Midland School

Summary: Midland’s curriculum merges college preparation with experiential learning. Using the extraordinary resources at hand - 2,860 acres in Santa Barbara County, a near 90-year-old culture of responsibility to community and environment, and a committed faculty - we develop personal agency in our students. Midland cultivates the belief that it matters what we do, and we actively engage students in their high school journey, both within and outside the classroom.

Midland students live their education, from exploring the natural and cultural history of the world beneath our feet in field-based UC-approved science and social science courses in 9th grade, to writing and presenting a senior thesis in 12th grade. With courses ranging from Algebra 1 to Calculus 3 (some years) and English 9 to British Literature, Midland meets students where they are and challenges them to think critically and problem solve resourcefully.

To step into the Rich Arts Building during the academic day or evening and to see students engaged in the creative process of translating observations into 2D and 3D artworks in drawing, painting, ceramics, and metal is to see a school that values craftsmanship and design. To observe our interdisciplinary World and American Studies classes is to see a school that values discourse and cultural competency. Midland students learn to speak publicly and write fluently, in English and Spanish.

To develop lifelong learners, our weekly Experiential Saturday program provides structure and staffing for ungraded 3-hour blocks every week that tap into the passions of faculty and students, including farm, ranch, and outdoor explorations; cultural events and talks through UCSB’s Arts & Lectures program; projects on campus; health and wellness discussions; and diversity, equity, and inclusion workshops at peer schools.

While cultivating a life of the mind, Midland actively builds character, work ethic, and resilience through a daily Jobs program in which every student is not only valued but needed. Midland is preparation for college and life.

Summary: ARTS: Midland’s Visual Arts Department cultivates active engagement between students and the natural and man-made world surrounding them. Art courses help students develop a way of observing the world, a language to describe it, and means for expressing it through the Visual Elements and Principles of Design. Midland believes that intentional, constant practice in creative problem-solving and critical thinking in the visual arts promotes a culture of practicing these habits in all areas of students’ lives. Our Arts Faculty see the participatory trial-and-error approach in art as a metaphor for developing skill and comfort in the lifelong processes of expressing ourselves and trying things out, learning from experiments that don’t work, and honing skills towards things that do work. Midland’s advanced art classes elaborate and expand upon these skills, placing heavier emphasis on student independence and the development of personal themes in artwork.

ATHLETICS: All Midland students participate in competitive interscholastic sports – cross-country, volleyball, soccer, basketball, or softball. Our program provides an opportunity for all students to play the game while fostering leadership, sportsmanship, self-discovery, and physical fitness. Students discover their own talents and determination, while experiencing the value of disciplined practice. All Midland teams are coached by faculty members who mentor students in other capacities, so the field, court, and trails are extensions of Midland’s learning environment – in particular, cultivating authentic student leadership. In addition to competitive sports, Midland offers several non-competitive options as an alternative for one sports season should a student so choose. These options include Farm and Ranch, Kitchen, Yoga, Horses, and Outdoor Leadership. Midland School is a member of the Condor League which includes independent boarding and day schools in the tri-county area.