Our Principal: Isaac Taylor

Belmont High School is a wonderful space for high school students to learn and grow. Light, bright and outward looking, the physical structure of our campus is reflective of the intellectual environment within. Generations of Belmont and Boston students have benefited from the education they receive here, which is both rigorous and human centered.

My hope as principal of BHS is that each student is challenged at school every day. During my ten years as a principal, and twenty five years in public education, I have come to recognize that learning is not linear, and I believe that students learn best when there is ebb and flow, multiple perspectives, and when we challenge our assumptions. We strive to create a curriculum of windows and mirrors, so that students can learn about themselves and the world around them. Through the many and varied curricular and co-curricular opportunities that are available at BHS, students will have the opportunity to broaden and deepen their thinking and develop skills that will help them in their lives.

Student voice is central to our school, and students are part of the decision making process -  from planning events to hiring staff. Students help to shape the evolving culture of BHS.  Two years ago the entire student body worked with the faculty to develop our values: Perseverance, Equity, Responsibility, and Kindness. In the classroom, on the field and court, and through our many activities and clubs, we strive to live these values every day.

We view BHS high schoolers as people first and students second. We are here for our students and their families, and encourage you to reach out to teachers, guidance, and mental health staff where questions and concerns arise. The administrative team and curriculum directors are here to help if you cannot resolve your concerns at the teacher level, or would like guidance on what to do next.

Isaac Taylor

About School

Belmont High School: 1460 students

Our students continue to achieve:

  • 88% of Belmont High School class of 2024 attends college

  • 99.9%  of students met or exceeded all MCAS test requirements for 2024 graduation

  • 85 AP Scholars were named in 2024

  • 8 students were recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program  as semifinalists in 2024

  • We are providing more opportunities for our students through:

  • 21 AP level courses and 56 Honors level courses

  • 28 varsity athletic teams

  • Over 40 clubs and organizations

  • 4 World languages (French, Chinese, Latin, Spanish)

Award Winning Arts Program

  • Band - Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble.

  • Orchestra - Concert Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra.

  • Chorus including combined men’s & women’s choir, chamber singers, Madrigal singers, A Capella choir, and jazz choir.

  • Thriving Visual Arts program, including photography, sculpture, ceramics, drawing and painting

  • Culture and language trips offered by the Foreign Language program open new worlds to students and make their learning relevant. Trips include China, France, Italy, and Spain.

Visual and Performing Arts Department

Core Values and Beliefs

Belmont High School, in partnership with our community, provides students with outstanding educational opportunities for them to reach their intellectual, creative, personal, civic, and social potentials. Together we strive to create and maintain a safe, supportive environment in which all students feel valued and respected as they become successful, life-long learners and responsible citizens in a diverse and changing world. 

Perseverance • Equity• Responsibility• Kindness

 

Belmont High School 21st Century Learning Expectations

Responsible Citizens observe policies and expectations for behavior. They are able to work cooperatively, collaboratively, and independently as appropriate to a learning task. They take steps to achieve personal, academic, and career goals. They are able to make informed decisions concerning health, diet, and exercise in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. They participate in their school and community in order to understand and preserve our democratic process, our culture, and our environment. They consider other points of view in order to make ethical decisions and to live productively in a diverse society. 

Critical Thinkers and Problem Solvers read, comprehend, synthesize, and reflect on content area materials and scholarly resources. They have organizational and study skills with which to accomplish their work. They collect and evaluate data to identify patterns, make inferences, and draw conclusions. They manipulate, combine, and apply formulae. They predict reasonable results using estimation and conceptual knowledge. They develop and test hypotheses, drawing conclusions from experiments, data, and research. They discuss, analyze, and evaluate in light of historical precedent, current events, and civic responsibilities. They observe, analyze, and present ideas, feelings, and beliefs about cultures and societies. 

Researchers work with a variety of resources and technological applications to increase learning. They use technology responsibly to obtain, organize, and communicate information and to solve problems. They are able to evaluate the accuracy, usefulness, and appropriateness of information resources. 

Effective Communicators are able to read, write, and speak standard English as well as listen to, understand, and communicate in another language. They participate in discussions by listening, asking questions, and responding. They design and compose work for a variety of audiences and purposes. They use the vocabulary and symbolic language specific to content areas such as math and music. They use a repertoire of skills and techniques to create and interpret works in a variety of media such as the fine and performing arts as well as film and other forms of communication.

Accreditation by the New England Association

Belmont High School is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., a non-governmental, nationally recognized organization whose affiliated institutions include elementary schools through collegiate institutions offering post-graduate instruction.

Accreditation of an institution by the New England Association indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality periodically applied through a peer group review process. An accredited school or college is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.

Accreditation by the New England Association is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of the quality of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.

Inquiries regarding the status of an institution’s accreditation by the New England Association should be directed to the administrative staff of the school or college

Notice of Non-Discrimination

The Belmont Public School System hereby makes notice that it shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability in admission to, access to and treatment in its programs and activities or in employment. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding our nondiscrimination policy:

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction

Belmont Public Schools
644 Pleasant Street
Belmont, MA 02478
617-993-5410

The Belmont School Department complies fully in the implementation of Chapter 622 of the Acts of 1971 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1964. 

The following people have been designated to handle inquiries regarding these laws and may be contacted at 644 Pleasant Street, Belmont, MA 02478. 

  • Coordinator of Title VI and Title IX: Assistant of Superintendent
    617-993-5410

  • Coordinator of Section 504 for Students: Director of Student Services
    617-993-5440

  • Coordinator of Section 504 for Employment: Director of Human Capital
    617-993-5425