Sequoyah School Could Be Allowed to Increase Attendance to 216 Students.

Sequoyah School’s high school campus at 301 N. Orange Grove Blvd. could soon be allowed to increase its maximum attendance to 216 students.

On Wednesday the Hearing Officer will hear a review of a modification of the high school’s Conditional Use Permit, known as a CUP, as part of a three phase attendance increase for that campus that began in 2019, when the City’s planning director approved a minor modification to three conditions of approval.

“This approval also authorizes the Private School to increase student enrollment up to a maximum of 216 students,” according to a City staff report. “The enrollment of the Private School shall occur in four phases, occurring at the beginning of the academic year, with only one enrollment increase per academic year.”

Sequoyah School has long operated from another separate campus about 1.4 miles away at 535 S. Pasadena Ave. which serves students in grades K-8, including elementary and junior high students.

Under phase one, which was implemented in 2019, enrollment increased to 135. Maximum enrollment climbed to 170 in 2020 and 195 the following year.

Before increasing maximum enrollment above 195, the school is required to file an application with the Planning Division for a Hearing Officer review of the CUP. 

“The review shall be considered at a duly-noticed public hearing, with written notice to all property-owners within 500 feet of the perimeter of the subject property, as well as any parties who request to be so notified.”

Some neighbors expressed concern about the impact of the added students to traffic last year when the increase to 195 was allowed.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the City’s Permit Center Hearing Room at 175 North Garfield Avenue.