How to Enroll
Welcome Prospective Bella Mente Leopards
Thank you for your interest in Bella Mente Academies! A FREE, public charter school for ALL serving grades TK-8th. We provide students with the opportunity to acquire an education based on a quality curriculum founded on the educational philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori.
We hope you will allow us to be a part of your child’s academic journey!!!
1.
Submit an Application
2024-2025 Application
Opens January 2, 2024
Please choose the correct grade level for the 2024 – 25 school year. If applying for Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten:
- Transitional Kindergarten students must turn 5 on or before June 2, 2025
- Kindergarten students must turn 5 on or before September 1, 2024.
Complete Your Registration
Opens March 18, 2024
2023-2024 Application
Please choose the correct grade level for the 2023 – 24 school year. If applying for Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten:
- Transitional Kindergarten students must turn 5 on or before June 10, 2024
- Kindergarten students must turn 5 on or before September 1, 2023.
2.
Receive a Confirmation Email
Congratulations on completing your application! Once processed, you'll receive a confirmation email prompting you to check your student's status. If a seat is available, you'll find an 'Enrollment Status' button to secure your child's spot. In case seats are not immediately available, the email will indicate your position on the waitlist. Rest assured, you'll receive another notification once a seat becomes available, allowing you to accept enrollment promptly. We're excited to welcome your child to our school community!
3.
Complete Your Child's Registration
After securing your child's seat, you'll receive an email with detailed instructions to complete the registration process. For TK, Kindergarten, and 1st-grade students, the required documents include verification of address, a parent's photo ID, immunization records, birth certificate, health assessment, and oral assessment, making it a total of 6 documents. Families with students in grades 2-8 need to submit four documents: verification of address, a parent's photo ID, immunization records, and the birth certificate. Ensure a smooth transition by promptly submitting these documents and finalizing your child's registration. We look forward to officially welcoming them to our school community!
Complete Your Registration
4.
Join the Community!
Connect with us on social media to find out about events and to learn even more about what we have to offer.
Additional Information
Lottery
Bella Mente Academies is open to California students who wish to enroll, subject to capacity. Applications will be accepted for the 2024/2025 school year starting January 2, 2024 through February 15, 2024 (midnight). In the event that the number of applicants to Bella Mente exceeds the number of available openings, a random lottery will be held.
Applications submitted after February 15, 2024 will be placed on a waiting list.
Bella Mente’s lottery is held on the first Saturday of March at 1pm in the campus Library.
Families will receive an email notification with the lottery results within 5 business days after the lottery.
Element VIII: Admission Requirements
Governing Law: Admission policies and procedures consistent with subdivision (d) [of Education Code Section 47605]– California Education Code Section 47605(b)(5)(H)
The Charter School shall admit all pupils who wish to attend the Charter School. No test or assessment shall be administered to students prior to acceptance and enrollment into the Charter School. The Charter School will comply with all laws establishing minimum and maximum age for public school attendance in charter schools. Admission, except in the case of a public random drawing, shall not be determined by the place of residence of the pupil or his or her parent or legal guardian within the state.
The Charter School shall require students who wish to attend the Charter School to complete an application form. After admission, students will be required to submit an enrollment packet, which shall include the following:
- Student enrollment form
- Proof of Immunization
- Home Language Survey
- Completion of Emergency Medical Information Form
- Proof of minimum age requirements, e.g. birth certificate
- Release of records
Public Random Drawing
Bella Mente Montessori Academy is fully committed to serving all students who wish to attend, regardless of socio-economic status, race/ethnicity, academic achievement, special education needs or other “risk factors.” If the number of students who wish to attend the school exceeds the openings available, entrance shall be determined by single random public drawing in accordance with Education Code § 47605(d)(2) and all federal requirements. In accordance with applicable law, the following groups of students are given preference in the lottery:
- Students who are currently enrolled
- Dependent children of founding board members, or administrators or teachers employed at the school (not to exceed 10% of student population)
- Siblings of admitted students
- Dependent children of active duty military personnel
- Students residing within the attendance area of Grapevine Elementary School
- Students residing within the attendance area of Vista Unified School District
Applications will be accepted during a publicly advertised open enrollment period each year for enrollment in the following school year. Following the open enrollment period each year, applications shall be counted to determine whether any grade level has received more applications than availability. In the event that this happens, the Charter School will hold a public random drawing to determine admission for the impacted grade level.
At the conclusion of the public random drawing, all students who were not granted admission due to capacity shall be given the option to put their name on a waiting list according to their draw in the lottery. This waiting list will allow students the option of enrollment in the case of an opening during the current school year. The waitlist for the current school year remains active until the admission period commences for the following year. Applications are only valid for the current year. Applicants must reapply for the lottery annually if the school is unable to offer them admission for the current year. In no circumstance will a waiting list carry over to the following school year.
