Sierra Canyon School

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{{Infobox school

| name = Sierra Canyon School

| image =

| motto = {{langx|la|Excellentia propter se}}

| motto_translation = Excellence is its own reward

| established = 1978

| founder = Mick Horwitz & Howard Wang

| type = Private, day, college preparatory

| religion = Nonsectarian

| head_name = Head of School

| head = James P. Skrumbis

| address = 11052 Independence Avenue (lower campus)
20801 Rinaldi Street (upper campus)

| city = Chatsworth, Los Angeles

| state = California

| country = United States

| grades = PK-12

| campus = Suburban, 37 acres

| enrollment = 1,100

| faculty = 170

| class = 17

| gender = co-educational

| ratio = 10:1

| colors = Navy, Gray & White
{{color box|navy}} {{color box|gray}} {{color box|white}}

| athletics = 76 Athletic teams

| conference = CIF Southern Section
Mission League

| nickname = Trailblazers

| newspaper = The Standard

| accreditation = California Association of Independent Schools
National Association of Independent Schools
Western Association of Schools and Colleges

| tuition = $25,000–$44,100{{cite web|url=https://www.sierracanyonschool.org/admission/tuition--financial-aid|title=Affording Sierra Canyon|website=sierracanyonschool.org|access-date=May 10, 2024}}

| homepage = {{URL|sierracanyonschool.org}}

}}

Sierra Canyon School (SCS) is a private, coeducational university-preparatory day school located in Los Angeles, California. Sierra Canyon enrolls students in preschool through grade 12.

Sierra Canyon School is accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS). SCS is a member of National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

History

Sierra Canyon School began in 1972 as the Sierra Canyon Day Camp, started by founders Mick Horwitz and Howard Wang, a proprietary endeavor that became the impetus for starting the school. In 1978, the needs of the North San Fernando Valley spurred the evolution from a day camp into Sierra Canyon Elementary School. The elementary school began with 150 students, spanning Early Kindergarten through 6th grade.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

In 1990, Sierra Canyon was the only school in Los Angeles, and the only private school in California, to be honored as a Recognized School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education. Founding directors Mick Horwitz and Howard Wang, and Principal Ann Gillinger received the Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence in Education from President George H. W. Bush at the White House.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

By 2001, the school had grown to 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. The need for a high school prompted the founders to appoint James P. Skrumbis as head of school in 2004 in order to expand and open an Upper School. The new Upper School opened in 2006, serving 7th through 12th grades. The upper and lower schools merged and incorporated as a non-profit organization for early kindergarten through 12th grade and established itself as a college preparatory private school. Sierra Canyon graduated its first senior class in June 2009.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

Each summer, over 600 campers still come to Sierra Canyon for its Sierra Canyon Day Camp program.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

Educational program

Sierra Canyon School offers all students a fully UC-approved, comprehensive, four-year curriculum that includes extensive honors and advanced-placement courses. At the beginning of the seventh grade year, each student is assigned an academic advisor.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

The SCS International Program welcomes nearly 70 foreign students from countries such as Brazil, China, Germany, India, Korea, Russia, and Singapore to its Upper Campus each year to study with fellow students in 9th through 12th grades.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

Athletic program

Sierra Canyon School participates in a full range of interscholastic athletics as a member of the CIF Southern Section. Boys' teams include lacrosse, football, baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, wrestling, cross country, track, golf, and swimming during the school year. Girls have the opportunity to compete in soccer, basketball, tennis, softball, beach volleyball, cross country, track, swimming, and volleyball.

In 2009, the girls' basketball team became the first to win a California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section title in any sport for the school.

In 2015, the boys' and girls' basketball teams won California Interscholastic Federation State championships. It was the first time in school history that both the boys' and girls' teams won a state basketball championship in the same year. The girls' basketball championship was their third consecutive state title.

In 2015, the girls' soccer team won the California Interscholastic Federation Regional championships. The football team won the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section championship, and the following year, 2016, the Trailblazers won the CIF-Southern Section Championship, won the CIF State Southern California regional and won the CIF State championship, finishing the season with a 16-0 record.

In the 2016 fall season, the Trailblazers won the CIF-SS Division 4 Championship in Football and won its first ever CIF-SS Championship in girls' volleyball. During winter, the Trailblazers won their third ever CIF-SS soccer championship and second regional championship.

The 2016-2017 school year was very successful, as the Trailblazers won a school record eight league titles (football, girls' volleyball, boys' basketball, girls' soccer, lacrosse, golf, and softball).

In 2017, Sierra Canyon girls' volleyball team won the regional and state championships, the first state volleyball championship for the school.

In 2019, the boys' high school basketball team added Bronny James, son of NBA player LeBron James, later joined by five-star basketball recruit Ziaire Williams and Zaire Wade, son of NBA player Dwyane Wade.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/dwayne-wade-gabrielle-union-bronny-james-zaire-wade-hs-game-2019-11|title=Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union went berserk courtside after big plays from son Zaire Wade and Bronny James in their first high-school game|website=Business Insider|access-date=2019-11-26|archive-date=2022-06-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607082838/https://www.businessinsider.com/dwayne-wade-gabrielle-union-bronny-james-zaire-wade-hs-game-2019-11|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2838616-bronny-james-zaire-wade-reportedly-enrolling-at-sierra-canyon-high-school-in-la|title=Report: LeBron James', Dwyane Wade's Sons Enrolling at Sierra Canyon High School|website=Bleacher Report|access-date=2019-11-26|archive-date=2022-06-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607082838/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2838616-bronny-james-zaire-wade-reportedly-enrolling-at-sierra-canyon-high-school-in-la|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2019/11/23/20977239/sierra-canyon-basketball-roster-bronny-james-zaire-wade-bj-boston-ziaire-williams|title=Sierra Canyon, Bronny James' stacked high school basketball team, explained|publisher=SB Nation|date=2019-11-23|access-date=2021-05-02|archive-date=2022-06-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607082836/https://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2019/11/23/20977239/sierra-canyon-basketball-roster-bronny-james-zaire-wade-bj-boston-ziaire-williams|url-status=live}}

The Sierra Canyon boys' basketball team held a media day on October 10, 2019 — one of few high school teams to do so. The media day attracted local and national news outlets.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/story/2019-10-10/sierra-canyon-high-basketball-holds-a-media-day-for-its-big-name-roste|title=Sierra Canyon High holds a media day for its big-name basketball roster|work=Los Angeles Times|date=2019-10-10|access-date=2021-05-02|archive-date=2021-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502214809/https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/story/2019-10-10/sierra-canyon-high-basketball-holds-a-media-day-for-its-big-name-roste|url-status=live}} Since 2021 the basketball program has been the subject of the docuseries Uninterrupted's Top Class: The Life and Times of the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers, of which the first season on Amazon Freevee was nominated for Best Sports Show at the 4th Critics' Choice Real TV Awards.{{cite web |title=Top Class: Sierra Canyon Trailblazers |url=https://press.amazonstudios.com/us/en/amazon-freevee-series/top-class-the-life-and-times-of-the-sierra-ca/1 |website=Amazon Studios |access-date=31 October 2022}}{{cite web |title=Amazon Freevee Orders 'Bosch: Legacy' Season 2, Inks Disney Movie Licensing Deal |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/amazon-freevee-orders-bosch-legacy-230004590.html |website=finance.yahoo.com |date=May 2, 2022 |access-date=31 October 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Holroyd |first1=Caitlyn |title=LeBron-produced docuseries on Sierra Canyon to premiere in February |url=https://www.thescore.com/news/2093107 |website=theScore.com |date=January 16, 2021 |access-date=31 October 2022 |language=en}}

Campus

The campus is park-like with more than 700 trees, groomed lawns, flowers, and a custom designed horse trail on the lower campus which continues into Brown's Canyon. The lower campus includes a computer lab, a music room, and library. The upper campus includes a technology center, a media center for digital filmmaking, the black-box theater, and the Upper School Library. In the Spring of 2010, the student-designed Community Garden was added at the top of the campus.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

Notable alumni

Marcus Bagley (2020-transferred), basketball player in the NBA G League{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Steven |title=Marcus Bagley » SportStars '18-'19 Boys Basketball Player Of The Year |url=https://sportstarsmag.com/2019/04/marcus-bagley-boys-poy-2019/ |website=SportStars Magazine |date=5 April 2019}}
Marvin Bagley III (2017), NBA player, #2 Overall Pick in the 2018 NBA draft{{Cite web |date=2024-01-14 |title=Pistons flip Bagley to Wiz for Gallinari, Muscala |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39306976/pistons-trade-marvin-bagley-iii-wizards-sources-say |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
Amari Bailey (2022), NBA player, 2021 California Mr. Basketball{{cite web |title=UCLA Guard Amari Bailey Goes to Charlotte Hornets in NBA Draft|date=June 23, 2023 |url=https://www.si.com/college/ucla/mens-basketball/ucla-guard-amari-bailey-goes-to-charlotte-hornets-in-nba-draft}}
Ireland Baldwin (2013), model and daughter of actors Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger{{cite web |last1=Orenstein |first1=Hannah |title=Kylie Jenner Writes Touching Blog Post About Why Caitlyn Jenner Wasn't at Her Graduation Party |url=https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/news/a34575/kylie-jenner-caitlyn-jenner-missing-graduation-party/ |website=Seventeen |access-date=24 December 2019 |date=7 October 2015 |quote=Kendall Jenner and Ireland Baldwin also went to Sierra Canyon, and Willow Smith is still a student there. |archive-date=11 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011215434/https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/news/a34575/kylie-jenner-caitlyn-jenner-missing-graduation-party/ |url-status=live }}
Taylor Bell (2012-2016) - famous YouTuber with 650K followers{{Cite web|url=https://www.sierracanyonschool.org/news/2023-11-10/taylor-bell-16-adapting-flourishing-with-finesse|title=Adapting & Flourishing With Finesse|date=November 10, 2023|website=}}
Brandon Boston Jr. (2020), NBA player, 2021 California Mr. Basketball{{cite web | url=https://www.nba.com/clippers/news/la-clippers-acquire-draft-rights-brandon-boston-jr | title=LA Clippers Acquire Draft Rights To Brandon Boston Jr. | website=NBA.com | date=2021-08-07 | archive-date=2021-08-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813185703/https://www.nba.com/clippers/news/la-clippers-acquire-draft-rights-brandon-boston-jr | url-status=live }}
Kennedy Burke (2015), WNBA player, 2024 WNBA Champion with the New York Liberty{{cite web |title=Kennedy Burke Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and More {{!}} WNBA |url=https://www.wnba.com/player/1629568/kennedy-burke |website=www.wnba.com}}
Cecilia Cassini (2017), fashion designer{{cite web |title=The Prudential Spirit Of Community Awards |url=https://spirit.prudential.com/honoree/2018/ca/cecilia-cassini |website=spirit.prudential.com |access-date=24 December 2019 |archive-date=24 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224042426/https://spirit.prudential.com/honoree/2018/ca/cecilia-cassini |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=We Finally Figured Out Where the Kardashians Send Their Kids to School |last1=Raga |first1=Pippa |url=https://www.distractify.com/p/where-do-the-kardashian-kids-go-to-school |publisher=Distractify |access-date=22 December 2021 |date=22 February 2021 |quote=But the Jenner girls aren't Sierra Canyon School's only notable celebrity alums. ... Fashion designers Michael Kuluva and Cecilia Cassini also graduated from this Chatsworth, CA day school |archive-date=22 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222212609/https://www.distractify.com/p/where-do-the-kardashian-kids-go-to-school |url-status=live }}
Vanessa de Jesus (2020), basketball player for the Duke Blue Devils, competes internationally for the Philippines{{cite web |title=Vanessa de Jesus - 2024-25 - Women's Basketball |url=https://goduke.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/vanessa--de-jesus/20722 |website=Duke University |language=en}}
Trentyn Flowers (2023-transferred), NBA player{{cite web |title=Trentyn Flowers {{!}} Forward {{!}} LA Clippers {{!}} NBA.com |url=https://www.nba.com/player/1642280/trentyn-flowers/bio |website=www.nba.com |language=en}}
Corinne Foxx (2012), actress and daughter of Jamie Foxx{{cite web |title=Upper School Welcomes Alumna Corinne Foxx '12 {{!}} News {{!}} Sierra Canyon School |url=https://www.sierracanyonschool.org/news/2024-03-15/upper-school-welcomes-alumna-corinne-foxx-12 |website=www.sierracanyonschool.org |language=en}}
G Hannelius (2017), actress and singer{{cite web |title=Congrats Class of 2017: G. Hannelius Graduates High School |url=http://www.twistmagazine.com/posts/g-hannelius-graduated-high-school-132850 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170528174820/http://www.twistmagazine.com/posts/g-hannelius-graduated-high-school-132850 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 28, 2017 |access-date=May 31, 2017}}{{Cite Instagram |author=Genevieve Hannelius |user=ghannelius |date=May 20, 2017 |title=Graduation with my girls 💘 |postid=BUS9-hqFvIc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BUS9-hqFvIc |archive-date=December 26, 2021 |url-access=registration |website=Instagram |access-date=July 13, 2022}}{{cbignore}}
Parker Jackson-Cartwright (2014), basketball player who plays professionally in New Zealand{{cite web |title=Parker Jackson-Cartwright College Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/parker-jackson-cartwright-1.html |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}
Bronny James (2023), NBA player, son of LeBron James{{cite web |last=Evans |first=Lucas |date=March 28, 2023 |title=Overhyped and underrated? An Inside look at Bronny James' senior season |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/story/2023-03-28/bronny-james-lebron-sierra-canyon-senior-season |access-date=September 28, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times}}
Bryce James (2025-transferred), high school basketball player, younger son of LeBron James (Class of 2025){{Cite web |last=Sondheimer |first=Eric |date=2023-11-22 |title=Bryce James leaves Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, returns to Sierra Canyon |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/story/2023-11-21/bryce-james-leaves-sherman-oaks-notre-dame-returns-to-sierra-canyon |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}
Kendall Jenner (2014-transferred), socialite, reality television star, model, founder of 818 Tequila{{Cite web |title=our-story |url=https://drink818.com/pages/our-story |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=drink818 |language=en}}
Kylie Jenner (2015-transferred), socialite, reality television star, founder and CEO of Kylie Cosmetics{{cite web |title=Inside Sierra Canyon – or what Kanye West calls 'a fake school for celebs' |url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3253902/inside-sierra-canyon-or-what-ye-calls-fake-school-celebs-rapper-asked-kim-kardashian-take-his |website=South China Morning Post |language=en |date=4 March 2024}}
Christian Koloko (2019), NBA playerhttps://www.sierracanyonschool.org/athletics/sc-pro-athletes
Michael Kuluva (2001-transferred), Professional Figure Skater & Fashion Designer of Tumbler and Tipsy
Kenyon Martin Jr. (2020-transferred), NBA player,{{Cite web |date=2023-10-31 |title=Sources: Clippers land Harden in deal with 76ers |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/38784569/philadelphia-76ers-agree-trade-james-harden-la-clippers |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} son of Kenyon Martin
Remy Martin (2017), basketball player who played professionally in Greece and Iceland{{cite web |title=Remy Martin College Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/remy-martin-2.html |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}
Scotty Pippen Jr. (2019), NBA player,{{Cite web |last=Kasabian |first=Paul |title=Scotty Pippen Jr. Agrees to 2-Way Grizzlies Contract After Lakers Stint |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10105360-scotty-pippen-jr-agrees-to-2-way-grizzlies-contract-after-lakers-stint |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}} son of Scottie Pippen and Larsa Pippen
Kamari Ramsey (2022), safety for the USC Trojans{{cite web |last1=Warren |first1=Peter |title=Local 4-star safety Kamari Ramsey commits to UCLA |url=https://www.on3.com/college/ucla-bruins/news/local-4-star-safety-kamari-ramsey-commits-to-ucla/ |website=On3.com |date=14 December 2021 |access-date=19 June 2024}}
Cody Riley (2018), basketball player who plays professionally in Slovenia{{cite web |title=Cody Riley College Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/cody-riley-1.html |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}
Willow Smith (2018), singer, actress and daughter of actors Jada and Will Smith
Cassius Stanley (2019), NBA player{{Cite web |title=Cassius Stanley completes Afula's roster |url=https://basket.co.il/news.asp?id=37224 |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=basket.co.il}}
Derryck Thornton (2015-transferred), basketball player who played professionally in Serbia, Austria, and England{{cite web |title=Derryck Thornton - Men's Basketball |url=https://usctrojans.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/derryck-thornton/8797 |website=USC Athletics |language=en}}
Zaire Wade (2020), basketball player who played professionally in the NBA G League and South Africa, son of Dwyane Wade{{cite web |title=Son Of Miami Heat Legend To Enter G League Draft |url=https://www.si.com/nba/heat/son-of-miami-heat-legend-to-enter-g-league-draft-01jadr0ng098 |website=Inside The Heat |date=17 October 2024}}
Duane Washington Jr. (2018), NBA player{{cite web |title=Duane Washington, Jr. – Sierra Canyon Athletics |url=https://sierracanyonathletics.com/player/duane-washington-jr/}}
JuJu Watkins (2023), basketball player for the USC Trojans{{Cite web |title=JuJu Watkins - Women's Basketball |url=https://usctrojans.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/juju-watkins/15695 |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=USC Athletics |language=en}}
Ziaire Williams (2020), NBA player, 2021 NBA draft #10 Overall Pick{{Cite web |title=Ziaire Williams - Memphis Grizzlies Forward |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4433137/ziaire-williams |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=ESPN |language=en}}

References

External links

{{official website|http://www.sierracanyonschool.org/}}
[https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/954823704 Sierra Canyon High School Foundation] - ProPublica

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Category:Private elementary schools in California

Category:Private middle schools in California

Category:Private high schools in California

Category:Preparatory schools in California

Category:1972 establishments in California

Category:Educational institutions established in 1972

Category:Chatsworth, Los Angeles