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!!!
Opens January 2, 2024
Please choose the correct grade level for the 2024 – 25 school year. If applying for Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten:
Opens March 18, 2024
Please choose the correct grade level for the 2023 – 24 school year. If applying for Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten:
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!
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!
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:
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:
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.
This school is a God sent....my daughter graduated from there a couple of years a go and is now in her 2nd year of high school getting a 4.0 GPA. I love the staff/instructors at BMMA. They are professional, experienced, patient, and very engaging. I only have praise for the school. My daughter was going to a regular public school when my neighbor told us about a new Montessori school opening near us. Thinking it would be private and expensive we were glad to hear that it's free cause it's a charter school funded by our own school system.
School Parent
Their way of teachings are different from public schools. They let our kids flourish to their full potential with support and guidance. I was not impressed when my daughter was coming home with 15 page homework in 1st grade when she was in regular public school. 1st thing I noticed when she started going to this school(BMMA) was that she wasn't bringing home tons of homework if there was any at all. They do all their homework in class!
School Parent
This is a great school to send your kids to. My older child has been going there since she was in 1st grade and my son has been there since preK. She is now in her 2nd year of high school at a different school and getting a 4.0 GPA. BMMA has prep my daughter to be successful/confident in high school. The staff and instructors are amazing.
School Parent
What I love about the school is that all the instructors are doing what they are supposed to IN SCHOOL! I barely see my kids have homework because they do all their schoolwork in school. My boy is testing at above 80th % in all his school curriculum. Throughout the pandemic...all the staffs are very supportive of each scholars individual needs because they want all our children to be successful.
School Parent
All staff always goes the extra step to ensure my child's needs are met. My concerns are always addressed and handled in a respectful manner.
School Parent
My son attended Bella Mente until he was promoted to high school. The school has a garden program that is fantastic, kids really learn the food cycle and tend the garden as well. My son's favorite thing was the nutrition lab where they prepared the harvested vegetable of the week. That was such a great experience for him, we couldn't find that in another school. I liked the small classes, the teachers, and the community events.
School Parent
Bella Mente has been an amazing school for our children. Our son was there from the time the school opened until he graduated at 8th grade. He had the best teachers who truly gave his the attention he needed to succeed in the subjects he was behind on. He always felt happy and proud of his accomplishments! Our daughter has been there since Kindergarten and is now in 6th grade. She is doing great and has made wonderful friends. She has struggled in math at times but her teachers were wonderful in working through her struggles.
School Parent
The staff is very kind to all the kids and I have always felt the school is clean and safe. I can’t really imagine my kids not attending Bella Mente. When our son left for high school he was well equipped and ready and is now in 10th grade and has been successful in high school also. I will be so sad when the day comes that my daughter leaves Bella Mente because it has been such a huge part of our lives. We are so thankful to have this school near us.
School Parent
Bella Mente has changed a lot in the last few years for the better. The Staff is Happy and the students are Happy . My son loves his teachers and his classmates. The Garden Program is wonderful and my son eats his veggies because of Mr. Hank. We couldn't be happy there.
School Parent
My child attends Bella Mente and is enrolled in lower elementary with other first, second, and third graders. He really loves his teachers and classmates. I have great respect and appreciation for the teachers at Bella Mente as well. I also want to give a special shout out to Bella's SPED department, which does a fantastic job offering my son services.
School Parent
My son has attended Bella Mente since the first grade, he is graduating from 8th grade this year. We have had the most wonderful teachers throughout the year, we have truly made wonderful memories at Bella Mente.
School Parent
Wonderful staff! My student has been going to Bella Mente and I have seen such an improvement over the past 3 years. We love Dr. McQuestion, she has experience and we trust her with our child.
School Parent
It’s so cool
Edwin Gallardo
Fantastic school! Excellent staff and very nice students. My child loves the gardening, cooking, & drama classes. It’s a small school, yet they still have great resources for IEP students. Every month they host fun family events. Our family wishes they offered a high school. This school is a hidden gem.
Timothy Chandler
My son has been at this school for around three years. All of his teachers have been phenomenal and have gone out of their way to meet his educational needs as an individual. I do think that communication could be better, but I mean that in terms of admin related issues not with the teachers. Even still, we have had nothing but a good experience with the admin as well.
Tiffany
It's frustrating to see ill-spirited reviews about the school because we have had such a great experience here. Also, this type of school is not available in most areas of the country, especially in public charter form(by which I mean free of cost!) I wish people knew how fortunate they are to have such an amazing school available to them.
Tiffany
Can’t say enough good things about Bella Mente! The school is so thoughtful on ways to promote education and personal development for the students. They also show so much care for the families, from weekly produce boxes to fun activities for parents and family to be involved in the school and community including Family Move nights, after-school activities to allow parents a date night out, and festivities in the community.
Kianni Albrecht
My son have been in TK and so far, we have had a great experience with the teacher, IEP and administrative staff. Great communication, they have many activities for the kids and families. I love the way they have the parking so we can pickup our kids quickly and safety. I didn’t have that experience before in others school.
Michelly Mendoza
I love this school! My son has been going here since he was in preK. The school was so popular they had to put him on a waiting list but we got lucky and was contacted after a week after school started he was up for admission if we choose to accept it and that was 7 years ago. He is now in 7th grade and we all enjoy him going to BMMA. The staff/instructors are all incredible!.
Christine Pham
We moved out of state but this has by far been the best school . From my oldest being in VUsd to Bella mente. She sprouted socially. Mr anthony was the best. Office staff always treated us with such a kind heart . Always felt included in all activities and kids healthy learning activities.
Magali Perez
Bella Mente is the greatest school! The staff is so incredible! They are very dedicated to the Montessori way of teaching and it makes a big difference for my son. He's been going here since the middle of Kindergarten and he loves his school! The events that they put on are wonderful family events too. The way they teach the children is in such a creative way. Really on the child's level! They can learn at their pace and be encouraged to work hard and learn. I love you Bella Mente!
Vanessa Fleming
Safe school. Nice staff. Great teachers. The kids are learning fast and efficiently. Been there for the beginning, and they love it.
littleitalygrl
We joined the Bella Mente family in 2019 and we all know what happened in 2020. BMA did their best to keep the kids learning while the entire world shutdown. No one could have predicted what happened. It was a huge adjustment for everyone and it wasn't easy. Overall we have been pleased with the school. The staff are friendly and are there because they enjoy what they do and have a heart for the kids.
School Parent
Our kids enjoy going to school and look forward to Mondays. The staff is working hard to bring back school events and opportunities for parents to be involved. We are wrapping up a great 22/2023 school year and things are getting back on track. We look forward to what the next school year brings. If you choose to enroll in Bella Mente, we encourage you to attend the events and get involved.
School Parent
This school is a God sent....my daughter graduated from there a couple of years a go and is now in her 2nd year of high school getting a 4.0 GPA. I love the staff/instructors at BMMA. They are professional, experienced, patient, and very engaging. I only have praise for the school. My daughter was going to a regular public school when my neighbor told us about a new Montessori school opening near us. Thinking it would be private and expensive we were glad to hear that it's free cause it's a charter school funded by our own school system.
School Parent
Bella Mente Montessori Academy offers equal educational and employment opportunities, regardless of sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability.