Bella Mente Academy may be a good fit for parents who prefer to take a quiet, hands-off approach--those who don't ask questions and accept school decisions without much involvement. In those cases, families are treated warmly and respectfully on the surface. However, when a parent begins to raise concerns--even thoughtfully and professionally--the tone can shift quickly. The administration may start to view you not as a partner, but as a problem. Instead of open dialogue, the response often comes in the form of subtle retaliation, increased formality, or distancing behavior. Eventually, the pressure and lack of transparency can make a parent feel isolated and unsure, while the child--unfairly--is framed as the issue. From my experience, what seems to challenge the administration most are parents who: * Are observant * Ask questions * Understand how systems and accountability work * Expect clear communication, not vague policies These qualities appear to disrupt the comfort of those in leadership, and the reaction is often controlled but intentional. There is also a notable level of teachers turnover, which contributes to a sense of ongoing instability. If you're a parent who intends to advocate for your child, ask questions, or expect partnership, I encourage you to carefully consider not only the academic environment--but also the emotional and psychological safety the school provides. The experience can be deeply discouraging for engaged families when collaboration is replaced with control disguised as professionalism. read more

Fun environment my kids love coming to school every day they learn new things they learn Hands and the teachers are wonderful the staff treats everyone like family read more

Bella Mente Montessori Academy - My son wax museum day - Montessori Schools Near Me - Vista, California

The staff at this school have been a game-changer for our family, taking the stress and anxiety out of the IEP process and replacing it with a sense of collaboration and shared purpose. They have worked closely with us to understand our son's unique needs and develop a plan that is tailored to his individual requirements. This approach has not only improved our son's educational experience but has also given us a sense of confidence and trust in the school's ability to support him. He has blossomed, loves school, and we are all grateful. It is night and day vs our public school. read more

BellaMente aims to create a friendly and engaging learning environment. Both my children have grown both academically and socially through the Montessori method. It promotes self-directed learning and individualized plans tailored to each child. It encourages students to learn at their own pace, fostering independence and a love for learning. The students receives a laptop packed with educational content to re-enforce their learning (clever,khan,etc). There is an on site garden where the students learn to manage. Tons of after school activities. I know my children will carry those experiences and values the rest of their lives. Principal has made a great efforts to understand the needs all the students and parents. The staff has addressed and improved communication, resulting in a much better experience for everyone involved. The school also have deployed apps to keep communication flowing smoothly between students, teachers, and parents, making sure everyone is always in the loop. There are lots of fun activities throughout the year. The more you participate, the more enrich experience you will have. - Victor M read more

It's a fairly new school so of course there are kinks to work out which is normal but both of my boys attend here and they love it. It's been great for them both read more

Loved the staff and environment. It is a great learning style for students of all ages.

I can't be more grateful for this school, the teachers, staff, and leadership. The Administration staff is full of good vibes, good energy, and you are always greeted with positive countenance. Whenever a misunderstanding or a question arises, it is addressed promptly by their team, and the outcome is always beneficial to the best interest of my children and equally, the staff. Thank you, BMMA, I have entrusted my daughter in your hands since Kinder. She is now in 3rd grade with Ms. Brielle, and I can't imagine anyone more capable of teaching and supporting my daughter in Lower El outside of BMMA. With my son in Kinder now, Ms. Melanie and Mrs. Cristi have been a winning combination for him during this new journey in his young life. read more

Our son attended Bella Mente starting the first day it opened until he graduated from middle school. Though he was a quiet, reserved student on a 504, he made friends immediately and fell into the Montessori culture quickly. His transition from Bella Mente's middle school to high school was smooth, we felt, because the academic and socio-emotional foundation formed at BMMA was rock solid. This was achieved, not in a vacuum, but through partnership with the school and parents. He graduated from high school with a 4.3 GPA. My wife and I are not always easy parents. As former educators and having written countless IEP's and developed curricula, we hold schools and their staff to a high standard. This standard was met at Bella Mente. We found the administration to be open and, most importantly, responsive! We also appreciated the effort to make the campus a welcoming place of diversity. Read into that as you like. I have returned to campus several times since and am pleased to see the school's continuing physical and programmatic expansion. The poor reviews gave me a chuckle; I recognized some of the names! I remember these individuals as people who complained anytime they did not get their way or did not understand why a policy had to be in place (their privilege was showing, lol). I would take their negative reviews with a grain of salt and explore this unique school for yourself. Bella Mente provides an exemplary environment for personal development and academic excellence. Our son and his peers are proof of this. Bella Mente may not be the perfect fit for every family, but it is without reservation that I recommend this school for parents who are prepared to ally and participate with the school for an outstanding educational experience. read more

Bella Mente Montessori Academy - Graduation day! A confident speaker at Bella Mente Academy's commencement exercises. - Montessori Schools Near Me - Vista, California

My daughters been attending there for two years and like the montessori system. and the fact that it's K - 8 grade is even better.

My sons love their teachers and friends as well as garden class where they get to see baby chicks. They always have good family events and push healthy eating habits. There is always something new to look foward to at bellamente. read more

Bella Mente Montessori Academy - Montessori Schools Near Me - Vista, California

My nieces did terrific at this school. I can't thank you all enough for helping them grow. You provided great support and real-life skills. Thanks, Bella Mente staff, for everything! read more

Looking back, going to Bella from 1st to 8th grade totally shaped who I am. Montessori helped me grow into myself--gotta give Bella some props! Now I'm so excited to see where I get in for neuroscience! read more

My daughter started at Bella Mente in her 1st grade year in Fall of 2019. Despite some of the negative reviews I read online at the time, I still wanted to give this school a chance because my daughter thrives in a Montessori/Charter School setting where she can have more flexibility in the classroom. However, recently my husband and I decided to disenroll her because of one huge red flag: The Teacher Turnover. Some of the best teachers have left over the last year. Mr Hank who was the garden teacher (along with a favorite among the kids and parents for a long time) left and or was terminated (I don't know the circumstances). Miss Kerry, Miss Haley, Brandi (who was the sweetest person ever and ran the front office), and most recently Miss Yvone are just some of the teachers/staff that I can think of who have left over the last year or so. Miss Yvone was my daughter's 3rd grade teacher and when she left my daughter cried off and on for 2 days. This turnover is NOT healthy for the kids and it is as if the Director Erin Feely does not take the feelings/feedback from parents and the kids into account. I do not feel the school has handled the pandemic in a very organized manner or their basic operations in an organized manner for that matter. Pick up and drop off is always a huge pain at the the beginning of the school year and that is due in part to the location of the school which is near the most horrendous exit off the 78 (Emerald Drive). Driving in and out is always hectic because of where the school is. I am glad I do not have to drive in and out of there anymore. The staff also appear overworked, overly stressed, and under appreciated. The Special Ed staff have to direct traffic during pick up and drop off which takes away from their regular duties. The poor principal Dr. McQuestion (yes that is her real last name and has only been the principal since late 2019) who is one of the kindest people, took a leave of absence recently also. It wouldn't surprise me if it was due to stress or another health related issue. There isn't a vice principal there right now so I can only imagine her never ending workload. It is just so sad to me that all of the best teachers either quit, or get let go. It is such a vicious cycle... the kids lose a teacher they love, then a sub has to fill in, they get attached to the sub, then the sub leaves so their new teacher can start only for them to likely quit not long after... only for it to start all over. How is that good for kids who need consistency, security and routine at school in order to thrive? I want to be clear, the majority of the teachers and staff are really wonderful and care about their students. The classrooms are setup in a Montessori format and they do their best to accommodate students that need extra assistance in the classroom. I think this issue comes from the top and is the result of poor leadership on the director's part. Upon my daughter's disenrollment I did receive a call from the director Erin. I explained how I felt and she told me she was sorry and appreciated the feedback. She also wished our daughter the best at her new school. That being said, I truly hope she takes this concerning pattern seriously because otherwise, enrollment will continue to decrease and more good teachers/staff will leave. read more

My son started at Bella as a kinder when they first opened. I was hoping the school just had growing pains, but that did not seem to be the case. I think a teacher walked out of the classroom shortly after the school year started, it didn't seem like the school or staff had the support they needed, and my son didn't seem to be where he needed to be-academically. I switched him to our school of residency at that time and oh my! I wish I would've transferred him sooner! read more

The organization and structure of the school is good, and the teachers and staff members are very polite and professional. My child enjoys it here. There are many activities and events the school has, and the environment feels safe. read more

I want to start this by saying that I REALLY wanted to love this school. I believe that the "principles and philosophy " they attempt to achieve are healthy ones. However, I also believe that they are FAR FAR FAR away from achieving them. My child attended this school for 3 months. In the three months he was there he was taught bad words, taught to use the middle finger , verbally put down and worst of all assaulted by a OLDER student. My son was in the 1st grade the older child was in 3 grade. The other child punched my son in the face multiple times. Mind you the SCHOOL NEVER CALLED ME!!! I had to find everything out by my son at pick up. I have emails with school officials since January 2024 sharing my concerns with the set up of my son's class as well and school policies set to protect other children. The day by day bulling my son was experiencing was getting worse by the day. The same child that had punched my son also touched his no no area in February. I had asked the school then to keep this older child away from mine as I didn't want the issues to keep escalating. But of course that didn't happen. Many protocols were ignored in my experience with this school. They need to do better ! I have removed my son from this school before he could be harmed any further. read more

Such a great team that genuinely cares about what's best for the kiddos, and working hard every day to build an amazing environment for growth and educational success! read more

We joined the Bella Mente family in 2019 and we all know what happened in 2020. BMA did their best to keep the kids learning while the entire world shutdown. No one could have predicted what happened. It was a huge adjustment for everyone and it wasn't easy. Overall we have been pleased with the school. The staff are friendly and are there because they enjoy what they do and have a heart for the kids. Our kids enjoy going to school and look forward to Mondays. The staff is working hard to bring back school events and opportunities for parents to be involved. We are wrapping up a great 22/2023 school year and things are getting back on track. We look forward to what the next school year brings. If you choose to enroll in Bella Mente, we encourage you to attend the events and get involved. read more

Very sad day when a school doesn't mention something as historical and tragic as 9/11 My child even asked in her class, and she was ignored by her teacher. My bosses school, had the kids dress patriotcally. Red White and Blue. Maybe it was a mistake putting my child in this school. read more

Can't say enough good things about Bella Mente! The school is so thoughtful on ways to promote education and personal development for the students. They also show so much care for the families, from weekly produce boxes to fun activities for parents and family members to be involved in the school and community: Family Move nights, after-school activities to allow parents a date night out, and festivities in the community. read more

This is a great school to send your kids to. My older child has been going there since she was in 1st grade and my son has been there since preK. She is now in her 2nd year of high school at a different school and getting a 4.0 GPA. BMMA has prep my daughter to be successful/confident in high school. The staff and instructors are amazing. What I love about the school is that all the instructors are doing what they are supposed to IN SCHOOL! I barely see my kids have homework because they do all their schoolwork in school. My boy is testing at above 80th % in all his school curriculum. Throughout the pandemic...all the staffs are very supportive of each scholars individual needs because they want all our children to be successful read more

UPDATE: my review below was made 2 years ago. Sadly, I was naive, optimistic and extremely generous. I was warned by many but I let hoping things would get better but unfortunately, the Administration at the school, is unethically, unbelievably unprofessional, and nothing short of a psychopath. I stand by the positive review I had made two years ago: the teachers, staff and the families. But I owe it to all you unsuspecting optimists out there....We are on a sinking ship. It is just so unfortunate. Two of my sons attend the school and they love it there! The teachers and staff truly care about the children and constantly strive to provide them with a safe and comfortable learning environment. The PTO is great and there is a real sense of community at the school, like a family. Once the school is able to increase the number of full-time aids that they have (which is something that they are working on accomplishing) then I will be more than comfortable giving the school atfive star rating instead of four! Overall though, my children are thriving and we are pleased. read more

Both of our children have been students her at Bella Mente Montessori Academy since day one and I have personally witnessed the Administration's commitment to quality educational standards. The Principal Erin demonstrates the perfect balance of academic and administrative leadership qualities that are likely to guarantee that BMMA becomes the premiere Charter school in North County. Gladys the schools secretary is a key player in the schools success as well. She is organized and articulate. She keeps the lines of communications open for parents and teachers. When classroom situations arise the staff is quick to resolve the issues in a constructive and learning style. Teaching the students right from wrong in a way that should have positive long term effects on the students. Keep up the good work read more

Bella Mente Montessori Academy - 2nd grade graduation celebration. - Montessori Schools Near Me - Vista, California

Best school ever my kids enjoy coming to Bellamente 100%recommended best teachers love this school

I had two daughters attend this school. One just graduated and is in high school and is doing great! One is now attending USCD and is also doing great! Thank you to all the teachers and staff members who helped them while they were attending Bella Mente!! read more

Me gusta esta escuela por las clases pequeñas. Los programas de asistencia de aprendizaje de inglés. La seguridad de le escuela. Ayuda a la comunidad con asistencia de comida y attencion a todas las familias. read more

​Escuela muy Buena mis hijos estudian en ESTA escuela hasta. Ellos van alegres a la escuela

The expiriance form me its been the best..i will really recommend the kids get all the help they need wen they need it..Happy to have my kids here. read more

We started at BMMA four years ago and had so much hope. I was very involved as a parent inside and outside the classroom. I have watched the decline of this school over the last four years, with this last year being so toxic, over fifty families left. Even with a good teacher, the admin have created a terrible environment for teachers and parents. They let go of so many staff members without warning and mid day. Sadly, staff joked that it was like the hunger games. I am glad so many of the good teachers have moved on. The ones that stay keep their heads low and don't question anything or they will probably my be fired. They have the worst math test scores, especially at the middle school. Admin yanked a teacher who was good at teaching math from his classroom mid year and made him teach middle school math. Then they fired him. He was an awesome teacher! They fired a primary teacher and teacher's aide with the most Montessori experience because they wanted to save money and replace them with entry level teachers/ aides. Most schools pride themselves with their staff, but at Bella everyone is replaceable. No one is valued. The director does not care about the kids or the families, only the cash flow and she has a board that are all yes men/women. The admin pretend to want parent volunteers but it's a joke. Even to the point of accusing some of the most dedicated parents of wrong doing without a foundation (or wouldn't tell them what they did) and then blasted an email out to every family badmouthing them. They shut down (by threatening to sue them) the PTO and are trying to form a PTA instead. If you decide to chose Bella, I hope you get a good teacher. Volunteer where it counts (inside the classroom only), support the teachers and support staff as much as possible (they need it) and don't believe anything the admin tell you. They have false advertisements all over the place. read more

Bella Mente Montessori is an amazing alternative charter school with a dedicated community to reach its full potential. Both my children loved going to school last year. I had one in Kinder and one in 3rd grade. The teachers worked with my kids' individual needs and were incredibly accessible. My son actually asked if he could stay after school so he could show me how he learned long division. Now that doesn't happen very often! One thing I really love about this school is it realizes the value of the whole child. It isn't just about cramming in facts and preparing for a test at the end of the year. Instead it is about a child developing a love for learning and growing into adults that will better our world. I am very much looking forward to year two with Bella Mente! Our school garden has expanded as well as our enrichment programs and "specials" such as spanish, mandarian and art during the school hours. read more

This school has been a game-changer for us. We had our daughter in a public magnet school and while there was a lot to like there, she was unhappy and it spilled over into every part of her life (and thus, my husband's and my life). There was a lot that didn't work for her: sitting still in a desk all day, staying on the same page of a worksheet, listening to a lecture for upwards of 45 minutes (elementary school!!), and worst of all, bullying and clique issues that the school didn't have the bandwidth to handle. We moved her to BMMA on a leap of faith and it has paid off. Being in a Montessori classroom has made such a change. She doesn't have to sit still all day, she decides what to work on and when, and a huge focus of the school is the "Peace Curriculum," so having positive interactions is a priority. I have never seen kids that are as kind to one another. That's not to say that there aren't exceptions--they are kids and they are still figuring it out; but the expectation is that they will treat each other kindly and with respect. We couldn't be happier. The teachers are excellent, the campus is great, the administration is deeply committed. Best of all, we have an amazing, caring, committed family community. It is so wonderful to be a part of it. **In regards to the negative review that I see posted here: I have never once smelled gasoline fumes. That is absolute nonsense. Also, about the uniform situation, I love having uniforms. The uniform policy is absolutely within ed code, in spite of the reviewer's claims. The school has a very liberal uniform policy, so it is affordable and flexible. We had issues at our last school with little girls making each other feel bad about what they were wearing (my daughter was on the receiving end plenty of times). I *love* the uniform policy! It has eliminated that issue. read more

Before deciding upon moving my daughters at this school I researched and asked parents and educators for advice for a high performing school in the area. Many advised BMMA and my daughters and I are very satisfied. I am amazed at the all encompassing curriculum tailored to the students educational needs. My daughters were dissatisfied with the local public school and decided to venture into charter school. So far at BMMA their vocabulary has advanced, within a few months I noticed a vast improvement in their academic performance. They needed to be challenged and their exposure to music, gardening, higher mathematical and language arts standards have placed them on the right track. In addition, the staff is very supportive and friendly. read more

This school had the potential to do great things for the kiddos it enrolled. I won't say the kiddos it served because the school does not serve the kids. The school board cowtows to the knee jerk whim of the Director, whose clear goal is to pocket as much money as possible. Teachers are let go in the middle of the year, day, week, at the drop of a hat, and replaced with aides, if at all. Staff is denied funds for needed learning tools which are (were, as PTO dissolved after being shafted by said Director) then provided by the PTO from hard earned funds to the tune of several thousand dollars. That would be fine if the school truly couldn't afford those items, but when you see a surplus in the budget line item for "Supplies and materials" of nearly $40k for one month it makes you wonder. The teachers and staff are amazing, and they do truly work for the children. But, unsurprisingly, many have left/are leaving. Just like the parents who have worked so hard giving their time and energy only to be met with thankless shame. I truly believe the best of this school is way behind it. Best wishes in your search for a great school for you children! read more

When my son started attending BellaMente i was ecstatic. He finally loved going to school. But unfortunately, it has changed over time. The Montessori method has all but disappeared. The discipline issues were so bad that they did not even notice my son was having trouble with his writing. We had 3 teachers throught the year. All of my son's great teachers have moved elsewhere. Organization has always been an issue but i was able to overlook it until the education declined. We changed schools this year. read more

I have heard great things about Montessori schools and I was so excited when my son got into Bella Mente for kindergarten for the 15-16 school year. My son struggles with a disability that will require some accomadations at school. I've actually been told that he would most likely thrive best in a Montessori setting, considering some of his struggles. After we got accepted I called and talked to Elizabeth to go over the IEP process and get a feel for their ability to accommodate my son, as a public school they are required to reasonably accomadate kids needing an IEP. She did not give me a sense of compassion at all. In fact, I felt that she was dissuading me from having my son attend by saying things like "our classrooms can be loud" even though noise wasn't an issue that I even brought up. She also told me they don't have as many resources as other public schools, which may be true but she hadn't even met my son yet to establish how many resources he might need. With that said, I asked if there was going to be a kindergarten orientation. She let me know that had already passed. I asked if there was any way for my son to have a chance to meet his teacher before the school year starts, to help him ease into the transition to Kindergarten, and she said there was going to be an open house for the whole school, they couldn't set anything up beyond that, the teachers are gone for summer. I understand that the teachers are gone for summer, but they don't come back until the very first day of school and there is no way for my son to have an improvised orientation since he didn't get accepted until just after the initial one had taken place? I find that hard to believe and again, lacking compassion. The whole conversation was cold and uninviting and at the end of it all she wanted to know was if we still wanted to go there or not. I let her know I needed to discuss it with my son's father and said I would have an answer for her in the next week. After I got off the phone with her, about 20 minutes later, I get a phone call from my son's preschool telling me that someone from Bella Mente had called them requesting my son's "disciplinary records" and let me know that A) They could not release any information since I hadn't given consent and B)They don't have "disciplinary" records but if they were interested in his developmental records they could supply those if I gave consent. Not once did Elizabeth communicate with me about contacting my son's school, that wasn't even mentioned in our conversation, so I was really put off by the fact that she did that without even talking to me about it and I hadn't even handed in enrollment forms yet. In the end I emailed Elizabeth letting her know that it did not seem as though the school was going to be a good fit for my son due to lack of resources or ability to accomadate him. I have not heard any response since, no acknowledgement at all. In a nutshell I am less than impressed with the way I was talked to and the way my concerns about my son were addressed, with no compassion or even an attempt to understand what we actually needed. My son is very bright and excels academically, he has been in a preschool setting for years and with very reasonable accommodations does well there. In my experience as a proactive advocate for my child, although this school may be great for some kids, if your child might need some extra help in the classroom it doesn't seem that they are capable or willing to work with you or your child. We found a school that is and won't be going to Bella Mente. read more

BMMA has a group of teachers that really care, a wonderful gardening program and active well intended parents. Teachers working here are supported by the parents through wish lists and wonderful teacher appreciation events. There is a very high staff and student turn over for various reasons as this young school settles in. The Special Education Program is stabilizing after neglecting the needs of the kids for over two years. Although this school is not a true Montessori it is being implemented as best they can considering the lack of trained teachers, they are very adaptable to children's individual needs. They have no tolerance for sub-standard teachers and will let them go and attempt to replace them with qualified invested professionals. If you are interested in attending plan to be in it for the long haul, there are going to be ups and downs. My children love the school, it is constantly improving and provides plenty of opportunity to help out. read more

My niece has been attending Bella Mente for two years now. I love how at home and secure she feels there. The after school program is fun and engaging. When I stop to pick her up she hates to leave. "But it's cooking day Titi!". She love that the kids all wear uniformed clothing because it makes the kids feel like they are part of something-a team! They really have a family atmosphere. The staff is open and has amazing communication with the families. The teachers know how to evaluate and customize education to each child's needs. Bella Mente has a private school feeling. It's nice to know that the parents who bring their children here do so because they chose to. Not because they live in the school district, but because it is a school that exceeds all expectations and they want their children to have that experience and education. read more

If you are looking for a different kind of public school BMMA is great. The parents and staff are very involved and we love the community it provides unlike large public schools. We are glad we made the switch. read more

We have been at Bella Mente since inception and are finally leaving primarily for transitioning into homeschool. However, each year we have become less and less impressed with the lack of respect the director has for good quality teachers and involved parents. We've been trying to get into other programs for years. I think there's a serious control issue going on and anyone who speaks out meets the chopping block. The most recent letter to PTO and all other parents shows her intent to get rid of families who have the time to volunteer. I'm suspicious of the underlying intention for her lack of communication to PTO members and school families. One by one, good teachers are forced to leave and/or are afraid to speak out. The BMA board needs to fairly allow a qualified parent or two, to sit on the board. I do not recommend this school or any school under this director. I wish all the amazing families and teachers the best of luck in either finding another community school, forming a new one and/or replacing the director. VUSD, please replace the director. read more

If I could rate based on our teacher experience, it would be a 5, however, the administration drags the score down to a 2. This school calls itself a Montessori school, but continues to "let go" it's most experienced Montessori trained educators. Budgeting is never easy, but calling yourself a Montessori school without trained professionals and proper materials is unethical and false. The administration is aggressive in its attendance policy and will threaten with legal action if you miss 3 days in the entire year (even if you follow school protocol for reporting an absence). The current executive director lacks leadership skills. She is unable to appreciate the people who work under. She is baselessly untrusting of the parents who volunteer to make the school a better place for the students. After 2 years at this school, I will no longer subject to my child to this administrations whims. read more