Manzanita School, a WASC-accredited K-12 independent college preparatory school in Topanga Canyon, has announced that admissions remain open for the Fall 2026-27 academic year. Prospective families can apply through the school's admissions portal on its website. This announcement comes as the school continues to attract attention for its distinctive indoor-outdoor learning model, which blends rigorous academics with immersive study of local ecology.
The 21-acre Big Rock Ranch campus, set at the foot of wild chaparral in the Santa Monica Mountains, is described by the school as "nature's most complex science lab." The curriculum is organized into four cohorts: Seeds (Forest Kindergarten through second grade), Roots (third through fifth), Trunk (sixth through eighth), and Branches (ninth through twelfth). Starting in third grade, students spend three days in traditional classroom ("Owl Days") and two days in experiential learning on the land ("Hawk Days").
Manzanita's creative curriculum includes English Language Arts, Core Science-Humanities, Mathematics, The Arts, Nature Connection, Stewardship, and Expeditionary Learning. All students participate in overnight expeditions that reinforce their core studies; destinations range from the campus itself to the Sierra Nevada's John Muir Wilderness.
The school's environmental education is anchored by a working permaculture farm, the Living Classroom, where students engage in animal care and regenerative agriculture. Organic produce from the farm is used in school lunches. In 2021, Manzanita launched its Forest Kindergarten, which is entirely outdoors and based on research supporting young children's development through nature immersion.
With class sizes ranging from 12 to 14 students, the school emphasizes a mentor-rich community. One parent noted, "Manzanita has provided the ideal educational environment for our children, each of whom has different learning styles and needs. We appreciate the depth of their studies, which serves to foster big-picture thinking and encourages them to ask important questions about the world around them."
The importance of this admissions announcement lies in the growing interest in alternative educational models that prioritize environmental stewardship and whole-child development. As more families seek options beyond conventional schooling, Manzanita's approach represents a significant trend in independent education.
