Bellesini is Expanding!
  New Girls School Will Open in September 2015! 
A Special Announcement from Bellesini Academy
February 2, 2015
"Our son Alejandro graduated from Bellesini in 2012 and now attends Austin Prep on a full scholarship.  We are excited that our daughter Penelope will have the same opportunity.  What Bellesini has done for our family does not have a price tag." -The Gonzalez Family

Dear Friends,

Over the past twelve years we have had incredible success changing the lives of young men in Lawrence.  This success would not be possible with the extraordinary investment and dedication of our donors, volunteers, teachers, staff, students, alumni, families, and community partners.  Together we have helped more than one hundred boys achieve their full potential despite the significant challenges they face. 
 
  •  Only 6% of low income students attend private high schools in the U.S., but 92% of Bellesini students currently attend, or have graduated from, a private school;
  • While the graduation rate for males in Lawrence is just 58%, 100% of Bellesini alumni have gone on to complete high school; and
  • Just 21% of low-income students complete college, but 84% of post-secondary Bellesini alumni have gone on to attend college, and another 7% are attending a technical school.

The Academy has long considered how we could broaden our impact on the Lawrence community.  Specifically, our leadership has focused on the need for more educational opportunities for the 2,500 middle school girls living Lawrence.  These young women face many obstacles to academic and personal success:
 
  • The teen pregnancy rate in Lawrence is the 3rd highest in the state. Teens who become mothers are more likely to drop out of school and face a significant increase in economic insecurity.
  • 90% of Lawrence students are low-income. Low-income students score lower on standardized tests, engage in more risk behaviors during adolescence, and are five times more likely to drop out of high school.  Only 1 in 10 low-income students go on to earn a college degree.
  • The graduation rate for girls attending Lawrence public schools is 72%--the 7th lowest graduation rate for female students in the state.
  •  51% of Lawrence's female students scored proficient on the 2014 English MCAS, while only 44% were proficient in math and just 21% were proficient in Science/Tech Ed.  Lawrence is labeled a "chronically underperforming district" that needs "substantial intervention" because of its poor MCAS scores.
  • 91% of students in Lawrence are Latino.  Latina girls face significant challenges compared to their female peers, including lower proficiency in math and reading, higher high school dropout rates, and greater rates of obesity.  They are less likely to enroll in AP classes or to take the SAT.  Only 3% of Latina women are represented in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields.   Poverty rates for Latina women are nearly three times those of white women.

In response to these challenges Bellesini will be admitting girls in the fall of 2015, beginning with one class of 15 girls and growing to serve 60 girls in grades 5 through 8 by the 2018-19 school year.  Understanding that the needs of girls and boys are unique, classes will remain single gender, utilizing a "coinstitutional" rather than coeducational model.  This means:
 
  • All academic classes and most after-school programs will be single-sex; 
  • Boys and girls will have separate sections of the building during the school day;
  • The students will have opportunities to interact in positive ways in some after-school programs and school-wide activities; and
  •  We will be building an addition to the school that will include classrooms for girls and a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Center that will include new science, art, and technology labs. 

Although there will be additional expense in educating more students, the net effect of expanding from 60 students to 120 students will drive down the per pupil cost from $12,000 to about $10,000, as many efficiencies are gained. We hope that you will join us in welcoming the first class of girls.

We will be accepting applications for girls entering grade 6 starting February 2nd.  We will be adding one grade each year. Once we have completed the building we will accept girls in grade 5.  Thank you for your support as we look forward to serving more students in Lawrence and offering more opportunities for success to both boys and girls!

With gratitude,
ED's Signature

Julie DiFilippo
Head of School
Bellesini Trustees Talk About Opening Girls School This Fall

Members of Bellesini Academy's Board of Trustees share their thought about opening a girls school this fall: 

"Opening a girls school will double the number of students we serve, essentially doubling our impact on the city of Lawrence. After graduating ten classes of boys who have had tremendous success in preparatory school, college, and beyond, we are excited to offer the same opportunities to girls in Lawrence." 

-Dr. David McGrath  
  

"As a long time Board member, I am truly excited that Bellesini is adding girls to its program.  We look forward to being able to serve more young people in Lawrence and to open up such a quality education to girls and boys.
- Muddy Waters, Head of School, Pike School

"I am very excited that the Board has decided to double Bellesini's capacity.  The need in Lawrence is huge.  Adding a co-institutional girls' school offers the best of both worlds.  It means we will be able to keep families together while maintaining Bellesini's high educational standards in small single gender classrooms.  At the same time, economies of scale will keep the cost per student down, which is very important considering Bellesini relies on grants and donations to fulfill its mission." - Emma Campbell  
 
"Our mission for Bellesini Academy is to provide an environment where our students enjoy the classroom while at the same time thrive in a structured day that insures the high standards needed to succeed in challenging preparatory high schools.  The educational fundamentals our teachers and staff use have produced outstanding students and we are proud of the their great success.  our board and the Bellesini staff are thrilled to expand this opportunity to more children in Lawrence." - John Schutz, Chair, Board of Trustees 

Bellesini Trustee Jocelyn Cascio
"As a Lawrence native and grand-daughter of immigrants, I know firsthand the impact and value of an excellent education. I also understand the transformative effects that result from investment in the education and empowerment of girls and women. I'm so enthusiastic and optimistic about Bellesini Academy expanding to provide opportunities for girls in Lawrence because I truly believe the results will be meaningful, deep and lasting throughout the community. I look forward to contributing to this new endeavor and watching as many young women grow, learn and inspire all of us in the process!"
 
Interested families are invitied to visit Bellesini at one of our Admissions Open Houses:

Wed., February 25th from 3:30-4:30 pm

Tuesday, March 17th from 6pm to 7 pm 

Tuesday, March 31st from 3:30-4:30 pm


Visit Our Admissions Page to Apply!

Application Deadline:  April 10th



"I am thrilled that Bellesini is now able to offer the young women of Lawrence the tremendous educational opportunity that Bellesini Academy provides. This expansion speaks to the dedication of the students, families, teachers and administration and truly shows a community spirit second to none."
  - Mary McKernan, Board of Trustees 



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