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Academics

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A Prestigious College Prep High School in San Jose

Ranked among the top 10% of college prep schools in California, Bellarmine’s rigorous curriculum gives students the knowledge, skills, and discipline to excel at top universities and in competitive careers. 

With high SAT/ACT scores, advanced coursework, and the most robust college counseling department of any Bay Area high school, Bellarmine graduates are prepared to lead.

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Bell is very rigorous academically. I've been told it’s even harder than college at times. But Bell offers you so many resources to set you up for success: tutors, a ton of time to get your work done during school, office hours with teachers, community time, free periods—all this time so you can stay on top of your work, because almost every student here does co-curriculars. Along with those things, the counselors here have our best interests in mind.

— Nolan Lyle ’27

A Rigorous Curriculum That Opens Doors

Bellarmine’s Jesuit education challenges you to think critically and develop intellectual curiosity—essential skills for success in college and in life. 

157

Courses

 Across a Range of Disciplines

22 AP

And 15 Honors Courses

To Challenge High-Achieving Students

1310

Average SAT Score

~300 Points Higher than the National Average

30

Average ACT Score

10.4 Points Higher than the National Average

18:1

Student-to-Teacher Ratio

For a High Level of Personalized Attention

98%

Of Graduates

Attend Four-Year Colleges

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The Most Robust College Counseling of Any Bay Area High School

The college admissions process is more competitive than ever, but Bellarmine gives you the structure and strategy to stand out.

With six full-time college counselors—more than any other private school in the Bay Area—you get the personalized guidance you need to identify and get into your best-fit colleges. Our college readiness resources also include:

  • Four years of developmentally appropriate college preparation guidance covering academic pathways, leadership development, and co-curricular exploration.
  • Workshops for students and parents on applications, scholarships, and financial aid.
  • 120+ college admissions officers who visit Bellarmine each year.
  • A dedicated two-week College Guidance class for juniors.
  • Led by a nationally recognized expert—our Director of College Counseling is the former president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and works directly with students every day.

Learn More About Our College Counseling
 

Counseling from Day One

From your first day at Bellarmine, you are assigned a Personal Counselor. This person supports you throughout high school—not just on your academic success, but on life skills and emotional wellness, too.

Academic Counseling

Your counselor works with you one-on-one to set and reach academic goals. They help you:

  • Build a strong academic foundation by selecting the right courses.
  • Study smarter and manage your time with strategies that improve performance.
  • Stand out in college applications by pursuing leadership roles that match your strengths.
  • Make a meaningful impact through service opportunities that reflect your values.

Personal Counseling

In the spirit of caring for the whole person, our counseling program also supports emotional wellness and personal development.

  • Social-Emotional Counseling: Individual and group sessions addressing stress, anxiety, and personal growth.
  • Personal Counseling Parent Events: Additional support and engagement for students and families.
  • CURA Program (10th-12th Grade): Monthly counselor-led sessions focused on social-emotional skills and personal development.

Go to Personal Counseling

Additional Academic Resources

Our Jesuit Philosophy: Educating the Whole Person

Bellarmine embraces the Jesuit ideal of cura personalis, or care for the whole person. This means we challenge students to grow academically, spiritually, and ethically. Inspired by the Jesuit motto ad majorem Dei gloriam—for the greater glory of God—we cultivate each student’s gifts and talents in service of a greater purpose.

Grounded in the Ignatian philosophy of education, Bellarmine forms young men of intellectual competence, moral integrity, and religious conviction, as reflected in the Ignatian Educator’s Prayer:

"Teach us to serve you as you deserve…to form our students into persons of intellectual competence, moral integrity, and religious conviction whose actions are informed by conscience, infused with compassion, and inspired by a commitment to a faith that seeks justice."

Ignatian Educator's Prayer

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Through our rigorous college-preparatory curriculum, students sharpen their critical thinking and creativity while developing resilience and compassion. Their learning extends beyond the classroom through service, immersion trips, athletics, the arts, and leadership opportunities. Here, students are challenged to bring their God-given talents to fullness in all areas of life.

Bellarmine’s educators are committed to this mission. They continually grow in their faith and professional excellence. As members of the Jesuit Schools Network (JSN), our faculty upholds the Profile of an Ignatian Educator and strives to instill in students a lifelong commitment to reconciliation, justice, and service.

Read "Ignatian Educators, Companions in Ministry"
 

Frequently Asked Questions: Academics

Ready to Reach Your Full Potential?
Ready to Reach Your Full Potential?

Bellarmine’s academic offerings challenge you and prepare you well for college. With advanced coursework, individualized counseling, and a Jesuit approach that develops the whole person, you’ll graduate ready to thrive at your best-fit university.

If you’re looking for one of the best private high school educations in the Bay Area, your path starts here.

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