Fundamental Schools: Hollow Hills & Vista Elementary Schools *

Two of the 18 elementary schools (Hollow Hills Elementary and Vista Elementary) in the Simi Valley Unified School District are designated as Fundamental Schools.

Our Fundamental Schools provide equal access to all elementary students (grades Kindergarten to 6th) of the District regardless of neighborhood boundaries. These are NOT neighborhood schools and they are not included in the School of Choice program. While these schools do have Junior/Transitional Kindergarten (JK/TK) classes, these JK/TK classes are located at other schools for the JK/TK year. 

The Fundamental Schools are unique because families choose to enroll their students on these campuses based on the schools' areas of focus, programs and expectations, as established at each Fundamental School. Both Fundamental Schools teach the same California State Standards as our other elementary schools, and use the same classroom materials and curriculum designated by Simi Valley Unified School District for all elementary schools.

Each Fundamental School holds a lottery for incoming Kindergarten students in mid-February. All SVUSD students are eligible to participate in the Kindergarten lottery for one of the two Fundamental Schools. A student may not submit a lottery application in the lottery for both Fundamental schools; you must choose which school to submit for. Before submitting an application for the 2024-2025 school year, parents are required to do ONE of these three things. PLEASE GO TO EACH SCHOOL'S WEBSITE (LINK BELOW) TO FIND THE  SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE SCHOOL'S EVENTS/LINKS:

1. Attend an in-person school tour at one of the two Fundamental Schools.
2. Attend one of the two Information Nights.
3. View the recorded information video online. 

Classes are staffed according to SVUSD's student-teacher ratios. If a student is not selected through the lottery process, he/she will be placed on a waiting list for potential future openings, and the student will be able to look at the many other School of Choice options we have within the SVUSD. There is no obligation to remain on the waiting list. Every January, a notification is sent to the families of any student still on the waiting list. (This will happen at each grade level.) The notification will ask if you wish your child to remain on the waiting list or to be removed.

Hollow Hills and Vista Elementary schools will hold lotteries for Kindergarten enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year in the early Spring, 2024. Only students who live in the Simi Valley Unified School District are eligible for this lottery. Interested families need to decide on ONE fundamental school and then submit ONE application to that school’s office. Families may participate in only ONE fundamental school lottery. We will not honor dual requests or accept transfers between the schools. Please check the schools' websites for application information in the Spring 2024. Parents/Guardians will be required to come to the school office to pick up forms. They are not available online or by fax.

Vista Elementary School
2175 Wisteria Street, Simi Valley
(805) 520-6750
www.vista.simivalleyusd.org

Hollow Hills Elementary School
828 Gibson Avenue, Simi Valley
(805) 520-6720
www.hollowhills.simivalleyusd.org

The School of Choice program (link HERE) in the SVUSD allows families to enroll at any of our schools (except for Hollow Hills Elementary School, Santa Susana High School and Vista Elementary School) through School of Choice as long as there is space available. 

Fundamental Schools are not the only path to educational excellence in the SVUSD. Students excel at all of our elementary schools. No District transportation is provided to the Fundamental Schools and some parents find that the daily commute to and from the school is not manageable for their family. Families are urged to consider these factors when considering if a Fundamental School is a good choice for their children. 

California law for Traditional Kindergarten enrollment states that a child must be five-years-old by September 1, 2024. The Simi Valley Unified School District offers Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK) programs for qualifying students under the age requirements. For more information about these programs, click HERE.

Students will be selected for enrollment by lottery in February. Numbered postcards will be mailed to all applicants. Results will not be given over the telephone. Students enrolled may not return to their home school during that school year. 

FUNDAMENTAL INFORMATION NIGHTS

Vista Elementary School: 2024 DATE TO BE DETERMINED

Hollow Hills Elementary School: 2024 DATE TO BE DETERMINED

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOUR APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED?

If you are not selected in the Fundamental School lottery, applicants will be placed on the Fundamental School waiting list, in the order of the lottery selection. Parents may also apply to another school via School of Choice during the open enrollment period:

1. Decide if you want your child to attend your neighborhood school or another school in the district for Kindergarten (which requires you to submit a School of Choice application.)
2. If you want your child to attend Kindergarten at your neighborhood school, enroll your child at that school starting March 1, 2024. Enrolling your child as early as possible will help us to plan for the coming year.