Just before her freshman year of high school, Bell's parents decided to remove her from the public school system. She attended Shrine Catholic High School in nearby Royal Oak, where she took part in the drama and music club. Before attending Shrine, she attended Norup School (now known as Norup International School) a part of the Berkley School District. During her time at the school, she won the starring role in the school's 1997 production of "The Wizard of Oz", as Dorothy Gale, and also appeared in productions of "Fiddler on the Roof" (1995), "Lady, Be Good" (1996), and "Li'l Abner" (1998). In 1998, the year she graduated, Bell was named the yearbook's "Best Looking Girl" by senior class vote.