A Different Way to Learn.
A Deeper Way to Live.

Manzanita School brings rigorous academics and real-world exploration together to nurture independent thinkers, lifelong learners, and a meaningful connection to the earth.

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The Manzanita Difference

An Education Beyond the Classroom

As a nature school, Manzanita challenges educational paradigms and nurtures the whole child through its unique indoor-outdoor curriculum blending rigorous academics, land stewardship (including a working organic farm), and the study of local ecology on its 21-acre campus and the protected lands that surround it.

Explore the Experience

Educating For Life

Academic Excellence

Integrated Nature Connection

Through hands-on learning, field study, and land stewardship, students connect academic learning to the natural world and one another, developing a deeper understanding of their role in caring for the Earth.

Read the Guiding Principles

WASC-Accredited Private School

Manzanita’s TK–12 college-preparatory curriculum builds strong foundations in literacy, mathematics, science, and the humanities through deep inquiry and meaningful engagement with the world.

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Personalized Mentorship

With a 4:1 student-to-mentoring-adult ratio, including naturalists and other specialists, Manzanita helps students grow into capable thinkers, articulate communicators, and engaged learners.

Meet the Teachers

Reflections

Voices from Our Community

“Manzanita is more than a school, it’s a movement towards a more conscious, connected way of learning. The experiences my child has here - learning on the land, surrounded by mentors, doing meaningful work and going on extraordinary Expeditions - are shaping them in ways traditional schools simply cannot. This is the kind of education that prepares students to thrive in the real world.”

— Crystal D.G., Manzanita School Parent

“Manzanita sees my daughter for who she is. There's a large, nurturing team of staff mentors who ‘get’ her and value her unique strengths, encouraging her in ways she has never experienced in other schools. Manzanita prepares kids for the real world they're inheriting, where creative thinking, connection to nature, and community values are desperately needed to solve the complex global problems such as climate change and social inequity. I don't worry about my daughter's success after she graduates. The world will come looking for her to lead it! This school is a model for how education should be for everyone everywhere in the world!”

— Sarah G., Manzanita School Parent

“Manzanita revolutionized the way our family related to the educational process. They teach real life critical thinking skills, and social emotional stability that is so often overlooked in the traditional school experience. We are incredibly grateful for the lessons our daughter demonstrates on a daily basis.”

— Suzannah T., Manzanita School Parent

“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.”

— Michelle B., Manzanita School Parent

“The educational experience at Manzanita is incomparable. Every instructor brings a wealth of knowledge and skills far beyond the classroom, including such things as farming, plant identification, outdoor survival, leather working, natural dying, music --the list goes on. They are also true mentors to the students, guiding them to be their best selves. My son loves going to school because he feels safe and seen by staff and students alike.”

— David M., Manzanita School Parent

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Apply to Manzanita

Take the first step toward an education that nurtures your child’s curiosity, fosters meaningful relationships, and deepens their connection with the living world.

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A Different Way to Learn. A Deeper Way to Live.