mySC
Admission Quicklinks

International Program

Admission

We are grateful for your interest in Sierra Canyon School. The deadline for application submission was December 15, 2023. Our application is now closed, and will open on August 1, 2024 for the 2025-2026 school year.

How To Apply

  • International applicants for Grades Kindergarten through 6 may submit the domestic application.
  • International applicants for Grades 7-11 may submit the Sierra Canyon School international application or the SAO. 
  • International applicants to Grades 8 and above are eligible to participate in Sierra Canyon's residential program. They must email a completed Boarding/Homestay Application to the Admission Office as part of the application.

How To Apply (Grades K–6) How To Apply (Grades 7–11)


Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us:

Thank you for your interest in Sierra Canyon, one of California’s most prestigious independent schools. We have a long-standing tradition of enrolling international students who thrive in our diverse and inclusive community. Students benefit from a challenging academic program, robust athletic opportunities, and inspirational artistic freedoms.

Located in the northern edge of Los Angeles, students take advantage of Sierra Canyon’s beautiful surroundings. Parents appreciate our exceedingly safe campus and neighboring towns, as well as easy access to the Los Angeles International Airport for trips home and back.

Our faculty and staff endeavor to ensure that international students experience a seamless transition to the School and American culture. Students are well prepared to matriculate to elite universities in the United States and abroad.

While we enroll international students in Grades K through 11, only applicants entering Grades 8 through 11 may apply to live locally without a parent or guardian. These students may live in one of our international houses or experience a homestay with a local Sierra Canyon family. Younger students must plan to live with a parent or relative. Sierra Canyon does not accept applications for students entering 12th Grade.

We commend you for considering an education abroad and encourage you to review our website to get further acquainted with Sierra Canyon School and, specifically, our international admission process. If we can answer questions for you or your family, please do not hesitate to contact us.

A group of students posing for a photo during Sierra Canyon Class 2023 College Day

College Acceptances

Sierra Canyon’s College Counseling Office offers the following statistical overview of the college decisions made by the Class of 2024:

  • 129 seniors represent the 16th class to have graduated from Sierra Canyon School
  • 1,168 college applications were submitted, averaging 9.05 applications per senior
  • 235 different colleges were applied to, 190 accepted, and 72 will be attended in the fall
  • 26 different states and the District of Columbia are represented, with 59 students (46%) attending college in California
  • 20 colleges will enroll two or more members
  • 56% will attend private colleges, and 44% will attend public institutions.

2024 College Acceptances List

Learn More About our College Counseling Program

FAQs

Sierra Canyon enrolls international applications for all grades, but only students entering grades 8-12 may apply to live abroad without a parent or guardian. Younger students who apply must plan to live locally with a parent or relative. 

Sierra Canyon does not enroll international students for a 1-semester or 1-year exchange program, and all international applicants must apply for fall (August) enrollment. Sierra Canyon does not enroll international students mid-year or for the spring term.

Yes. After students have been admitted to the School, submitted their signed contract, and paid their enrollment deposit, Sierra Canyon issues the I-20 student visa.

Sierra Canyon offers both on-campus boarding and a homestay program for students in Grades 8-12. We thoughtfully place international students in on-campus housing or with local homestay families, taking into consideration the students' boarding/homestay survey responses. (While we try to accommodate individual student requests, we cannot guarantee to accommodate all requests.)

Sierra Canyon is looking for high achieving international students who are interested in pursuing the remainder of their high school career at the School. (Sierra Canyon does not enroll international students for a 1-semester or 1-year exchange program.) International students must have strong academic ability and proficiency in written and spoken English. Ideal candidates are passionate about experiencing a new culture and contributing to the Sierra Canyon School community beyond the classroom. For applicants to Grades 8-11, Sierra Canyon looks for students who want to take advantage of the rich learning that stems from living with a homestay family and getting involved in clubs, sports, and activities on campus.

No, Sierra Canyon does not offer ESL classes. Students must have strong proficiency in English in order to be admitted to the School. Non-native speakers of English must submit their recent scores from one of the following: TOEFL (minimum score = 85), Junior TOEFL (scores of 700 preferred), IELTS (scores of 6.5-8+ preferred), or Duolingo (scores of 90-115+ are preferred) as part of the application process.

Sierra Canyon offers a premier independent school education with over 25 Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Students pursue a rigorous curriculum designed to prepare students for entry into the top universities in the United States and abroad.

The Upper Campus at Sierra Canyon School consists of 670 students in Grades 7-12. Nine percent of the students are international. Countries currently represented on campus include Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Myanmar, Russia, Singapore, South Sudan, Thailand, United Kingdom, and Vietnam. Sierra Canyon welcomes international students from across the globe.

Discover Sierra Canyon

Enjoy our virtual tours and 360° campus maps by clicking the button below.

Explore Our Campuses

International Admission Team

Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.