Midland School
- Founded in 1932, Midland School makes education real by doing the work of taking care of campus and community alongside rigorous college preparatory academics at a small, rustic boarding school in the foothills of a national forest in Santa Barbara County. Midland`s strong environmental ethic is cultivated through exploring and knowing the natural world around us, growing our food, chopping our wood, and drawing electricity from student-installed solar panels.
- Midland puts boundaries on screen time and digital entertainment in order to model and cultivate meaningful human connection. At the same time, Midland students are challenged academically, attain digital literacy, engage in experiential learning every week, and complete a senior thesis as a graduation requirement. A Midland education builds character, develops a work ethic, and cultivates authentic student leadership - all things that develop our inner resources and sense of self - by working as a community to take care of our place.
Alumni Reviews Review School
- Review Description
- Stanford University Midland's philosophy is "needs not wants." And the community lives that philosophy every day. For four years, I lived in a wood cabin (heated only if I made a fire in our room's. . .
- Lehigh University Few schools empower you the way Midland does. The school's experiential learning coupled with its student run maintenance program gives students the skill set to pursue and build their own projects. For instance. . .
- Smith College Midland is an incredibly unique educational opportunity. What sets it apart are the values of self-reliance and the relationship with the land. The emphasis placed on experiential learning and leadership really grow out of the. . .
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Midland School is listed among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 334 schools) for:
- Category Attribute
- Boarding Focus High percentage of boarding students
- Student Attention Low teacher:student ratio
- Student Test Scores High SSAT scores
| Definition of Terms 2018 School Data | Midland School | Boarding School Avg. |
| School Focus | College Prep | College Preparatory |
| Grades Offered | 9-12 | 9-12 |
| School Type | Co-ed | Co-ed |
| Religious Affiliation | Non-denominational | Non-denominational |
| Year Founded | 1932 | 1910 |
| Campus Size | 2860 acres | 104 acres |
Student Body
| Enrollment | 89 students | 315 students |
| % Students of Color | 38% | 21% |
| % International Students | 13% | 20% |
| % Students Boarding | 100% | 65% |
| Average SAT Score | 1220 | * National Avg. »View |
| Average ACT score | 25 | *National Avg. » View |
| Offers Post-Grad Year | No | No |
Academics and Faculty
| Saturday Classes | Yes | No |
| Frequency of Saturday Classes | Weekly | Weekly |
| Classroom Dress Code | Casual | Casual |
| Average Class Size | 10 students | 12 *National School Avg. » 20 |
| Teacher : Student Ratio | 1:4 | 1:7 |
| ESL Courses Offered | No | Yes |
| % Faculty with Advanced Degree | 70% | 70% |
| Summer Program Offered | No | Yes |
Finances
| Endowment Size | $16 million | $18 million |
| Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students) | $56,000 | $54,500 |
| Yearly Tuition (Day Students) | n/a | $30,250 |
| Tuition international students | $60,200 | $48,850 |
| % Students on Financial Aid | 48% | 37% |
| Avg. Financial Aid Grant | $35,000 | $23,450 |
| Merit Scholarships Offered | No | No |
Admission
| Application Deadline | Feb. 15 / rolling | Jan. 15 |
| Accepts Standardized Application | Yes | No |
| SSAT Required | Yes | Yes |
| Average Percentile SSAT | 80% | - |
| Acceptance Rate | 50% | 55% |
| Director of Admissions | Cierra Ensign | |
Course Listings
| List of Courses Offered | Link to List of Courses |
AP / Advanced Courses
| # of AP / Advanced Courses Offered | n/a | 17 |
| Courses | Advanced Ceramics, American Studies, Art, Biology, Calculus, English 12, Physics, Spanish 4 | |
Sports
| # Interscholastic Sports Offered | 7 | 15 |
| Sports | Basketball, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Equestrian, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball | |
Extracurriculars
| Total Extracurricular Organizations | 9 | 24 |
| Extracurriculars | Cooking Club, dorm prefects/proctors Club or Organization: Common, Student, The Random Notes Arts and Music Programs: Drama Club Recreational Athletic Programs: Outdoor, Tiger Experts (admissions liaisons), Yoga | |
College Matriculation
| Year: 2010 - 2015 | 10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled) | |
| University of California, Santa Cruz | 4 | |
| Hendrix College | 3 | |
| Kenyon College | 3 | |
| Drew University | 2 | |
| Earlham College | 2 | |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | 2 | |
| Guilford College | 2 | |
| Hampshire College | 2 | |
| University of California, Berkeley | 2 | |
| University of Southern California | 2 | |
| Link to Matriculation Data | ||
School Notes
- Midland uses its 2,860-acre campus academically and recreationally, and the school believes that a life lived close to nature is instructive and enriching.
- Simplicity: One of Midland`s guiding tenets is that the essential ingredients of learning are a student, a teacher, and an idea. In and out of the classroom, Midland students learn how to distinguish between needs and wants, and how to appreciate life's fundamental joys and challenges.
- Self-Reliance: In a ten-acre organic garden, the school grows much of its own produce. To help run the school and maintain the grounds, Midland entrusts students with daily jobs. And older students have authentic leadership roles, which emphasize individual and collective responsibility.
- Community: Midland School is a diverse community of students and teachers in pursuit of academic excellence and moral lives.
- Midland School accreditations: WASC, TABS, CAIS, NAIS
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