Question 1

What is Bullis Charter School (BCS)?

Accepted Answer

Bullis Charter School is a family-founded, free, public charter school serving students in TK - 8th grade who reside in Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View and the surrounding area.

Question 2

What grades does BCS serve?

Accepted Answer

Bullis Charter School serves students in TK-8th grade on two campuses in Los Altos:
TK-8th: North Campus (102 West Portola Avenue)
TK-5th: South Campus (1124 Covington Road)

Question 3

What is distinctive about BCS?

Accepted Answer

The Bullis Charter School mission is to offer a collaborative, experiential learning environment that emphasizes individual student achievement.

As a model of educational innovation, BCS inspires children, faculty, and staff to reach beyond themselves to achieve full potential. Using a global perspective to teach about the interconnectedness of communities and their environments, the BCS program nurtures mutual respect, civic responsibility, and a lifelong love of learning.

We strive to: 
Encourage joyful learning
Cultivate curiosity
Inspire confidence 
Develop a global perspective 
Promote kindness
Foster collaboration

Question 4

What is BCS ranked?

Accepted Answer

Bullis Charter School is one of California’s highest performing charter schools,
ranked as the #8 elementary school and #5 middle school in California. (U.S. News & World Report 2025)
	
BCS is accredited by the Western Association of Colleges and Schools.

Question 5

How much does it cost to attend?

Accepted Answer

BCS is a tuition-free, public charter school open to any TK-8th grade student in California.

Question 6

What is the process to enroll?

Accepted Answer

BCS is authorized by the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) and enrolls any TK-8th grade student residing in California. There is no fee or entrance exam.
 
To enroll:
Create an account on the SchoolMint platform
Enter your child’s information (first-time applicants only)
Create an application* in the appropriate school year
Gather and upload your supporting documents
Email or mail completed applications along with all documents
 
Paper applications are available for download below or for pickup at our school office located at 102 West Portola Avenue, Los Altos:

Application in English 
Application in Spanish

Bullis Charter School holds a lottery for open seats. Families will be notified about their child’s enrollment status by email. Students placed on the waitlist will be offered a seat as space becomes available.

Question 7

Can I choose which campus my child is assigned to?

Accepted Answer

Bullis Charter School is one public charter school with 2 campus locations:

BCS North campus: TK-8
102 West Portola Avenue
Los Altos, CA  
 
BCS South campus: TK-5
1124 Covington Road
Los Altos, CA

A number of factors are considered when assigning a student to a campus including class size and distribution of students. For these reasons, you cannot request a change of campus.

Question 8

What documents are needed to enroll?

Accepted Answer

The following documentation is required.

Age Verification – any ONE of the following:
Copy of child’s birth certificate
Copy of child’s passport
Copy of child’s baptismal certificate

Residency Verification – any TWO of the following:
Recent Property tax bill
Current Rental property contract, lease, or payment receipts
Voter registration card
Current DMV vehicle registration
Utility bill that dates within 3 months (gas/electric, land line, garbage, water, cable – cell phone not accepted)

These documents can be uploaded directly to your child’s application in SchoolMint or dropped off at the Bullis Charter School’s office, 102 Portola Avenue, Los Altos.

Please note:
Copies of documents are required for EACH child's application.
All documents must contain the parent/guardian name(s) and corresponding residential address for the student provided on the enrollment application.
If your child receives an enrollment offer to Bullis Charter School, you may be required to submit additional documents to verify your child’s information.
If we cannot verify the needed information through documents submitted, the enrollment priority and/or offer of enrollment may be rescinded.

Question 9

How does the enrollment lottery work?

Accepted Answer

BCS offers equal access to applicants regardless of their actual or perceived disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code or association with an individual who has any of the aforementioned characteristics. View the Charter School Complaint Notice and Form, per CA Education Code (EC) Section 47605(d)(4),
 
California Education Code and our charter with the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) govern the enrollment procedures. If there are more applications than spots for a specific grade level, then enrollment is determined by a public random drawing, also known as “the lottery”, that is held following the close of the Open Enrollment period. SCCOE-authorized enrollment preferences for this public lottery are applied based on the following hierarchy within each grade level:
Siblings of current BCS students who reside within the boundaries of the Los Altos School District.
Children who qualify for free or reduced priced meals and reside within the boundaries of the Los Altos School District, limited to 10% of the total openings at each grade level.
Children of BCS staff members who reside within the boundaries of the Los Altos School District.
Children who reside within the boundaries of the Los Altos School District.
Siblings of current BCS students who reside outside of the boundaries of the Los Altos School District.
Children of BCS staff members who reside outside of the boundaries of the Los Altos School District.
Children who qualify for free or reduced priced meals who reside outside the boundaries of the Los Altos School District but within California.
All other applicants who reside within California.

Question 10

What is the waitlist?

Accepted Answer

Because classroom space is limited at each grade level, the number of students enrolled in each class is capped. When there are more applications than space available, a waitlist is created.
 
Applications entered in the lottery but not offered enrollment are placed first on the waitlist for their grade level based on the SCCOE-authorized enrollment preferences. Applications received after Open Enrollment has closed are placed on the waitlist after waitlisted Lottery applicants.

Parents with a student on the waitlist are notified when a spot becomes available via the email and/or phone number on their SchoolMint account and have approximately one (1) week to accept or decline the offer of enrollment before the next person on the waitlist will be offered the spot.

If any seats open after school begins in the fall, applicants on the waitlist will be notified. Email enroll@bullischarterschool.com with questions regarding the status of your child’s application.

Question 11

My child is already on a waitlist for a previous year; do I need to enter the lottery for the next school year to enroll?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your School Mint account remains active; however, you must log in to enter the lottery for the next school year.

Question 12

What is the age requirement for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) / Kindergarten?

Accepted Answer

Transitional Kindergarten
Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, any child who turns 4 by September 1 of that school year is eligible to enroll in the Transitional Kindergarten program at BCS.

Kindergarten
Any child who turns 5 by September 1 of that school year is eligible to enroll in Kindergarten at BCS.

Question 13

Can my child transfer to BCS if they did not enroll in TK or Kindergarten?

Accepted Answer

Parents can submit an application for their child to enroll in any grade. If there are no spots available, the student will be added to the waitlist and parents will be notified as soon as one opens up.

Question 14

Where should a child reside to attend BCS?

Accepted Answer

Bullis Charter School is open to all TK-8th grade students in California. Most BCS students reside in Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, and Mountain View.

Question 15

Do you offer open houses or tours for families interested in enrolling?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Bullis Charter School schedules enrollment information events. Please note that we are not able to accommodate school tours for individual families at this time.

Question 16

Does BCS offer free breakfast and lunch to students?

Accepted Answer

BCS participates in California’s Universal Meal Program and provides free breakfast and lunch to any student who requests a meal at school. More information about our school meal program can be found here.

Additionally, families that qualify for the National School Lunch/Breakfast Program (NSLP/SBP) may receive additional benefits such as P-EBT access, support with school supplies, yearbooks, etc. Eligibility for this program is based on income level and/or participation in other state nutrition assistance programs (i.e. CalFresh, CalWORKS, MediCal). BCS provides families with the the CDE’s application (en español) and encourage them to fill it out annually.

Question 17

Does BCS serve students with learning differences?

Accepted Answer

Bullis Charter School is committed to serving students regardless of ability level or learning differences. These include, but are not limited to, students with disabilities and English language learners.

Question 18

What student support services are offered at BCS?

Accepted Answer

The Bullis Charter School program is designed to meet the needs of every student to help them reach their full potential. BCS offers support services to all students including those with documented disabilities and accommodations (IEP, 504) and English language learners (ELL). BCS also provides social services through family advocacy and service referrals. Mental health counseling is available on-site and through referrals to appropriate providers.

Teachers provide additional academic support to their students outside of regular class time through programs such as teacher office hours.

Question 19

Who owns and maintains the BCS facilities?

Accepted Answer

The Los Altos School District provides facilities to Bullis Charter School, currently split across two campuses shared with Egan Junior High and Blach Intermediate Schools. Buildings are owned and maintained by LASD in cooperation with BCS.

Question 20

What are the school hours?

Accepted Answer

Transitional Kindergarten (TK) & Kindergarten | 8:15a - 3:05p
Grades 1-5 | 8:35a to 3:15p
Grades 6-8 | 8:00a to 3:30p

Students may arrive on campus beginning at 7:45am for breakfast.
After-school programming is offered from 3:15pm - 5:30pm

View our school calendar.

Question 21

Does BCS offer after-school programming?

Accepted Answer

Optional  after-school programming is available for all TK-8th grade students on both the North and South campuses from 3:15p to 5:30p daily:

Extra-Curricular Classes (M-W, 3:30p to 4:15p)
Taught by BCS Teachers
Choice of multiple classes each day
Fall Session (Oct-Dec) and Winter/Spring Session (Feb-May)

Fee-based Spanish Immersion Program (M-F, 3:15p-5:30p)
Provided by WayToGo Programs
Activities vary by day - sample schedule
Additional fee based on income eligibility

Performing Arts (2-3 days/week, schedule varies)

Sports & Clubs (1-2 days/week, schedule varies)

Question 22

What is the charter school renewal process?

Accepted Answer

In California charter schools are authorized for a limited period of time and must renew with their authorizing agency based on a stated timeline. The authorizer for Bullis Charter School is the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE). The charter for BCS was renewed through 2030.

Bullis

Family-Founded • Free • Public

CHARTER SCHOOL

FAQs

BCS

What is Bullis Charter School (BCS)?

What grades does BCS serve?

What is distinctive about BCS?

What is BCS ranked?

How much does it cost to attend?

What is the process to enroll?

Can I choose which campus my child is assigned to?

What documents are needed to enroll?

How does the enrollment lottery work?

What is the waitlist?

My child is already on a waitlist for a previous year; do I need to enter the lottery for the next school year to enroll?

What is the age requirement for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) / Kindergarten?

Can my child transfer to BCS if they did not enroll in TK or Kindergarten?

Where should a child reside to attend BCS?

Do you offer open houses or tours for families interested in enrolling?

Does BCS offer free breakfast and lunch to students?

Does BCS serve students with learning differences?

What student support services are offered at BCS?

Who owns and maintains the BCS facilities?

What are the school hours?

Does BCS offer after-school programming?

What is the charter school renewal process?

Bullis

Family-Founded • Free • Public

CHARTER SCHOOL ​

FAQs

BCS

What is Bullis Charter School (BCS)?

What grades does BCS serve?

What is distinctive about BCS?

What is BCS ranked?

How much does it cost to attend?

What is the process to enroll?

Can I choose which campus my child is assigned to?

What documents are needed to enroll?

How does the enrollment lottery work?

What is the waitlist?

My child is already on a waitlist for a previous year; do I need to enter the lottery for the next school year to enroll?

What is the age requirement for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) / Kindergarten?

Can my child transfer to BCS if they did not enroll in TK or Kindergarten?

Where should a child reside to attend BCS?

Do you offer open houses or tours for families interested in enrolling?

Does BCS offer free breakfast and lunch to students?

Does BCS serve students with learning differences?

What student support services are offered at BCS?

Who owns and maintains the BCS facilities?

What are the school hours?

Does BCS offer after-school programming?

What is the charter school renewal process?

CHARTER SCHOOL