Overview: Facts, Figures, and Offerings
Sierra Canyon’s carefully designed Pre-K through Grade 12 program builds curiosity and mastery in equal measure, fully preparing your child for college, career, and life beyond. Our approach— which we call Learning forward—reflects the committed efforts of every member of our extended community. Here’s an overview of who we are, what we do, and how you can find out more.
FACTS AND FIGURES
Founded: 1978
Founders: Mick Horwitz and Howard Wang
Head of School: Jim Skrumbis
Grades: Pre-K through Grade 12
Mascot: Trailblazer
Enrollment:
1,200 students
10% international Upper Campus students
124 zip codes represented
Average Class Size:
Lower Campus: 20
Upper Campus: 15
Student/faculty ratio:
Lower Campus: 8:1
Upper Campus: 10:1
Faculty:
131 full-time and 11 part-time
52% hold advanced degrees
40 have been at Sierra Canyon for 10+ years
Physical Campus:
2 adjacent campuses
42 total acres with 25 buildings
Transportation:
Daily buses from Agoura Hills, Bel-Air, Brentwood, Burbank, Calabasas, Culver City, Hidden Hills, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Stevenson Ranch, Tarzana, Valencia, Westchester, West Hills, and Woodland Hills
TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID
Tuition and Fees: 2024-25
Pre-Kindergarten: $25,000 Kindergarten – 6th: $37,550
7th – 12th: $44,100
New Student Fee: $1,200
Sierra Canyon has a financial aid program that is administered fairly, clearly communicated, and consistently applied in accordance with the principles and practices of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).
The School’s financial aid program is designed to help support families who demonstrate financial need. School and Student Service (SSS) for Financial Aid is used in determining a family’s level of need. To find out more and to access forms, please visit sierracanyonschool.org.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
Sierra Canyon is committed to instilling intellectual curiosity in students and providing an excellent education that will serve as a foundation for life. Students are challenged to Learn forward and achieve their full potential individually and as part of a community. Creative, social, emotional, physical, digital, and ethical development is heavily emphasized within the academic program. Expert teachers deliver an innovative curriculum in a dynamic classroom environment.
LOWER SCHOOL
We view learning as an emotional endeavor, and so we emphasize a small student-teacher ratio and differentiated instruction so that each child is challenged to reach their highest potential. Beginning in the elementary years through 5th grade, students take engaging courses in language arts, math, social studies, science, library, art, music, creative movement, computer science, Spanish and physical education. Students are also immersed in an environment that emphasizes and values character development. Lessons and assemblies explicitly contextualize for the youngest learners what it means to be a person of good character
To respect the social and emotional developmental age of the 11- and 12-year-old child, 6th graders anticipate their Middle School experience as the oldest students on the Lower Campus. Like their counterparts at the Upper School, they learn to be more independent as they navigate a rotating schedule and hone their time management, self-advocacy, and study skills. A dedicated team of 6th grade faculty teaches the core subjects of English, Latin, science, math, and history. Students also take art, music, library, physical education, and computer science classes.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
We design every learning experience to be exciting and purposeful, while meeting the educational and social needs of 7th and 8th graders. Intellectual, physical, social, emotional, and moral development is emphasized along with time management and organizational skills. Students are challenged and engaged through wideranging problem-solving and experiential learning opportunities. Optional community service activities are offered throughout the year to engage students with organizations and to introduce service as a lifelong pursuit. Additional opportunities include computer coding, competitive math class and team, grade level trips, student government, electives, student-run clubs, and athletics.
UPPER SCHOOL
We immerse Upper School students in a challenging, wide-ranging program focusing on further development of critical thinking and personalized college preparation, with 35 Honors courses and AP preparation in 24 areas. We’ve celebrated 8 National Merit Finalists and 30 National Merit Commended Scholars in the past five years, 1 finalist in the National Shakespeare Contest, and sent 1 member of Team USA to the Romanian Master of Mathematics Competition
Unique courses: Animation, Architecture, Advanced Web Development, Biotechnology, Design Thinking, Economics with Financial Literacy, Engineering, Forensic Science, Honors Research, Multivariable Calculus, Oceanography, Robotic Process Automation, 20th Century Philosophy, and Video Game Creation.
Extracurricular opportunities: Clubs, athletics, Speech and Debate, student government, literary magazine, newspaper, performing arts, yearbook, and Esports.
APs OFFERED
English:
English Language
English Literature
Math:
Precalculus
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Statistics
History:
Art History
European History
US Government
US History
World History
Performing Arts:
Music Theory
Science: Biology Chemistry
Environmental Science
Physics I
Physics II
Physics C
Technology:
Computer Science
Principles
Computer Science A
Visual Arts:
Studio Art
World Languages:
French Language & Culture
Latin
Spanish Language & Culture
SIGNATURE PROGRAMS
Character Education: Students are immersed in an environment that emphasizes and values character development. We are ever-committed to growing young minds and hearts.
Cross-Age: Lower School curriculum-based activities involve multi-age students that share important learning endeavors.
Service Learning: Project-based programs provide educational opportunities within and beyond the Lower through Upper School community.
Student Council: Students in grades 3-12 participate in the election and voting process to represent student interests on campus.
Peak Week: Experiential learning immersion program for Middle & Upper School students.
Directed Research Program: Independent scholarship studies for Upper School students.
Peer Tutoring: Older students passionate in a particular subject mentor younger learners in need of additional help.
ATHLETICS
At Sierra Canyon, we’re proud of our championship teams. The Class of 2024 left behind quite a legacy. On their collective resume are 2 national, 1 state, 1 regional, and 4 CIF-SS championships in addition to 22 Gold Coast and Mission League titles. Twenty-nine graduates will further their athletic careers in college. Our athletic program’s “no tryout, no cut” policy allows your child to find a sport to excel in or simply enjoy regardless of skill level.
Upper School Teams:
Baseball
Basketball Cheer
Cross Country
Esports
Football (Boys)
Golf
Lacrosse (Boys)
Soccer
Softball
Swimming/Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball (Girls)
Middle School Teams:
Baseball
Basketball
Cross Country
Esports
Flag Football
Golf
Lacrosse Soccer
Swimming/Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball (Girls)
Lower School Teams:
Basketball
Flag Football
Golf (6th)
Lacrosse (6th)
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis(6th)
Volleyball
Colleges and Universities where our students have been accepted for the 2020-2024 graduating classes.
The bolded colleges are where at least one student has matriculated.
Academy of Art University
American Musical &
Dramatic Academy
American University
American University of Paris
Amherst College
Arizona State University
Art Center College of Design
Auburn University
Azusa Pacific University
Babson College
Bard College
Bates College
Baylor University
Belmont University
Beloit College
Bentley University
Berklee College of Music
Bethel College
Binghamton University
Boise State University
Boston College
Boston University
Bowdoin College
Brandeis University
Brigham Young University
Brown University
Bryant University
Bryn Mawr College
Bucknell University
Butler University
California Baptist University
Caifornia College of the Arts
California Institute of the Arts
California Lutheran University
California Polytechnic State USan Luis Obispo
California State Polytechnic U-Pomona
California State U-Bakersfield
California State U-Channel Islands
California State U-Chico
California State U-Dominguez Hills
California State U-East Bay
California State U-Fresno
California State U-Fullerton
California State U-Long Beach
California State U-Los Angeles
California State U-Monterey Bay
California State U-Northridge
California State U-Sacramento
California State U-San Bernardino
California State U-San Marcos
Carleton College
Carnegie Mellon University
Case Western Reserve University
Central Michigan University
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Chapman University
Claremont McKenna College
Clark Atlanta University
Clark University
Clemson University
Colgate University
College of the Holy Cross
College of William and Mary College of Wooster
Colorado College
Colorado Mesa University
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado State University
Columbia College Chicago
Columbia University
Concordia University- Irvine
Connecticut College
Cornell College
Cornell University
Creighton University
Culinary Institute of America
CUNY Queens College
Denison University
DePaul University
DePauw University
Dominican University of California
Drake University
Drew University
Drexel University
Duke University
D'Youville College
Eastern Michigan University
Elon University
Emerson College
Emory University
Endicott College
Fashion Institute of Technology
FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design
& Merchandising
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical U.
Fordham University
Franklin and Marshall College
George Fox University
George Mason University
George Washington University
Georgetown University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia State University
Gettysburg College
Gonzaga University
Goucher College
Hampshire College
Hampton University
Harvard University
Harvey Mudd College
Hawaii Pacific University
High Point University
Hobart William Smith Colleges
Hofstra University
Hood College
Houston Baptist University
Howard University
Humboldt State University
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Wesleyan University
Imperial College London
Indiana State University
Indiana University
Iowa State University
Ithaca College
Johns Hopkins University
Juniata College
Kalamazoo College
Kent State University
Kenyon College
Lafayette College
Lawrence University
Lehigh University
Lewis & Clark College
Louisiana State University
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola Maryland University
Loyola University New Orleans
Maastricht University
Macalester College
Manhattanville College
Marist College
Marquette University
Marshall University
Maryland Institute College of Art
Marymount California University
Marymount Manhattan College
Maryville University of Saint Louis
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
McDaniel College
Miami University-Oxford
Michigan State University
Middle Tennessee State U.
Middlebury College
Mississippi State University
Montana State University
Montgomery College
Morgan State University
Mount Holyoke College
Mount Saint Mary's University
Muhlenberg College
New Mexico State University
New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts
New York Film Academy
New York University
North Carolina A & T State U.
North Carolina Central University
Northeastern University
Northern Arizona University
Northwestern University
Oberlin College
Occidental College
Ohio State University
Oregon State University
Otis College of Art and Design
Pace University
Parsons School of Design
Pennsylvania State University
Pepperdine University
Pitzer College
Pomona College
Portland State University
Prairie View A & M University
Pratt Institute
Princeton University
Providence College
Purdue University
Queen's University
Reed College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhodes College
Rice University
Richmond, The American International University in London
Rider University
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rutgers University
Saint Mary's College of California
Salve Regina University
San Diego State University
San Francisco State University
San Jose State University
Santa Clara University
Sarah Lawrence College
Savannah College of Art and Design
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
School of Visual Arts
Seattle University
Skidmore College
Smith College
Sonoma State University
Southern CA Institute of Architecture
Southern Methodist University
Southern Utah University
Spelman College
Springfield College
St. John's University
St. Lawrence University
St. John's College
Stanford University
Suffolk University
Swarthmore College
Syracuse University
Temple University
Texas A & M University
Texas Christian University
Texas Tech University
The New School
Trinity College
Trinity University
Tufts University
Tulane University
Tuskegee University
Union College
United States Air Force Academy
United States Military Academy
United States Naval Academy
University of Alabama
University of Arizona
University of Arkansas
University of British Columbia
University of California-Berkeley
University of California-Davis
University of California-Irvine
University of California-Los Angeles
University of California-Merced
University of California-Riverside
University of California-San Diego
University of California-
Santa Barbara
University of California-Santa Cruz
University of Central Missouri
University of Chicago
University of Cincinnati
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Connecticut
University of Delaware
University of Denver
University of Exeter
University of Florida
University of Hawaii At Hilo
University of Houston
University of Illinois
University of Iowa
University of Kansas
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
University of Maryland
University of Massachusetts
University of Memphis
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota
University of Mississippi
University of Missouri
University of Montana
University of Nebraska
University of Nevada-Reno
University of North Carolina
University of Northern Colorado
University of Notre Dame
University of Oklahoma
University of Oregon
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of Portland
University of Puget Sound
University of Redlands
University of Richmond
University of Rochester
University of San Diego
University of San Francisco
University of Southern California
University of Tampa
University of Tennessee
University of Texas At Austin
University of the Pacific
University of the South
University of Toronto
University of Tulsa
University of Utah
University of Vermont
University of Virginia
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin
University of Wyoming
Vanderbilt University
Vassar College
Villanova University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Wagner College
Wake Forest University
Washington State University
Washington University In St. Louis
Weber State University
Wesleyan University
West Virginia University
Western Michigan University
Western New Mexico University
Western Oregon University
Westminster College
Westmont College
Whitman College
Whittier College
Willamette University
William & Mary
Williams College
Woodbury University
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Xavier University
Yale University