Bellarmine College Preparatory School

This is a perfect high school for students having potentials and perfering challenging. From LinkedIn statistics, Harker, Bellarmine and some other excellent schools such as Lynbrook occupied half number students entering top private schools at graduations. Bellarmin has also more percentage at lawyer and financial area.
—Submitted by a parent

Unfortunately, I didn't exactly fit in with the GO BELLS! attitude that one is commonly subjected to. I also don't think the all boys atmosphere is that great as it isn't a realistic representation of "real life."
—Submitted by a student

Bellarmine is not a high school, it is a college prep. Bellarmine prepares all young men for their future not just academically but spiritually. They gave the young men a foundation to success in the challenging world. I remember last year we bumped into a Bell alumni, he is still in UCLA, telling us that one of the classes in UCLA was very easy as the materials and teaching lessons are the same as the class he took in Bellarmine. Forgot to mention more than 50% of their buildings were built in the last few years, a new gym and theatre, etc. a very nice campus. Go Bell!
—Submitted by a parent

Literally every teacher that I had this past year was beyond helpful and seriously engaged me into all of my material. Not only did they explain everything amazingly, but they made all of the work seem very interesting. Even subjects that I normally would despise, such as biology, suddenly became amusing and fun to learn due to how the teachers presented the material. Not to mention, the facilities at this school are continually growing and the students have a great opportunity to work in state of the ark classrooms. Also, the equipment being used for certain classes is PROFESSIONAL GRADE. For example, my Graphic Design class allowed me to use $4,000 macs, an acoustically-sound green screen room, industrial grade lighting, and the newest CS5 software (for illustrator and photoshop). Surprising as this may sound, the social life at this school is the best in the world! Being with your guy friends all day long makes it so you can truly be yourself, clown around, grow a strong bond between them, and not worry about impressing girls. Also, EVERY SINGLE sports team at Bell is top notch, and we also boast over 100 clubs that range from the Filipino Student Union to Guitar Club.
—Submitted by a student

Phenomenal school! My oldest graduated from here and my 2nd is a Sophomore. They develop young men to be capable, responsible, worldly, compassionate human beings. They emphasize leadership and the graduates basically populate the who's-who list of Silicon Valley business and government leaders. The school excels in every endeavor.. Academics are outstanding and require focus and effort to keep up to the bar. Sports are also stellar--and they get there by developing the student, not just by admitting star athletes. Extra curricular activities are a requirement. There are groups and activities for all interests from sports to music to debate to theatre to robotics. The school trains the whole individual, not just academics or sports. When your son goes to Bellarmine, he is joining a fraternal order--all Bellarmine boys have a shared experience and they are truly a cut above the others. When you meet a Bellarmine boy, you remember it. The community (think "family") is amazing as well. Our family went through an extremely difficult time and the school staff and the parents org's were truly wonderful, helping us along with every kind of support.. I am deeply grateful.
—Submitted by a parent

Bellarmine is a school that gives young men the opportunity to change the way that us old folk live.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a great school with awesome teachers and students. There is a special brotherhood that will last forever with the students here.
—Submitted by a student

Bellarmine has given my son a life long education in life. Bellarmine not have great academics with teachers graduating from Ivy League school, Bellarmine also teaches morals and values which is priceless. As a single parent, I needed to have stability and discipline in my son's life that he has become men for others. Thank you Bellarmine for helping raise my son to be the great young man that he is. May God continually bless all of us. Thank you.
—Submitted by a parent

Bellarmine provides lifelong networks for future success.

Bellarmine is the epitome of quality Jesuit education. As a parent of a son who graduated in 2008, I can say that they did create 'a man for others,' and I look forward to sending his younger brother to Bellarmine next fall. While it is a school that embraces compassion, service, and social justice, no student gets an easy ride. Grades are earned through hard work. An 89.4 percent still shows up as a B+ on a report card (not an A-). In the end, the boys have the satisfaction of graduating with exceptional skills in writing and critical thinking. 'Passing' AP exams, means not just getting by with a 3, but earning a 5 out of 5. Tough? Yes, but also appreciated by students who not only return to see favorite teachers, some return to teach at Bellarmine after college!
—Submitted by a parent

Bellarmine is a great High School. It offers great academic programs and teaches every student the importance of respect and tolerance towards many issues. The atmospher is great for both the student and the parent. The performing arts area at Bellarmine is by far on of the best i have seen at the high school level. And lets not forget that Bellarmine has sent out great people into our community, just like D.J. Frandsen and his brother Kevin Frandsen, who now plays for our very own San Francisco Giants...Kevin Frandsen attended SJSU on a full scholarship and graduated with a major in Finance, while still playing Baseball, now only Bellarmine could prep its students to have the full capacity to be many things in life.
—Submitted by a parent

Bellarmine is a grrrrreat school
—Submitted by a parent

My son attended Bellarmine and entered as a shy, hesitant person; in four years he emerged a confident, well-spoken, poised young man. His verbal and written skills blossomed under the traditional Jesuit approach; he developed his critical thinking and inquiry skills to such a degree that he chose a Philosophy major in college. He learned discipline, an expectation that high grades require hard work, and the ability to handle disappointment when things didn't go his way. Bellarmine tells you they will take your son and give you back a man, and they are right. Although my daughter attends a fine girls' school, my feelings for it no way compare to the fondness I have for Bellarmine and their contribution to making my son who he is today. When you meet a Bell, you know it. They are polite, love their moms, and shake your hand confidently. There is a Bell legacy!
—Submitted by a parent

Bellarmine isn't for everyone and the farther away your child lives from San Jose, the harder it may be to fit in with the San Jose money crowd, even if you live in Hillsborough. The academics are excellent but if your son doesn't place well his freshman year, it will be hard for him to jump to accelerated or honors classes his sophomore year. It's also real bummer if your child tries out for a sports team and doesn't make it, but for a confident kid who is willing to jump into a big pond, Bellarmine is a great place.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is an alumni at Bellarmine. Now that my son is in his 2nd year at SCU, I can have a better sense of what Bellarmine has given to my son. First of all, I'd researched throughout the San Francisco bay area on which school to place my gifted son in. I've looked at schools in SF, the Peninsula, East Bay and Inland and Bellarmine has come to the top of the list, hands down. The curriculum has challenged my son, the sense of belonging, community, the brotherhood 'men for others' all continues well after he'd graduated. I know that my son will always have 'his brothers' through life. He'd so far met other alumni and the instant bond forms as soon as they find out that my son was a Bellarmine graduate. Bellarmine has prepared my son with things that he'd encounter academically and does it with ease.
—Submitted by a parent

Top quality academics along with a nurturing and caring environment really makes bellarmine college prep one of the best places to educate and mold a 'man for others'
—Submitted by a former student

The academics are great and there is so many activities, coolest school every by far
—Submitted by a student

Bellarmine has excellent academic program. Students can excell way beyond the grade level and their are encourage to do so. Teacher retention ratio is very high, and a lot of them have postgraduate degrees from colleges like Stanford or Berkeley. Bellarmine has great sport program. They lead in many afters school activities. Their debate, robotics teams score highest in state. 99% of graduates attend college. Parents involvement is very high, but not obligatory.
—Submitted by a parent

Really extraordinary school. A sense of community that is unparalleled. It is a Catholic school for Catholic families, however, non-Catholics are welcome. Non-Catholic families often feel isolated. The level of instruction is extraordinary. Most graduates go on to the most selective colleges in the country. Last year, 48% of the graduates attended a university that was on the London Times list of the '200 Best Universities in the World.' Bellarmine is the oldest high school in California, and as a Jesuit high school, it encourages critical thinking, regular questioning and higher level thought. About 40% of all applicants get into the school. They have one of the finest speech and debate programs in the country, regularly winning state and national competitions. They have the best sports program in Northern California. They are ethinically diverse.
—Submitted by a parent

Very High academic programs and great variety of classes. Teachers are helpful and avalilable. Lots of extracurriculum activities and clubs to choose from. Parents are welcome to volunteer to the degree they can.
—Submitted by a parent