Los Olivos, CA
Southern California Boarding School for San Diego Teens:
2,860 Acres.
Zero Phones. Extraordinary Growth.
Since 1932, Midland has challenged San Diego teens to go deeper: beyond weekend
camping trips to multi-day expeditions they lead themselves. Beyond beaches to
backcountry. Beyond comfort to real responsibility. Our graduates thrive at top
universities—with the resilience, leadership, and grit that comes from running
a working ranch, not just visiting one.
See If Midland Is Right for Your Child
IS YOUR CHILD STRUGGLING TO READ?
We build curiosity, confidence, and critical skills—and instill in each student a lifelong love of learning.
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1932
Year Founded
100%
Of Our Students Board On Campus
48%
Of Our Students Are On Financial Aid
What Makes Midland School Different?
No Phones for 6-Week Terms
Your San Diego teen may already love the outdoors—but do they know themselves
without a screen? Students hand over devices each term, discovering that real
adventure doesn't need documentation. No Instagram. No Snapchat. Just genuine
connection, deeper friendships, and the confidence that comes from unplugged
challenges. As one student put it: "I thought I'd miss my phone. Instead, I
found myself.
Students Lead & Belong
From Coronado to Carlsbad, San Diego raises great kids. Midland turns them
into leaders. Through daily jobs, wilderness trips they lead, and genuine
responsibility for keeping the ranch running, students develop character
that lasts. As one San Diego parent said: "He came home confident, capable,
and ready for anything.
2,860 Acres of Classroom
San Diego's beaches are beautiful—but Midland's 2,860 acres of oak woodland,
chaparral, and wilderness offer challenges the coast can't match. Your teen
will track watersheds, build trails they'll mountain bike for years, lead
multi-day backpacking trips into Los Padres National Forest, and develop
the kind of outdoor leadership that goes far beyond a day at Torrey Pines.
Farm-to-Table, Student-Grown
San Diego families love farmers markets and farm-to-table dining. At Midland,
your teen doesn't just eat the food—they grow it, harvest it, and cook it.
More than half of what our community eats comes from our 10-acre organic farm, tended by student hands. It's the ultimate connection to food, land, and
sustainability.
85 Students, 30 Faculty — All on Campus
Your child won't get lost in the crowd. With faculty living alongside students, mentorship happens naturally — "surfing together on Saturday, better feedback on essays Monday."
Proven Path to College & Life Success
For more than 90 years, Midland graduates have thrived at Williams, Whitman, MIT, Stanford, and beyond. Colleges recognize the independence, resilience, and initiative students build here—and so do employers!
What others are saying
"Son finds himself constantly engaged"
We have a teenager who thrives on active education. Too much of typical high school looks like the same old classroom that students have been entering for years. Not Midland. With half of its classrooms open to the outdoors, a farm, an outdoor leadership, experiential learning, and a jobs program that hands students responsibility for their own campus maintenance, our son finds himself constantly engaged. As a boarding school, Midland provides the independence which many young people crave, guided by adults who know them well.
- Current Parent
"Well worth it"
I went to Midland, my daughter graduated from there, and my son is a senior. The biggest noticeable difference? A Midland grad emerges as a young adult, not dependent on mom and dad for every day life decisions. Well worth it, and amazingly affordable.
- Current Parent
"One-of-a kind high school experience"
I appreciate Midland's approach to teaching self-reliance. The jobs program and other group responsibilities teach lessons about what it means to be of service to a community. That in conjunction with the farm, ranch, and outdoor program make Midland a one-of-a kind high school experience.
- Current Parent
Remarkable College Placements, Right-Fit Matches
Yes, chopping wood leads to Williams College.
At Midland, we don't just prepare students for college admissions — we prepare them to thrive when they get there. Our graduates arrive at universities knowing how to manage their time, advocate for themselves, and take genuine ownership of their education.
The Midland difference in college readiness: Students who've led wilderness expeditions don't get overwhelmed by freshman year. Those who've managed farm crews know how to collaborate on group projects. Kids who've presented senior thesis projects to the entire community aren't intimidated by college seminars.
Recent graduates have gone on to: Williams • Whitman • UC Berkeley • University of British Columbia • Emerson • MIT • Stanford • Colorado College • Brown • UCLA
College counseling at Midland begins on day one. Over four years, we help your child discover their strengths and passions so they can step into a college that is the right match for who they are and who they’re becoming.
Place-Based & Experiential Education
Midland’s competency-based, place-driven curriculum prepares students for both college and life. These skills—ranging from craftsmanship to creating a connection to place and environment—are woven through every part of campus life, from academics to student-led activities.
Schedule a call with our Director of Admission to see if Midland School is right for your child.
“Midland has been a place to be human; to make mistakes, to grow, to develop valuable connections, and to give me the skills and experiences I need to lead a successful and impactful life."
— Tate Ewing '17, Colby College '21 BA Computer Science, Software Engineer in Seattle, WA
COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY PLACEMENT
