COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE

ROOTED IN FAITH,

In 2001, a group of community leaders came together with a shared vision: to expand educational opportunities for young people in Lawrence, MA. A feasibility study confirmed the need for a school that would open doors for students—especially boys—whose talents and potential deserved greater support. Bellesini Academy opened its doors in 2002 with 26 fifth and sixth-grade boys. By 2004, the school had grown to serve 60 students in grades 5–8, and in 2005, Bellesini proudly celebrated its first graduating class.

Recognizing that Lawrence’s girls also faced barriers to educational opportunity, Bellesini expanded in 2015 with the opening of a co-institutional school for girls. By 2019, the program reached full capacity, serving 60 girls in grades 5–8.

Today, Bellesini serves 120 students and supports more than 250 alumni, living proof of the Academy’s mission to transform lives through education. Our graduates not only earn scholarships to competitive high schools and colleges but also go on to become leaders, professionals, and community changemakers.

This legacy of excellence continues under the leadership of Mrs. Aliali Belkus, who joined Bellesini Academy in June as Head of School. A lifelong Lawrencian and daughter of Dominican immigrants, Mrs. Belkus embodies the hopes and aspirations of the families Bellesini serves. With over two decades of experience in education, spanning both the public and private sectors, she brings a unique combination of professional expertise and personal understanding to her role.