It took two years for Katarina Ritter to get into Hollow Hills Fundamental School. Her name was placed on a waiting list when she was ready to enter kindergarten. The family was notified of an opening just before Katarina entered second grade.

That was three years ago. Since then Katarina’s 6-year-old brother, Joseph, has joined her at the school. As the sibling of an enrolled student, it was easier for Joseph to get into the school

“I love it,” their mother, Natascha, said of the school.

It’s difficult to get into this popular kindergarten-throughsixth-grade school, one of two fundamental schools established by the Simi Valley Unified School District in 1982.

The school uses the same curriculum as do other schools in the district, but the difference here is the high level of accountability students are held to.

In theory homework is required by all schools, principal Aldo Calcagno said, but “here it’s well-followed through and parents support that.”

Hollow Hills students also must follow a stricter dress code. They aren’t allowed to wear shorts, except on specified days. They can’t wear tank or halter tops or stomach-revealing shirts to school. Sandals, open-toed shoes, dangling earrings and makeup are prohibited as well.

Ritter said the stricter dress code helps her children focus on school and not on clothes. “It’s not a point of contention between parents and children so much,” she said.

Despite the rules, more students than the school has space for are eager to get in. So kindergartners are selected through a lottery system, and students in grades one through six are placed on a waiting list.

There are rules for parents, too. They’re expected to take an active role in their child’s education, signing every piece of homework and attending back-toschool nights and all parentteacher conferences. “We have a lot of parental involvement,” said Ritter, “and I think that makes a difference.”

Hollow Hills Fundamental was named a national Blue Ribbon School last month and a California Distinguished School last year.