Why Families Choose a TK-12 School

What if your child never had to be the new kid again? At Santa Clarita Valley International (SCVi) Charter School, a tuition-free TK-12th grade public school in Castaic, California, we’ve done away with the revolving door of new schools, new teachers, and starting over. Instead of learners spending time figuring out a new campus, new social circles, and new expectations, ours are building something better: a deep, lasting relationship with a community that knows exactly who they are and who they’re becoming.

One Community, From Day One to Graduation

At SCVi, learners are never a number. Every child is greeted by name each morning, supported through Morning Meeting (Lower School) or Advisory (Upper School), and guided by facilitators who know them across multiple years, not just one. That continuity builds real confidence. When learners feel safe and seen, they’re willing to take risks, ask hard questions, and grow.

Families love TK-12 for another practical reason: fewer transitions, more connection. And when siblings can grow up on the same campus together, that’s a win for everyone.

8th Grade: The Best of Both Worlds

One of the most exciting evolutions at SCVi is how we’ve reimagined the 8th grade experience. Our 8th graders now join the Upper School campus, and the experience is carefully designed to meet them where they are.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

Academic elevation: Credentialed content-area specialists teach 8th graders, building relationships with the facilitators who will guide them all the way through graduation.

The best of both worlds: Learners experience Upper School culture — orientation, spirit events, Advisory — while still sharing lunch and recess with familiar faces and having their own dedicated spaces.

An informal start to college: 8th graders earn a spot in our College Connect program, plus complete an introductory college course designed to set them up for immediate success in 9th grade.

Skills That Build Year After Year

A TK-12 school is uniquely positioned to develop learners over time rather than in isolated snapshots. Each learner has a unique Individualized Learning Plan that follows along all the way to graduation. Through learner-led conferences, showcases, and portfolios, we celebrate growth throughout the year. At SCVi, project-based learning, social-emotional learning, and integrated arts aren’t add-ons, they’re woven into every grade. 

Two signature programs show just how deep that continuity runs:

• Spanish Dual Immersion: Biliteracy option built from the earliest grades, giving learners a language foundation that grows alongside them.
• TK-12 Aerospace Pathway: From studying how animals fly (butterflies! Feathered friends!), to launching rockets in 7th grade, to flying actual gliders in 8th grade, to earning transferable UC/CSU college credits in Upper School through our College Connect program launching in 2026-27.

Through our DreamUp to Space partnership, learners as young as 3rd grade have sent experiments to the International Space Station. That’s not just a school project, that’s a 13-year story of a learner growing into a scientist.

Growing Up, Together

Older SCVi learners naturally become mentors. They look out for younger classmates, lead ambassador groups, and model the Leader in Me habits they’ve practiced for years. That’s the SCVi difference. Growing up here doesn’t mean growing apart — it means growing deeper. 

Enrollment for the 2026-27 school year is open. Visit ileadsantaclarita.org to learn more and apply today. Free to think. Inspired to lead. 

 

About SCVi:

Santa Clarita Valley International School (SCVi) is a free public charter school empowering TK-12th graders to become conscientious, compassionate, and responsible citizens of the world. Founded in 2008, we use project-based and social-emotional learning concepts to inspire and motivate lifelong learners with the skills they need to lead in the 21st century. We incorporate technology into every component of our curriculum, and we value and encourage the development of leadership skills by inspiring confidence and character in each of our unique learners. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook and find us at http://www.ileadsantaclarita.org. Join our innovative school today!