Sierra Canyon School

Sierra Canyon School looks durable. Reserves cover 5 months of operating expense, a thin runway. Revenue is 83% tuition-dependent (peer median 80%), concentrated but in line with most independent day schools. Staff compensation runs 46% of expenses, well below the peer median, worth understanding why. Net assets are growing 19.4%/yr over three years; the cushion is being built, not drawn. NACUBO Composite Financial Index: 6.2 / 10, strong.

Sierra Canyon School holds only 5 months of operating expense in reserve — a thin runway that warrants understanding before walking into a campus visit.

Sierra Canyon School reported $67.8M in revenue against $60.4M in expenses in fiscal year 2023, the most recent filing on record. Net assets stood at $27.3M — about 0.45x annual operating expense.

Operating margin landed at 10.9%, with 83.2% of revenue coming from tuition. Among same-size peers, that puts Sierra Canyon School at the p67 on operating margin.