Whether you're a Notre Dame High School student getting ready to drive or a parent helping along the way, this page covers local driving lessons, school pickup options, nearby practice areas, and DMV information. Everything is designed to help you understand your options and get started with confidence.
NDHS families
mapped
reviewed
trained
supported
13645 Riverside Drive
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Getting your permit: what you need
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
How lessons work for NDHS students
Skill builds level by level. Students typically complete the 6 or 10-hour program over several weeks, with practice between sessions reinforcing what was learned.
Level 1: Residential foundations
Vehicle basics, steering, braking, right-of-way, and low-traffic Sherman Oaks neighborhood streets to build comfort and control.
Level 2: City streets and traffic
Turns, lane changes, speed control, intersections, and main Sherman Oaks 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 Sherman Oaks, 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 Notre Dame High School, 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
🏫 Notre Dame High School 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 Woodman Ave and Huston St
Your instructor and vehicle
Our instructors are male and female, all experienced with Sherman Oaks-area roads. Instructors and vehicles are assigned based on availability at time of booking.
Over 17 instructors serving NDHS students
Alejandra
Debbie
Hal
Andrew H.
David
Wade
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 Sherman Oaks and surrounding cities. Use code NDHSsave10 for $10 off.
Local streets and practice areas
Where instructors typically take NDHS students, from quiet residential streets to freeway on-ramps.
Driving near Notre Dame High means exposure to varied conditions: neighborhood streets, busier roads, intersections, and freeway access. Our Sherman Oaks driving school program starts where the student is comfortable and progresses from there.
Main streets
- Residential streets north of Huston St and east of Woodman Ave Primarily neighborhood streets with lower speeds, stop signs, and residential traffic. When traffic is calm, this area may be useful for practicing turns, speed control, scanning for pedestrians, and maintaining consistent lane position around parked cars.
- Woodman Ave A student may encounter school traffic, pedestrians, and vehicles entering and leaving nearby driveways. This can help with speed control, observation skills, and making smooth decisions around other road users.
- Riverside Dr Students driving on Riverside Drive may encounter multiple lanes, traffic lights, changing traffic patterns, and higher-speed traffic than nearby neighborhood streets. This road can help build skills in lane positioning, making safe lane changes, managing speed, and moving smoothly through busy intersections.
Key intersections
- Addison St and Woodman Ave This intersection combines a traffic light with traffic entering from a neighborhood street onto a busier road. It can help beginner to intermediate students practice stopping smoothly, watching for pedestrians, and making controlled turns when traffic conditions allow.
- Riverside Dr and Woodman Ave Riverside Drive and Woodman Avenue gives students a chance to put several driving skills together in one place, with a high school corner adding another layer of awareness. Between the traffic lights, turning vehicles, marked crosswalks, and possible school zone rules, it rewards steady observation and good planning.
Freeway on-ramps near NDHS
- Van Nuys Blvd onto the 101 N This on-ramp provides a longer dedicated merge lane than several nearby freeway entrances, allowing students more distance to accelerate and match freeway traffic speeds. While traffic volume is often heavy, drivers typically have more time to observe surrounding vehicles and plan their merge rather than facing an immediate lane entry. It can be a practical choice for students who are new to freeway driving and are ready to begin building confidence with freeway-speed traffic.
- Woodman Ave onto the 101 N The acceleration lane is relatively short, so students may need to build speed and evaluate traffic conditions within a limited distance. Depending on traffic volume, the merge can require quick but controlled decision-making while matching the speed of freeway traffic. This location is generally most appropriate for advanced students who have already developed confidence with higher-speed driving and lane changes.
- 101 N to 405 N Moving from the 101 North to the 405 North asks students to think several steps ahead. As part of one of the busiest freeway interchanges in the country, it combines freeway-speed driving, reading signs, and staying in the correct lane while traffic moves around them.
What to work on between sessions with your instructor
Guidance on supervised practice, California's hour requirements, and how to stay on track between lessons.
California requires two things before a teen can apply for a driver's 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
Those 50 hours can be tracked using our free California driving log. Time spent in individual or custom lessons with our instructors counts toward the total.
Students who want more time with an instructor beyond their standard package can book individual or custom lessons at any point. These are a great option 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.
Stick with what was covered in the last lesson before moving on to anything new. Familiar Sherman Oaks streets are perfect for this kind of low-pressure repetition.
- 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 practice between lessons advance significantly faster. Less time reviewing old material means more time building new skills.
Spreading lessons across the full 6 months of the learner's permit is what we usually recommend. It gives families time for supervised practice between sessions, and each lesson can build meaningfully on the previous one. We know NDHS families juggle school, sports, and activities, so we plan around your schedule when needed.
Completely understandable, and more common than you might think. Families should never feel pressure to practice beyond their comfort level. Simply wait until the next lesson. The instructor will assess readiness and take it from there.
DMV road test prep, Sherman Oaks edition
Two ways to get ready for the road test. Most students use them in combination, but either one works on its own.
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 have already booked your DMV appointment, share the location with us. We will work to practice nearby beforehand, within legal limits. Keep in mind that DMVs prohibit driving the actual test route during business hours, but our instructors know the roads around local DMV offices well and can prepare your student for similar driving conditions.
The refresher lesson works well on its own, and pairs naturally with the day-of test prep package below.
This is the most hands-off path for families. With the DMV Test Prep package booked, we coordinate a DMV appointment that fits both your schedule and our instructor and vehicle availability. You skip the scheduling headache. One important note: if you go with this package, please do not book your own DMV slot separately, since we may not have coverage for that date.
On test day, we pick your student up about an hour before the appointment, warm up with focused practice near the DMV, then drive to the test in our licensed, insured, and test-ready vehicle. Our instructor checks the student in, makes sure all paperwork is in order, and provides 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 Sherman Oaks 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.
Van Nuys DMV
4920 Vanowen St, Van Nuys, CA 91405
Other DMV options in the area
Arleta DMV
14400 Van Nuys Blvd, Arleta, CA 91331
Glendale DMV
1335 W Glenoaks Blvd, Glendale, CA 91201
Winnetka DMV
20725 Sherman Way, Winnetka, CA 91306
We'll tailor the session to your test location, current skill level, and test date.
Mid-program? Pick-up, practice, and what's next
Got a permit and a package? Here's what to expect day to day.
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 Woodman Ave and Huston St. 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 Notre Dame High School and dropped at home.
Following every lesson, your instructor sends a written assessment by email to both the student and parent. It covers what the student practiced, how it went, and the priorities for between-lesson work. When a parent is at drop-off, the instructor also takes a few minutes to talk through it in person.
Stick to what was covered in the most recent lesson. Your progress report will have specific guidance. The general rule: master that skill before moving 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 Sherman Oaks 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.
You can choose between male and female instructors, and bios are available to read before booking. Vehicle preference is also yours to set: families pick between our Toyota Prius and Lexus SUV, each equipped with dual brake controls for instructor safety.
We accommodate instructor and vehicle requests based on availability. Assignments happen on a first-come, first-served basis when you book.
Most NDHS students test at Arleta DMV (our top recommendation for this school). See the DMV section above for full details.
Many students use both of our test prep options together: a refresher lesson in the days before the test to sharpen skills, followed by our full DMV Test Prep package on test day where we handle scheduling, bring a licensed and insured vehicle, check the student in, and provide a confidence boost right before the examiner arrives. They work well in sequence.
Access your lesson history, progress reports, and scheduling.
Driving resources for NDHS 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