C. & E. Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School

What C. & E. Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School does

C. & E. Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School is a private, non-profit TK-8 institution founded in 1982 and located at 13330 Riverside Drive in Sherman Oaks, in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. It serves primarily Armenian-American families seeking an academic program integrated with Armenian language instruction (both Western and Eastern), Armenian history and cultural education, and faith-based values rooted in the Armenian Evangelical Christian tradition and affiliated with the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The school operates on a single campus with approximately 50 staff and a 20:1 student-to-teacher ratio, offering preschool through 8th-grade curriculum, a 1:1 Technology Education Program, athletics, after-school enrichment, a Mock Trial team, and community events including an annual gala and Armenian Cultural Festival.

The school's technology stack is built entirely on third-party education SaaS — Google Classroom for assignment distribution and grading, TeacherEase for quarterly grade reporting, Edlio for the public website and CMS, MySchoolApp for enrollment and tuition management, and a HotLunch School Software app for cafeteria operations. There is no proprietary technology platform; the differentiation rests on curriculum content, community positioning, and the 1:1 device program rather than on software assets.

The business model is tuition-funded: families pay annual (undisclosed) tuition on a subscription basis, supplemented by per-meal hot lunch revenue ($7.50 regular, $15 special cultural lunches) and ancillary fees. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the school website, campus tours, Armenian community word-of-mouth, and church-network referrals. The school is governed by a Board of Directors, holds WASC accreditation, and is led by its 9th principal, Arpi Avanesian, effective July 1, 2025. The institution has been operating continuously for over 40 years with no disclosed ownership transfers, funding rounds, or M&A activity.

Name

C. & E. Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School

Legal name

Charlotte and Elise Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School

Website

https://merdinianschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

C. & E. Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School is a private, non-profit TK-8 school in Sherman Oaks, California, serving the Armenian-American community with faith-based education, Armenian language and cultural instruction, and a 20:1 student-to-teacher ratio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-8 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJABAC

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Private & Independent K–12 Schools

SECONDARYEDACABAF

Faith-Based Preschools

Education/Early Childhood Education/Preschools & Pre-K Programs

SECONDARYEDACABAM

Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools

Education/Early Childhood Education/Preschools & Pre-K Programs

Keywords

• Private K-8 education
• Armenian heritage education
• Faith-based schooling
• TK-8 curriculum
• Preschool programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: The school generates revenue primarily through tuition and fees from enrolled students, with annual or periodic tuition payments. Additional revenue comes from hot lunch programs priced at $7.50 per meal and special event lunches at $15.
2. Food Services: Hot lunch program revenue from daily meal sales at $7.50 per regular meal and $15 for special cultural lunch events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

C. & E. Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School provides private preschool through 8th grade education integrating Armenian language (Western and Eastern), Armenian history, Bible-based faith education, and standard academic subjects. It delivers this education through a 20:1 student-to-teacher ratio, a 1:1 Technology Education Program, athletics, after-school programs, mock trial, and an Armenian cultural cuisine hot lunch service.

Product overview

C. & E. Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School is an educational institution established in 1982 offering a unified K-8 educational program with preschool services. The school provides a comprehensive curriculum integrating faith-based values with academic excellence, featuring a 1:1 Technology Education Program and a 20:1 average student-to-teacher ratio. The school's educational offerings include core TK-8th grade curriculum, Armenian language and cultural education, athletics, after-school programs, and mock trial competitions. Auxiliary services include hot lunch programs with Armenian cultural cuisine options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Preschool Program Early childhood education program for preschool-aged children with age-appropriate learning activities and portion-sized meals, serving families seeking Armenian heritage and faith-based preschool education.
• TK-8th Grade Curriculum Comprehensive transitional kindergarten through 8th grade academic program integrating standard academic subjects with Armenian language (Western and Eastern), Armenian history, Bible education, and cultural enrichment for enrolled students.
• Technology Education Program 1:1 Technology Education Program that provides each enrolled student with personal technology devices for use in their learning, supporting digital literacy and classroom instruction.
• Athletics Program Physical education and team sports athletics program for enrolled students, managed by the school's Athletic Director.
• After School Programs After-school enrichment programs and activities offered beyond regular classroom instruction for enrolled students.
• Mock Trial Program Middle School Mock Trial Team program in which students compete in LA County Mock Trial competitions.
• Hot Lunch Program Daily hot lunch service for students featuring Armenian cultural cuisine options, ordered and managed through the HotLunch School Software App, priced at $7.50 per regular meal and $15 for special cultural lunch events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20:1 Average Student-to-Teacher Ratio ensuring individualized attention
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature2 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Ferrahian Armenian School: A private Armenian K-12 institution in the Los Angeles area offering Armenian language, heritage, and Christian-based education; the closest direct competitor to Merdinian for Armenian-American families seeking faith-rooted private schooling.
• Vahan & Anoush Chamlian Armenian School: An Armenian American private school in Glendale, CA providing TK-8 education with Armenian language, history, and faith-based values; directly competes with Merdinian for the same Armenian-American family segment in greater Los Angeles.
• AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School: An AGBU-affiliated K-12 school in Canoga Park serving the Los Angeles Armenian-American community with Armenian heritage education; competes for the same local Armenian family pipeline as Merdinian.
• Pilibos Armenian School: An Armenian American private K-12 school in Hollywood, CA combining academic instruction with Armenian language and heritage education; directly overlaps with Merdinian's curriculum and community-driven positioning.
• Armenian Mesrobian School: A private Armenian K-12 school in the Los Angeles area delivering Armenian heritage, language, and Christian education; directly comparable to Merdinian in mission, curriculum, and target demographic.
• Holy Martyrs Ferrahian High School: Continuation of Armenian-American faith-based education at the secondary level; while focused on high school, it represents the same value chain that Merdinian feeds into and competes for downstream enrollment alignment.

Regional players

• Ari Guiragos Minassian Armenian School: A K-8 Armenian heritage school located outside Merdinian's immediate catchment; comparable in offering integrated Armenian language and Christian education to a similar community demographic.
• St. Gregory Hovsepian Armenian School: An Armenian Christian private school serving a similar demographic but based outside Merdinian's core San Fernando Valley catchment; comparable in mission and curriculum but draws from a different local geography.

Broad incumbents

• The Buckley School: A well-established independent K-9 private school in Sherman Oaks serving affluent LA families; comparable in being a small private school in the same geographic market but without the Armenian faith-based specialization.
• Granada Hills Charter High School (Local K-8 alternatives): A large local public charter in the San Fernando Valley that competes for the same tuition-paying families evaluating private vs. charter schooling; broader in scope but represents the alternative 'non-private-faith' option families weigh against Merdinian.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5R48ew1NcA6R_aCb5nFJHQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/MerdinianSchool
• Instagraminstagram.com/merdinian_school/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/merdinian

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about C. & E. Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School