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Sierra School of Sacramento

Designed to nurture your student’s academic, social, and behavioral growth, Sierra School of Sacramento provides individualized instruction in smaller, structured classrooms. Our private day school goes beyond what typical classrooms provide, offering an evidence-based approach including a comprehensive range of specialized services and a team of highly-trained educators to help students—and their families—shine.

School Info

Hours
Mon – Fri 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Grades
K-12

  • School Calendar

    Learn more about important dates on our 2025-2026 school year calendar.
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  • School Accountability Report Card (SARC)

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Sierra School of Sacramento is where students with academic, emotional, and behavioral needs uncover their potential through individualized learning that goes beyond what most classrooms can offer. In our private day schools, we meet each student where they are.

Smaller class sizes and high-quality, student-centered instruction allow our teachers, therapists, and staff to build strong connections with each student in nurturing, respectful, structured, and positive learning environments. Drawing from a comprehensive range of specialized services, Sierra School educators implement Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) to help each student shine—at school, at home, and in the community.

Our students benefit from SESI’s Integrated Multi-Tiered Systems of Support that:

    • Individually support each student’s academic, behavioral, and emotional needs
    • Prevent barriers to learning in our classroom environments
    • Connect our team with students, staff, families and district partners to ensure the growth of essential skills outside of the classroom setting

Through evidence-based, data-driven instruction that is aligned with your student’s strengths and IEP goals, we meet your student where they are. In other words, we do not tier your student, we tier our supports to uniquely meet your student’s needs.

Strong relationships with our students, families, and school district partners are our highest priority. Together, we shine a bright light on the possibility and untapped potential of every Sierra School student.

Related services offered at this school include BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst), counseling services, motor lab, sensory rooms, transition and life skills program tailored to student needs.

Discover What Sets Sierra School of Sacramento Apart

Our Learning Pathways

  • Spark: Academic and Behavior Support​

    Spark: Academic and Behavior Support​

    Students We Serve

    • Students with strong academic potential and behavioral or emotional challenges
    • Learners impacted by trauma, adversity, or unstable home environments
    • Students navigating school avoidance, anxiety, or juvenile justice involvement
    • Those needing support with regulation, peer relationships, and trust-building
    Spark Student Profiles
  • Spring: Instruction and Life Skills​

    Spring: Instruction and Life Skills​

    Students We Serve

    • Students with learning disabilities, autism, or communication delays
    • Learners preparing for adulthood with support needs in academics and life skills
    • Students who benefit from structured routines, repetition, and visuals
    Spring Student Profiles
  • Bloom: Functional Communication and Daily Living

    Bloom: Functional Communication and Daily Living

    Students We Serve

    • Students with significant cognitive and/or physical impairments who are nonverbal or minimally verbal
    • Learners who need close support with communication, transitions, and self-care
    • Students who thrive in calm, structured, sensory-friendly environments
    Bloom Student Profiles
  • Academic and Behavioral Support

    Academic and Behavioral Support

    We cultivate learning environments where instruction aligns with industry standards and district-specific curriculum requirements and ongoing support encourages prosocial behavior inside and outside the classroom.

  • Individualized Student Support

    Individualized Student Support

    We are passionate about fostering all facets of growth—academic, behavioral, and emotional—ensuring students are nurtured as a whole person and develop the skills they need to achieve rewarding futures.

  • Successful Transitions

    Successful Transitions

    Whether students are transitioning to a less restrictive environment, progressing toward graduation, or earning a certificate of completion, we help ensure they receive the individualized guidance and support they need to reach their full potential.

Meet Our Team

With deep experience and dedication to helping all students discover their full potential, our leaders provide an unwavering commitment to supporting our teachers, therapists, and other staff while fostering relationships with families and district partners.

  • As a lifelong learner and former professional athlete, Quenice brings a team-first mindset to the leadership team. She began her career with Sierra in 2018 as a teacher assistant and van driver in the BEST program, and was promoted to teacher in 2019. In her new role, she worked with our transition-age students (18-22) in what is now our PALS program.

    In 2021, Quenice began working with our Academic/ED students. Due to great academic successes paired with significant behavior improvements from her students, she began gaining recognition from higher administrators at SESI.

    While ensuring her students were reaching their goals, Quenice was also accomplishing great things in her personal life. In 2023, she graduated from the University of Pacific with her master’s degree in special education. Following this major achievement, Quenice earned SESI’s Teacher of Year award and earned a promotion to her current position as director.

  • Lincoln was born in Houston and moved to Sacramento when he was 12. It was challenging going from the country to living in Del Paso Heights, going from crawfishing and hunting to dealing with negative peer pressure and stress. His mother encouraged him to find positive friends and signed him up for football.

    For the next 20 years, Lincoln played football and received a free education from Eastern Michigan University. After his playing career ended, Lincoln moved back to Sacramento where he fell in love with helping at-risk youth and staff. From serving as a line staff in a group home to an administrative one, Lincoln has experienced a variety of roles and gained valuable experience in developing ways to support delicate youth.

    In the future, Lincoln looks forward to expanding his support of students who are outside of the school setting, whether they are navigating foster care, homelessness, or recovery from abuse.

  • Ms. Guide, Associate Director, embodies a philosophy of continuous growth and student empowerment at the Sierra School of Sacramento. Drawing on her background as a yoga teacher and her Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Thailand, Ms. Guide fosters an environment of positivity and possibility for all students. She joined the Sierra School in 2022 as a Teaching Assistant, quickly progressing to a teaching role due to her dedication and ability to support students effectively. With a strong growth mindset, Ms. Guide consistently goes above and beyond, providing personalized support across various learning models, leading by example, and offering targeted feedback to help students achieve their goals. Her unwavering commitment to positivity, professionalism, and possibility guides her work and inspires her students.

  • Alexandra Sasaki brings nearly a decade of dedicated experience in special education to her role as Associate Director at Sierra School of Sacramento, where she leads by example in fostering an environment of growth and support. Her journey in education began in classrooms across San Joaquin and Sacramento Counties, discovering a passion for advocating for students, promoting their independence, and fostering their sense of self. Mrs. Sasaki graduated Suma Cum Laude from the University of the Pacific, where she earned her Mod/Severe Teaching Credential. She joined the Sierra School team in 2022 and has since taught a range of classrooms within the Bloom Model, supporting students from kindergarten through 12th grade and beyond. Her exceptional contributions were recognized when she was named SESI’s Teacher of the Year for the West Coast division in 2024. In her current role, Mrs. Sasaki oversees all classrooms in the Bloom Learning Pathway, continuing her commitment to whole child development and ensuring every student receives the support they need to thrive.

What People Are Saying

Across our schools and programs, we’re proud to partner with families, educators, and district leaders to support student success. Hear firsthand how our collaborative approach, experienced staff, and commitment to individualized education are making a lasting impact in classrooms and communities.

  • What I appreciate the most is the staff teachers for my granddaughter! The care and the communication is great and most importantly she loves to go to school that says a lot to me. Being a parent or grandparent of a child with autism is scary. You worry about them all the time because of the lack of communication. You just want them to be safe. I feel like she’s safe and happy at Sierra School of Sacramento.

    Irene D.

Events & Stories

  • 20 Days of Fun and Learning ESY 2025

    Highlights from Our Extended School Year (ESY) The Extended School Year (ESY) was packed with learning, laughter, and unforgettable fun!…
    July 28, 2025
  • Sierra goes to the RiverCats game! Ms. Maher throws the first pitch!

    On Tuesday, April 29th, Sierra students, the behavior support staff, and Ms. Maher went to the school day event for…
    May 5, 2025
  • ASPCA Day

    Sierra School of Sacramento celebrated ASPCA by visiting the ASPCA, learning about animal protection, cruelty, adoption, and rescuing. We also…
    March 25, 2025

Resources

  • 20 Days of Fun and Learning ESY 2025

    Highlights from Our Extended School Year (ESY) The Extended School Year (ESY) was packed with learning, laughter, and unforgettable fun!…
  • Donuts, Diplomas, and Determination: Celebrating Summer Graduates

    Summer School Becomes a Second Chance for Excel Students For a group of students from Excel Academies of Philadelphia, this…
  • Mary Rico, SESI’s 2025 Teacher of the Year, featured on Fox 2 San Francisco

    Celebrating an Incredible Educator: Mary Rico Named 2025 Teacher of the Year We’re thrilled to congratulate Mary Rico, an extraordinary…

FAQ’s

  • If you work at a school district and want to learn more about our school and the referral process, the next step is to contact us directly. We’ll provide detailed information about our programs, answer your questions, and set-up a time for you to come tour our program.

  • We individualize the learning experience by creating a tailored plan for each student based on their unique strengths, needs, and goals. This includes personalized instruction, behavioral support, and regular progress monitoring to ensure growth academically, socially, and emotionally. By collaborating closely with families and school districts, we provide a supportive environment where every student can thrive.

  • The next step is to contact us to schedule a tour of our school. This will give you the opportunity to meet our team, explore our facilities, and learn more about how we can support your child.

  • You can schedule a tour by calling our office or filling out the contact form on our website. Our team will work with you to find a convenient time for your visit.

  • We take a holistic approach to education, integrating academic instruction with behavioral support. Small class sizes allow for personalized attention, and our experienced staff uses evidence-based strategies and high-leverage practices to help students build confidence, self-regulation skills, and positive relationships.

Contact Sierra School of Sacramento