Charter schools are independent public schools founded by not-for-profit Boards of Trustees. They operate under a contract (or “charter”) of up to five years. Charter schools are New York City public schools and they are open to all New York City students. Many charter schools have unique educational approaches that may include longer school days, a longer school year or themed programs. Charter schools are part of the New York City Department of Education’s strategy for providing families with an increased number of high-quality school options. (Source: New York City Department of Education)

No. Charter schools are tuition-free public schools. There is no cost to attend. 

Our mission is to empower each young woman to be the best version of herself. Through a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, service learning initiatives, and a commitment to cultivating a spirit of ownership within each young woman, BELA students will attend and graduate from college.

BELA is an all-girls, college preparatory high school located in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood serving grades 9 through 12. 

Admission to BELA is not limited by school district boundaries and we attract students from all over the New York City area. 

You can apply below with the Online or Contact Form.

Charter schools are required to accept all students that apply from within the city and cannot implement selective enrollment policies. If more students apply to BELA than there are spaces available, we will select students through a random lottery process.

If a charter school receives more applications than it has seats available, then the school is required by law to run a randomized lottery to admit students. All students who submitted an application will automatically be entered in the admissions lottery. Charter school lotteries are typically held in April and May.

2023-24 Lottery Date:
Wednesday, April 5
Notifications will be sent directly after the lottery.

Yes. Siblings of currently enrolled BELA students receive priority status. 

BELA does not interview applicants. However, we encourage you to attend an open house, spend a buddy day with us or schedule a school tour to learn more about our school philosophy, our curriculum and life at BELA. We advise students and families to attend.

In the event your child is not selected for admission, they will be placed on a waitlist. We will offer spots to students on the waitlist as they become available.

No. Parents/guardians must let us know if they are accepting the seat. If your child is selected for admission, you will be asked to accept admission through our online application portal. You will need to complete the remaining online registration forms and submit the required documentation. If you fail to respond by the deadline, you will lose your seat and you may be replaced by another student on the waitlist.

Yes, you can still submit an application. Once submitted, someone from the enrollment team will be in touch about seat availability.

BELA provides support to all children including those with special needs. Our Dean of Student Support can meet with you to discuss your child’s instructional needs.

The average class size is 20.  Some classes, such as Leadership Academy and Go Grow, will be smaller.

The BELA school day runs from 8:45 AM – 5 PM Monday through Thursday, and 8:45 AM – 2:35 PM on Friday. Our extended school day is designed to maximize learning time.

Yes, BELA serves healthy, nutritious meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Absolutely. We offer free meals for all families.

Yes. As a college and career readiness school, BELA believes in presenting ourselves as professional learners at all times. Our uniform signifies that BELA students are a sisterhood of learners. 

Yes! BELA students have the opportunity to participate in a number of organized sports including volleyball, basketball, track and cheer through our affiliations with the Charter School Athletic Association (CSAA) and Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL).

If you have any questions or concerns regarding admissions, you may contact our Admissions Office at admissions@belahs.org or 347-491-0535.