In 1978, the needs of the North San Fernando Valley spurred the evolution from a day camp into Sierra Canyon Elementary School.

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] Sierra Canyon School offers all students a fully UC-approved, comprehensive, four-year curriculum that includes extensive honors and advanced-placement courses.

[citation needed] 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.

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 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.

[5] 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.