Holy Martyrs Ferrahian School began the new academic year with a historic milestone, welcoming its youngest elementary students back to the Encino campus for the first time since the 1980s.
The return of the elementary grades marks a new chapter for a school that began with only 12 students more than six decades ago and today stands as the largest Armenian educational institution in the Diaspora.
At the Encino campus, dozens of kindergarten, first- and second-grade students are now learning alongside Ferrahian’s middle and high school community. The youngest students, recognizable by their yellow shirts, attend classes in the Keosian complex, where dedicated spaces have been created to meet their needs, including new classrooms, a playground and other essential infrastructure.
With demand for a Ferrahian education continuing to grow, the school administration is already planning the next phases of expansion, including additional buildings and facilities in the coming years.
Founded in 1964, Holy Martyrs Ferrahian School was the first Armenian daily school established in the United States. From its original class of 12 students, it has grown into the largest Armenian educational institution in the Diaspora and, by enrollment, is surpassed by only a handful of schools in Armenia.
Today, Ferrahian’s main campus serves approximately 670 students, while the school’s entire educational system is approaching a total enrollment of 1,435 students for the first time in its history.
“This record growth is not simply a number. It is a reflection of trust, dedication, and faith in Ferrahian’s mission,” Principal Sossi Shanlian said in her remarks on the first day of school.
Academic Growth Alongside Record Enrollment
The historic expansion comes as Ferrahian continues to build on notable academic achievements.
According to last year’s statistics, the majority of the school’s 85 graduates received a combined 119 university acceptances. Students were admitted to some of California’s leading public universities, including UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine, as well as prominent private institutions including Stanford University, USC, Boston University, Georgetown University and Pepperdine University.
Independent data has also highlighted the school’s academic performance. According to the San Francisco Chronicle’s 2026 rankings, Ferrahian ranks among California’s leading private high schools in terms of the number of graduates admitted to universities within the University of California system.
Behind those results is a curriculum that the school continues to modernize and strengthen. Ferrahian offers rigorous coursework, including Honors and Advanced Placement programs, while encouraging students from an early age to think critically, work independently and prepare for the academic demands of university life.
The school’s approach also extends beyond traditional academics.
Ferrahian has developed a structured internship program and life-skills courses designed to give students opportunities to explore professions, gain practical experience and better understand their interests and strengths before graduation.
Among the notable additions this academic year is a Personal Finance course for high school students.
California has incorporated personal finance into its educational requirements for public high schools, with the course set to become mandatory beginning in the 2027–28 academic year. Ferrahian has chosen to introduce these skills earlier, providing students with an opportunity to strengthen their financial literacy and learn how to make informed financial decisions before entering adulthood.
Preparing Students for College and Beyond
Over the years, Ferrahian’s College Counseling program has also developed into an established and professional component of the school, providing individualized guidance as students navigate the increasingly complex university admissions process.
Ferrahian has sought to extend that expertise beyond its own student body.
One example is the special USC College Admissions and College Counseling event hosted at Ferrahian, where high school students from other Armenian schools are also welcomed to participate.
Rather than viewing educational advancement solely through the lens of competition, Ferrahian has emphasized collaboration, sharing its experience and resources with other Armenian schools and helping create broader opportunities for Armenian students throughout Los Angeles.
That philosophy reflects the school’s view that the strength of one Armenian educational institution can contribute to the strength of the wider community.
Education Rooted in Armenian Identity
Academic achievement and practical preparation, however, represent only part of Ferrahian’s mission.
More than six decades after its founding, the school remains deeply committed to the preservation and development of Armenian identity. Armenian language, history and culture are not treated as additions to the curriculum, but as essential foundations of a Ferrahian education.
The school has sought to maintain a balance between academic excellence and strong national roots, supporting students not only in their intellectual development but also in the formation of their identity, values and character.
The return of Ferrahian’s youngest students to the Encino campus is therefore more than a physical expansion. It represents the growth of an Armenian educational institution that continues to prepare new generations for success while maintaining the language, culture and identity that inspired its founding in 1964.
“I believe you would all agree with me that Ferrahian continues to be that exceptional environment where our children not only receive a high-quality education, but also grow up as Armenians, learn to love their language and culture, and prepare themselves to meet the challenges of the future,” Shanlian concluded.
