mention it at the end of your Statement of Interest.
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5. Academic Product or Essay
Please submit a product written in English and of grade-appropriate length. As a rough guide:
- Kindergarten to Grade 1: 3-5 sentences
- Grade 2 to Grade 4: 2-3 paragraphs
- Grade 5 to Grade 6: 1-2 pages
Option A - Existing Essay or Story
Submit a piece of original written work that shows your own original thinking. This work should be one of which you are especially proud and which was completed since September 2023. While the work may have been done for a school assignment, it need not have been. The product you submit need not be in the same subject area to which you are applying. Examples of appropriate products include English essays, social studies reports, and poetry. (Poems must include a paragraph explaining the meaning behind the words.) Examples of unacceptable products include drawings not accompanied by original writing, spelling tests, arithmetic exercises, slideshow presentations, fill-in-the-blank worksheets, and multiple choice tests. While you may submit photos, videos, or drawings in support of your work, they may not be submitted in place of original writing.
Option B - Written Response to a Question
Please write your own answer to the question listed for your grade level. Students currently in Kindergarten may write their answers or dictate their answers to an older person.
- For students in Kindergarten to Grade 1 (3-5 sentences): If you could have any animal as a pet, real or imaginary, what would it be? Why did you choose this animal? What would you do together?
- For students in Grade 2 to Grade 4 (2-3 paragraphs): If you could have any job in the world when you grow up, what would it be? Why does that job interest you?
- For students in Grade 5 to Grade 6 (1-2 pages): If you could create a new holiday, what would it be and how would you celebrate it? Why is it important to have this holiday?
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6. Need-based Financial Aid (optional)
See our Financial Aid page for complete information and detailed instructions.
To apply for financial aid, please provide both parents’ most recent Federal Tax Return AND ALL SCHEDULES (i.e., the complete tax return) for each applicant.
If the $50 application fee poses a financial hardship, submit a letter of explanation and supporting documents. You may include these in your financial aid documents or as part of the student's Statement of Interest.
Send your supporting materials no later than Wednesday, March 27, the standard application deadline.
Step 3: Submit Your Application
If you have not yet done so, register a new account and then access the "My Account" menu. Click on the name of a returning student, or select "Apply for a new student", and follow the on-screen instructions. You can do this multiple times with the same account if there is more than one student in your household applying to ATDP. If you have used your account for the same applicant previously, some of the application will be completed for you. Double-check this information for accuracy and update as needed before submitting!
You can log in at any time to check the status of your application, review placement information, make payments by credit/debit card, print receipts, and access your educational records from previously completed courses.