History

Since 1978, Sierra Canyon School has been educating and challenging students to achieve their highest goals. Today, Sierra Canyon is the educational home to more than 900 students from Early Kindergarten through 12th grade.

Sierra Canyon School is the result of the collaboration, vision, and hard work of Founders Mick Horwitz and Howard Wang. The origins of Sierra Canyon can be traced to 1972, when they established the Sierra Canyon Day Camp, a highly successful proprietary endeavor that became the impetus for starting a school.

The School grew out of their desire to provide a program that values the whole child in which children enjoy learning in a setting of mutual respect with a diverse and talented faculty. In 1978, responding to the needs of families residing in the North San Fernando Valley, Sierra Canyon Elementary School began with 150 students, spanning Early Kindergarten through 6th grade.  In this setting of small group instruction, facilitated by talented and dedicated teachers, our students thrive, discover and learn.

By 2001, the School had grown to prominence, serving nearly 700 students from Early Kindergarten through 8th grade. An independent, non-sectarian, co-educational high school had not been built in the San Fernando Valley since 1961, during which time the Valley's population had grown by 60 percent. These demographics, and our families' need for a high school, prompted our founders to expand their notable enterprise.

Following a nationwide search, Jim Skrumbis was appointed Head of School in 2004. Under Jim's outstanding leadership, in less than four years, the new Upper School was opened and a stunning, progressive 7th through 12th grade campus was built.  Our two schools merged and incorporated as a non-profit organization. Under Mr. Skrumbis' leadership, the newly merged Early Kindergarten through 12th grade school quickly established itself as an academically excellent, dynamic, college preparatory learning environment. Sierra Canyon graduated its first senior class in June 2009.

With a foundation of excellence, Sierra Canyon School is poised to continue providing an exceptional educational experience for its students, as it prepares them to be the leaders and thinkers of tomorrow.