Welcome to Sun Valley Community School Admissions

We're so glad you're here.

Sun Valley Community School is an independent pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade day and boarding school in Sun Valley, Idaho. We provide a vibrant college preparatory education enhanced by outdoor and experiential programs that make the most of our unparalleled mountain setting.

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Lower School

Middle School

Upper School

Boarding Program

Our daughter spent a day visiting Sun Valley Community School with the idea of transferring the following year. She arrived home eager to start right away. For us the appeal of the outdoor program, arts and science was a huge draw. It was a very welcoming environment when we joined the school; even coming in part way through the year, we stepped right in.

Miles Canfield, Alumni Parent

Non-discrimination Policy

In admission and enrollment policies, SUN VALLEY Community School does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic background, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identification, or physical Ability with reasonable accommodation.

Meet our Admissions Team

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Alessia Carega, Director of Admissions

Alessia Carega was appointed as Sun Valley Community School's Director of Admission in 2019 and brings deep independent school experience in both boarding and day schools in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Before joining Sun Valley Community School, Alessia served as Associate Director of Admissions and Director of Regional Scholarships at St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire, where she was also involved with Residential Life and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts.

Before working at St. Paul’s, Alessia left a job teaching English to pursue her passion of realizing a more sustainable world. To that end, she worked as a Director for Saatchi & Saatchi S leading project teams to design and implement corporate sustainability programs.

Alessia oversees Admissions for all divisions and works closely with Maura and Christy. Alessia also manages Middle School Admissions and recruiting outreach towards the schools boarding and DEIJ strategic initiatives.

Alessia is an avid traveler who speaks fluent French and Italian and is proficient in Spanish. She is also a runner and lover of the outdoors. Alessia and her husband Trent are the parents of two young and proud Cutthroats.

Maura Doyle, Associate Director of Admissions

Maura Doyle, a graduate of Merrimack College, joined the Admissions Department in 2021. She spent her first year after college working for Americorps with homeless youth in Yakima, WA before working as an Assistant Director of Admissions, Development Officer, coach, and dorm parent at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire. Maura most recently left a job working at a wilderness therapy program in Utah and she is excited to be joining a school that shares her passion for outdoor education. Maura is involved in the application process with all three divisions and manages the Elementary School Admissions Process.

Christy Giles, Associate Director of Admissions

Associate Director of Admissions Christy Giles joined the Admissions team in 2017. Christy brings invaluable experience in admissions and recruiting to this role, having served as Assistant Director of Admissions at The Bush School in Seattle and as Director of Admissions and Recruiting for the University of Washington College of Education Seattle Teacher Residency (STR) Program. Prior to her work at Bush, Christy worked for five years as the Senior Trainer and Curriculum Developer for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

As Associate Director of Admissions, Christy oversees Upper School admissions, serves the admissions in various capacities, and works with Sun Valley Ski Academy Program Director Jonna Mendes.

Christy holds a BA from the University of Washington and a Master’s in Teaching from Seattle University. Christy and her husband, Eric, are proud parents to Jackson ’21, Brady ’23, and Kenzie '25. Christy loves that all three of her children, with very different interests, have all found a place to pursue their passions at SVCS.

Jonna Mendes, Sun Valley Ski Academy Program Director

Sun Valley Ski Academy Program Director Jonna Mendes joined Sun Valley Community School in 2006. Jonna has an impressive background as an athlete and coach. A two-time Olympian—at the 1998 Nagano Olympic Games and 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games—Jonna was also a four-time National Champion (twice in downhill, twice in giant slalom) and earned a bronze medal in super-G at the 2003 Alpine World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Following her 2006 retirement from the U.S. Ski Team, Jonna honed her coaching skills as a U.S. Ski Team development coach from 2006-10, working with athletes at national and regional projects and competitions.

In addition to her role as SVSA Program Director, Jonna coaches the U16s with Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation. Jonna’s unique perspective and experience as an elite athlete and coach is an asset to the development of our SVSA student-athletes. In her free time, Jonna loves chasing her son, Declan, down the mountain and camping with Declan and her husband, Will.