Application Steps

Important Admissions Dates

Step 1: Create a Ravenna Account

To apply to Bellarmine:

1. Create an online account with Ravenna. (Ravenna is also used by other Catholic and independent high schools for their applications.)
2. Select San Francisco Bay Area as the region.
3. Search for Bellarmine.
4. Continue on until you land in the preliminary application. 
5. Fill out and submit the preliminary application.

By creating this account and selecting Bellarmine, you will receive updates and reminders about these events and application deadlines.

The following application steps are due by Friday, December 12, at 11:59PM:

• Preliminary application form
• Accessibility Information
• 2 student essays
• A parent/guardian statement
• Student video (optional)
• 2 academic recommendations (i.e., provide the recommender's email address in the Delegate Form)
• 1 optional non-academic recommendation (i.e., provide the recommender's email address in the Delegate Form)
• Register for the HSPT
• Pay the non-refundable $75 application fee. All steps must be completed before payment is accepted. If this fee is a burden to your family, please email admissions@bcp.org.

The following application steps are due by Monday, February 2, 2026 at 11:59pm

• Current school records received
• 2 teacher recommendations
• One non-academic recommendation (optional)

Step 2: Visit Bellarmine

There are several options for visiting our campus. We highly recommend you attend at least one of the following:

Shadow Days

Grade 8 students can be a Bell for a day with a current Bellarmine student as their guide during classes 8:15am - 12:50pm. Students also have the option to shadow together with a friend. 

For parents and guardians, every shadow day also includes an optional Q&A with school leaders and faculty in the morning following drop-off. No additional registration is required for the Q&A, and all parents and guardians are welcome to attend.

Learn More About Shadow Days

Be-a-Bell Night

Applicants, parents, and guardians can visit our campus in the evening and experience an engaging one-hour program to include demonstrations, performances and testimonials of some of our award-winning programs.

Event Date: Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Open House

Visit Bellarmine’s campus on Sunday, October 26, 2025 10:00 am – 1:00 pm for a full experience of our programs and facilities. All family members and ages are welcome. Guided tours, meetings with school leaders, demonstrations from co-curriculars programs, interactive information about our academic programs, and more are available at the event.

Step 3: Take the HSPT

The HSPT is required of all applicants. Testing at Bellarmine or another school is required for a complete application.

Bellarmine and other Catholic high schools offer the High School Placement Test (HSPT) in January.

If you plan to test at Bellarmine, it is recommended that you register by December 12. through Ravenna on the events page. For more information and frequently asked questions, see the HSPT FAQ.

Bellarmine offers one two testing dates: January 10 and one make-up date, or January 24. Both are 1:00 – 4:00 pm.

To request testing adjustments such as extended time, please contact Bellarmine’s Director of Accessible Education, Jennifer Johnson, at jjohnson@bcp.org by November 1.