Midland School, located on a 2,860-acre ranch at the edge of the Los Padres National Forest, has been the leader of place-based and experiential college preparatory education since 1932. Everything we do, from the courses we choose to teach to how we maintain our campus to the way we feed ourselves, originates from an intentional curriculum that focuses not only on rigorous college preparatory classes, but also on leadership, community, and stewardship. Our scale empowers students with authentic leadership opportunities, provides highly personalized learning, and inspires the pursuit of intellectual passions. At Midland, thirty-eight percent of our students identify as students of color, over half receive generous financial assistance to attend, and the depth of our boarding experience facilitates both top-tier college admissions and future success.
What Makes Us Unique
At Midland, place and responsibility are inseparable. Students learn on a working ranch where the land itself becomes a classroom and where the community depends on their participation. They study science in the watershed, grow food on the farm, care for horses, build trails, and help run the daily life of the school through jobs and leadership roles. Learning is not confined to the classroom, and responsibility is not reserved for adults. Students are trusted with meaningful work that matters to the community, developing the confidence, resilience, and sense of purpose that come from being genuinely needed. The result is an education that prepares students not only for college, but for a lifetime of contribution, stewardship, and thoughtful engagement with the world.
Campus Highlights
Athletics
4 sports
Arts
Ceramics & 3D Art
Campus
2860 acres
Key Stats
Boarding100%
International15%
Students of Color42%
Founded1932
Campus Size2860 acres
Nearby AirportsLos Angeles International Airport (LAX) Santa Barbara Airport (SBA)