[Pinecrest] – Pinecrest Schools, a nine-campus private school in the greater Los Angeles area, today announced the sale of its Van Nuys campus property and planned closure of Pinecrest Van Nuys in June 2013.

Founded in 1951 as the original Pinecrest Schools campus, Pinecrest Van Nuys educates 400 students from 18 months through 8th grade. Pinecrest Van Nuys will continue to operate through the 2012-2013 school year. During this time, school administrators will be working closely with families, teachers and staff to finalize transfer plans for Van Nuys students, teachers and staff to Pinecrest’s other regional campuses.

Jeri Dye Lynch, President and CEO of Pinecrest Schools commented, “We are very proud of Pinecrest Van Nuys and the fine education that its dedicated teachers and staff have provided our students over the last 62 years. Van Nuys is our founding school, and three generations of the Dye family have worked and been educated at this campus.

“After great deliberation, we made the difficult decision to sell the Van Nuys campus after receiving an extraordinary and unsolicited offer from a real estate development company for the property at 14111 Sherman Way. The closure of our founding school is an emotional decision for all involved, but we pledge to continue our legacy of delivering the highest quality education at an affordable tuition level to all of our Pinecrest families. A significant portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Van Nuys property will be used to improve facilities and enhance programs at other Pinecrest campuses. We want to thank everyone in the Van Nuys community who has been so supportive of our school and its students over the years.”

In addition to the Van Nuys campus, Pinecrest Schools’ other eight campuses are located in Valencia, Lancaster, Canyon Country, Woodland Hills, Northridge, Simi Valley, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks. Total enrollment for the nine campuses is approximately 3,000 students.

“Our top priority is to make the transfer of our students to other Pinecrest campuses as seamless as possible,” Lynch continued. “All of the Pinecrest campuses are run by the same administration and share the same curriculum, programs and commitment to high quality education. In addition to our students, we will be working to place as many of our Van Nuys teachers and staff as possible at other Pinecrest campuses in the 2013-2014 school year. We are dedicated to making certain that the entire experience of Pinecrest Van Nuys continues at each student’s new school to ensure a smooth transition for everyone involved.”

About Pinecrest Schools

Pinecrest Schools is one of the few privately owned, independent school systems in the United States. For over 60 years, these family owned and operated schools have provided the youth of Southern California with high quality, individualized education and childcare at an affordable cost. Pinecrest Schools operates nine campuses in the greater Los Angeles region educating approximately 3,000 children from 18 months through 8th grade. All of the Pinecrest campuses share the same administration, curriculum and programs. Pinecrest Schools’ mission statement is simple: “Quality education and childcare at an affordable price.”

Pinecrest Schools are fully accredited by the National Independent Private School Association (NIPSA). Three of the Pinecrest campuses are recipients of the National Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence from the U.S. Department of Education as part of the “No Child Left Behind” program.