The school aimed to offer a Christ-centered education within an Armenian heritage, so the Board and Principal consulted Armenian poet Jaques Hagopian, who recommended naming the school Sahag-Mesrob after Catholicos Sahag Bartev and Mesrob Mashdotz.
In September 1980, Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School opened with 80 students in the basement of Bressee Nazerence Church in Pasadena. In 1983, Mr. John Sheen donated $550,000 to purchase a 1.5-acre property in Altadena. The school's first banquet, featuring a message from Governor George Deukmejian, was held at the Pasadena Hilton. Further donations helped build a chapel and nine classrooms on the Maiden Lane site by 1987.
45 years on, Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School continues to fulfill its mission, holding dual accreditation from WASC and ACSI. We remain committed to providing high-quality Christian education rooted in Armenian culture, with a history marked by triumphs, challenges, generosity, and faith. We trust that God will continue to bless our school as we pursue our vision for many more years to come.
