FAQs
BCS
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.
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)
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
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.
BCS is a tuition-free, public charter school open to any TK-8th grade student in California.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yes. Your School Mint account remains active; however, you must log in to enter the lottery for the next school year.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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),
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.
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.
Yes. Your School Mint account remains active; however, you must log in to enter the lottery for the next school year.