Whether you're a Chaminade College Preparatory student getting ready to drive or a parent helping along the way, this page covers local driving lessons, school pickup options, nearby practice areas, DMV information, and what to expect from our West Hills driving school program. Everything is designed to help you understand your options and get started with confidence.
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Chaminade families
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7500 Chaminade Avenue
West Hills, CA 91304
Your California permit, step by step
Before a California teen can drive with one of our instructors, a few key steps need to happen first.
Includes your DMV certificate + permit test practice questions.
Common permit questions
Inside our Chaminade driving lessons
Lessons are taught in stages. Most driving school students in West Hills do 6 or 10 hours total, advancing through levels based on readiness and real-world practice between sessions.
Level 1: Residential foundations
Vehicle basics, steering, braking, right-of-way, and low-traffic West Hills neighborhood streets to build comfort and control.
Level 2: City streets and traffic
Turns, lane changes, speed control, intersections, and main West Hills roads with real traffic flow.
Level 3: Review and freeway intro
Cumulative skill review, first freeway introduction when ready, and a mock DMV assessment to gauge progress.
Level 4: Freeway driving
Freeway entry, merging, lane discipline, safe following distance, and I.P.D.E. defensive driving technique.
Level 5: Canyons and defensive driving
Real-world driving on roads near West Hills, with a focus on speed control, hazard awareness, and situational judgment.
DMV refresher + day-of test prep
Mock test, common mistake review, confidence building, and use of our vehicle for the road test.
Where lessons start
We pick up from home or directly from Chaminade College Preparatory, whichever fits your family's schedule.
🏠 Home pick-up & drop-off
Most common. Our instructors come to you.Pick-up and drop-off are usually the same location, but we can sometimes accommodate a nearby alternate drop-off.
View all locations we service in your area
🏫 Chaminade College Preparatory pick-up
Convenient on school days or after activitiesSee the map and photo below for the exact school pick-up meeting spot.
School pick-up meeting location: corner of Cohasset St and Chaminade Ave in front of the school
Your instructor and vehicle
Our instructors are male and female, all experienced with West Hills-area roads. Instructors and vehicles are assigned based on availability at time of booking.
Over 17 instructors serving Chaminade students
Jen
Jo
Tony
Andrew H.
Hal
Debbie
All vehicles are equipped with dual brake controls for instructor safety. You can request either vehicle, or switch between them across lessons, subject to availability. Instructors and vehicles are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis at time of booking.
6-hour and 10-hour packages available. Pick-up throughout West Hills and surrounding cities. Use code CCPsave10 for $10 off.
Local streets and practice areas
Where instructors typically take Chaminade students, from quiet residential streets to freeway on-ramps.
Students from Chaminade HS build confidence gradually, beginning on quieter streets and progressing to busier roads as their skills grow.
Main streets
- Neighborhood streets north and south of Saticoy St, and east of Woodlake Ave These neighborhood streets are often a good place for newer drivers to practice steering control, smooth braking, and maintaining appropriate speeds in a low-traffic environment. Students may also work on stop sign right-of-way, curbside parking, and simple two-point or three-point turns while building confidence with basic vehicle control.
- Saticoy St This busy multi-lane road can help students practice maintaining proper lane position, managing speed, and navigating intersections with stoplights in heavier traffic. As confidence grows, students may also work on lane changes, merging into traffic, and planning ahead for turns and changing traffic conditions.
- Valley Circle Blvd Valley Circle Blvd gives students experience on a road with frequent curves, rolling hills, and changing sight lines. It can help drivers practice adjusting speed for road conditions, looking farther ahead through turns, and staying alert for vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians that may appear with limited warning.
Key intersections
- Woodlake Ave and Ingomar St This multi-lane all-way stop can help students practice taking turns in the correct order, checking for pedestrians, and making smooth left and right turns. Traffic is often moderate, making it a reasonable option for newer drivers who are comfortable with basic neighborhood driving.
- Woodlake Ave and Sherman Way A useful intersection for practicing traffic lights, lane selection, turns, and pedestrian awareness in moderate traffic.
- Saticoy St and Fallbrook Ave Saticoy St and Fallbrook Ave gives students a chance to put several driving skills together in one place. Between multiple lanes, turning traffic, and pedestrians using the crosswalks, drivers can practice staying organized and looking ahead while moving through a busy intersection.
Freeway on-ramps near Chaminade
- Topanga Canyon Blvd onto the 118 E This 118 East on-ramp gives advanced students a real freeway entry experience without feeling overly complicated. The longer build-up helps with acceleration, but the merge still requires steady scanning, good timing, and comfort with faster traffic.
- Valley Circle Blvd (southbound) onto the 101 N Valley Circle Blvd onto the 101 North can be a useful advanced practice ramp because the challenge starts before the freeway entry. After the all-way stop, traffic from nearby streets comes together before the ramp, so students need to watch their spacing, lane position, and timing before they begin accelerating. The acceleration area gives some room to build speed, but 101 traffic can be busy, so this is best for students who are already comfortable with faster traffic and basic merging.
What to work on between sessions with your instructor
What to do between sessions, and how California's requirements shape the process.
There are two California requirements that must be met before a teen can apply for their license:
- Minimum 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training with a licensed driving school (this is what our lesson packages cover)
- Minimum 50 hours of supervised driving practice with a parent, guardian, or licensed instructor. At least 10 hours must be at night
Practice hours can be tracked using our free California driving log. If your student adds individual or custom lessons with us, those count toward the 50-hour total too.
Beyond the standard package, students can add individual or custom lessons whenever they want. They are useful for:
- Extra practice on specific skills (freeway driving, parking, canyon roads)
- Logging additional hours toward the 50-hour DMV requirement
- Night driving practice with a licensed instructor (counts toward the required 10 nighttime hours)
- Building confidence before the DMV road test
Ask us about individual lesson options when you sign up or after completing your package.
Practice what was covered in the most recent lesson before advancing to anything new.
- Quiet residential streets with minimal traffic
- Empty public parking lots (school or shopping center off-hours)
- Avoid jumping to busier roads or freeway until the instructor confirms the student is ready
Students who put in regular practice between lessons progress noticeably faster. Less time spent revisiting old material means more time learning new skills.
We typically recommend spacing lessons across the 6 months students hold their learner's permit. This allows time for real supervised practice between sessions, and helps each lesson build meaningfully on the last. That said, every family's schedule is different. We work around school, sports, and activities.
It is more common than you might think, and completely understandable. Parents and students should not feel pressure to practice beyond their comfort zone. Wait for the next lesson, and your instructor will assess readiness and pick up from there.
Getting ready for your road test
Most Chaminade students use one or both of these before test day. They work well together.
This is a single targeted lesson, usually scheduled 1-2 weeks before the test. The instructor reviews DMV expectations, runs a mock road test, points out any habits that could cost points, and gets the student dialed in before test day.
If you've already booked your own DMV appointment, let us know the location. We'll do our best to practice in that area beforehand, within legal limits. Note that DMVs prohibit driving the actual test route during active business hours, but we know the surrounding roads well and can prepare your student accordingly.
The refresher lesson works well on its own, and pairs naturally with the day-of test prep package below.
Of all our options, this is the easiest one for families to manage. After you book the DMV Test Prep package, we work with you to land a DMV appointment that aligns with your schedule and our availability for instructor and vehicle. The scheduling burden lifts off you. Just one heads-up: if you choose this package, please skip booking your own DMV slot, since we may not be available on a self-selected date.
On test day, we pick your student up about an hour before the appointment. West Hills families often appreciate the warm-up portion: we run focused practice on streets near the testing DMV, then drive to the appointment in our licensed, insured, and test-ready vehicle. The instructor handles check-in, confirms paperwork, and offers last-minute tips and a confidence boost right before the examiner arrives.
No need to provide a car, arrange a ride, or sort out DMV logistics. We take care of everything.
Which DMV should West Hills students use?
Based on real student outcomes at each location, not just general reputation or distance.
Choosing the right DMV can make a meaningful difference. Most of our guidance is based on ongoing data from student road tests, not just general reputation.
Winnetka DMV
20725 Sherman Way, Winnetka, CA 91306
Other DMV options in the area
Thousand Oaks DMV
1810 E Avenida De Los Arboles, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
Simi Valley DMV
3855 D - Alamo St, Simi Valley, CA 93063
We'll tailor the session to your test location, current skill level, and test date.
Mid-program? Pick-up, practice, and what's next
Logistics, progress reports, and what to focus on between lessons.
Home pick-up is the most popular option, and the most convenient for most families. The instructor arrives at your front door at the scheduled time, greets the student, and (when a parent is around) briefly goes over the lesson plan beforehand and shares progress notes at drop-off.
There is a 15-minute arrival window built into every lesson to account for traffic. Lesson time is always taught in full from the moment the instructor arrives, with no portion shaved off because of a delayed start.
A convenient option on school days or after activities. Students can meet us at or near the corner of Cohasset St and Chaminade Ave in front of the school. Our vehicles have a large leaf logo on the side. The instructor will exit to greet your student when safe, or your student can approach and enter directly.
Pick-up and drop-off can sometimes be different locations. For example, picked up at Chaminade College Preparatory and dropped at home.
Each lesson is followed by a personal written assessment, emailed to both the student and parent. The report breaks down what was covered, how the student performed, and what to focus on before next time. If a parent is around at drop-off, your instructor will also walk through it in person for a few minutes.
Practice what your most recent lesson covered. The progress report will spell out specifics, but the general principle is simple: get comfortable with what you just learned before stepping up to anything more advanced.
- Quiet residential streets, good for Level 1 review
- Empty parking lots, good for parking, turning circles, and low-stakes maneuvering
- Main streets throughout West Hills once residential driving is solid
When a student and parent or guardian don't feel ready to practice a skill without an instructor, the best choice is to wait for the next lesson. Don't take on situations that feel unsafe.
Male and female instructors are both available, and you can read bios before booking any lesson. You can also switch between our Toyota Prius and Lexus SUV, both equipped with dual brake controls for instructor safety.
Instructor and vehicle preferences are accommodated based on availability and are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis at time of booking.
Most Chaminade students test at Winnetka DMV (our top recommendation for this school). Other good options include Thousand Oaks DMV. See the DMV section above for full details.
It is common for students to use both test prep options as a sequence: first a refresher lesson in the days before the road test to polish skills, then our full DMV Test Prep package on test day, when we coordinate the appointment, bring a licensed and insured vehicle, check the student in, and give a final confidence boost before the examiner arrives. Together they cover preparation and execution.
Access your lesson history, progress reports, and scheduling.
Driving resources for Chaminade students
Short videos and practice tools. Students who review these between lessons tend to progress more smoothly.
Behind-the-wheel tips
Short videos covering turns, lane changes, blind spots, and common early mistakes.
Watch videos
DMV road test preparation
Real examples of point deductions, automatic fails, and how to avoid common test-day mistakes.
View test prep
Permit test practice
Practice questions and explanations to help students pass the California written knowledge test.
Start practicing
Driving skills explained
Clear breakdowns of right-of-way, intersections, parking, and other key skills students ask about most.
Learn more