Admission

FAQs

List of 15 frequently asked questions.

  • What are the school hours?

    The school hours are as follows:
    • Pre-Kindergarten: 8:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
    • Kindergarten–6th: 8:45 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.
    • 7th-12th: 8:30 a.m. - 2:55 p.m.
  • Does Sierra Canyon offer before and after school care?

    Yes. The Lower School Campus offers complimentary before-school care beginning at 7:00 a.m. After-school care is also complimentary until 6:00 p.m. 
  • At what age can students first apply to Sierra Canyon?

    Students must be 4 years old by August 1 of the year they enter Pre-Kindergarten or 5 years old by August 1 of the year they enter Kindergarten. Applications are due on December 15.
  • Does Sierra Canyon give priority to siblings, faculty children, and legacies in the admission process?

    At Sierra Canyon, we consider ourselves a family school and hope, whenever possible, to prioritize providing a Sierra Canyon education to qualified siblings of current students, children of faculty, and children of alumni. We understand and appreciate the connection these affiliated families feel to Sierra Canyon and strive to honor their engagement with and commitment to our community.
     
    Siblings of current students, children of employees who have completed a year of employment, and children of Sierra Canyon alumni who have sustained a positive relationship with our school will be given preference if they meet all admissions requirements.
     
    However, please note that due to the ever-increasing number of affiliated applicants to the Lower School, we are occasionally unable to offer enrollment to all those who apply within a given year. Additionally, the School’s Board of Trustees has set forth a policy that non-affiliated families should comprise at least 40% of new students accepted into any grade on any given year. Consequently, we encourage affiliated families interested in the Lower School to consider applying, when possible, to Pre-K or 6th Grade, as those are our major entry points on the Lower Campus. Limited spots in grades Kindergarten through 5th Grade make it more difficult for the School to offer the same priority consideration.
     
    We also recommend that parents fulfill the requirements of the admission process early and follow the sibling application timeline closely.
  • When is the deadline to apply?

    The sibling application deadline for Grades Pre-Kindergarten—11 is October 15.

    All other applications are due December 15, and all supplemental documents, such as teacher recommendations and report cards are due by January 12. The Financial Aid Application Deadline is also January 12.

    Applications submitted after the deadline dates will be evaluated on a space-available basis.
  • When will I find out if my child was accepted?

    • Domestic applicants to Pre-K–11th Grade will be notified on Friday, March 8, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.
    • International applicants to Grades 7 and above will be notified on an ongoing basis. Please refer to the International Admission pages for more information. 
  • Does Sierra Canyon provide transportation?

    Yes. Sierra Canyon provides bus transportation services throughout the San Fernando Valley with pick-up and drop-off in the following areas: Bel Air, Brentwood, Burbank, Calabasas, Culver City, Woodland Hills, Encino, Tarzana, Sherman Oaks, and Valencia. View the full bus schedule.
  • What size are the classes?

    Lower School classes are comprised of about 20 students. In Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade, students have a Lead Teacher and a full-time Assistant Teacher. In addition to their primary classroom, students participate in Specialist classes through the week for music, art, technology, Spanish, and PE. The 6th grade classes model the Middle School schedule. Our 6th grade classes have up to 20 students per classeach led by one teacher. Students attend individual classes for each of their academic disciplines on a rotating schedule. The student:faculty ratio for the Lower Campus is 8:1.

    The average class size for Middle and Upper School is 14. The student:faculty ratio is 10:1. Students attend different classes for their individual subjects. Due to their small size, these classes are intimate and highly interactive. 
  • What grade levels have openings?

    Our natural entry points are Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten, 6th, 7th, and 9th grades. We do accept students on a space-available basis in other grade levels.
  • Does Sierra Canyon give scholarships?

    Sierra Canyon is committed to maintaining socioeconomic diversity in its community. While there are no merit-based scholarships at Sierra Canyon, financial aid is granted to families who demonstrate need through our financial aid application. In addition to the admission application, a separate financial aid application must be submitted with supplementary financial documents by January 13, 2023. Learn more about affording a Sierra Canyon education.
  • Whom do I contact with questions regarding Financial Aid?

    Please contact our Director of Financial Aid, Kendall Pillsbury, at (818) 882-8121, ext. 120 or kpillsbury@sierracanyonschool.org for more information.
  • Is Sierra Canyon affiliated with a particular religion?

    No. We accept students of any race, color, religious, national and ethnic origin and offer all the rights and privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.
  • Do Sierra Canyon students wear uniforms?

    Pre-Kindergarten through 6th Grade students do have a uniform and must adhere to the School's uniform guidelines, as outlined in the Lower School Dress Code Policy.

    For students in 7th-12th grades, while they do not have a uniform, they must adhere to a dress code which is outlined in the Upper Campus Dress Code Guidelines.
  • Where do Sierra Canyon students go when they graduate?

    Please visit the college counseling page on our website for more information about where our Trailblazers matriculate!

Important Numbers

Sierra Canyon Phone: (818) 882-8121
Lower Campus (Grades Pre-K – 6)
    Email: LSadmission@sierracanyonschool.org
    Fax: (818) 882-4953
Upper Campus (Grades 7 – 12)
    Email: USadmission@sierracanyonschool.org
    Fax: (818) 534-0499

Lower Campus Admission Staff

List of 3 members.

  • Photo of Dina Skrumbis

    Dina Skrumbis 

    Director of Enrollment Management; Director of Admission, Pre-K—6
    Ext. 1131
  • Photo of Erin Anderson

    Erin Anderson 

    Associate Director of Admission, Pre-K—6
    Ext. 1132
  • Photo of Heidi Trad

    Heidi Trad 

    Assistant Director of Admission, Pre-K—6
    Ext. 1133

Upper Campus Admission Staff

List of 6 items.

Lower School: 11052 Independence Avenue
Middle and Upper School: 20801 Rinaldi Street
Chatsworth, CA 91311  | 818.882.8121
Sierra Canyon School is a private, independent, non-sectarian, co-educational, college preparatory school for students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12 located in Chatsworth, California. The highly cosmopolitan campus community is reflective of the Greater Los Angeles area and the world at large. Students are empowered to realize their greatest creative, ethical, intellectual and physical promise through small class sizes, a diverse student-teacher culture and a family-like environment.