Topanga, California Jan 29, 2026 (Issuewire.com) - Manzanita School, a WASC-accredited independent school situated on 21 acres in the Santa Monica Mountains, is proud to announce its continued commitment to a unique educational model that blends rigorous scholarship with deep environmental connection. As one of the premier college preparatory schools with outdoor curriculum, Manzanita provides a transformative experience where the rugged beauty of Big Rock Ranch serves as a primary classroom. By prioritizing arts-integrated education in Los Angeles and fostering a culture of mentorship, the school prepares students in grades K-12 to become resilient, free-thinking adults ready to navigate the complexities of the 21st century. As a leader among experiential learning private schools, Manzanita empowers students to discover their intrinsic gifts through a symbiotic relationship with the natural world.
Founded in 2013, Manzanita School challenges traditional educational paradigms by splitting the instructional week between “Owl Days”—focused on deep academic inquiry in indoor and outdoor classroom spaces—and “Hawk Days,” which are dedicated to experiential learning on the land. This dual approach ensures that foundational skills in literacy and numeracy are balanced with land stewardship, wildlife tracking, and applied human ecology.
The creative heart of the school is found in its extensive arts program. Students engage in a range of disciplines, from ceramics and visual arts to specialized offerings like aerial arts, drumming, and digital design. High school students further explore their passions through "Individual Passion Projects," which merge artistic elements with academic research, culminating in public presentations to the wider school community.
“At Manzanita, we believe that Mother Earth is the number one teacher,” said the school’s leadership. “Our interdisciplinary science-humanities core reinforces a love of the earth and fosters a sense of collective responsibility. We are not just teaching students how to succeed in college; we are teaching them how to heal the earth and find their place within the more-than-human world.”
Beyond the daily curriculum, Manzanita’s Expeditionary Program takes learning on the road with multi-day camping and backpacking trips that align with classroom studies in geology, ecology, and history. Coupled with a farm-to-table meal program sourced from the school’s own permaculture farm, the Manzanita experience nurtures the whole child—academically, physically, and socially.
With a 100% college acceptance rate for its graduates, Manzanita School proves that a nature-based, arts-rich environment is a powerful foundation for future success.
About Manzanita School:
Located at Big Rock Ranch in Topanga, California, Manzanita School is a non-profit, coeducational day school serving grades K-12. The school’s mission is to re-awaken mutual symbiosis between human beings and the natural world through a rigorous, interdisciplinary curriculum and dedicated land stewardship.
Media Contact:
Manzanita School Office
1717 Old Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Topanga, CA 90290
(310) 455-9700
Media Contact
Manzanita School & Institute *****@seoprosindia.com 1717 Old Topanga Canyon Blvd. Topanga, CA 90290 https://manzanitaschool.org/
