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| History of Manhattan Academy |
| A quarter of a century ago, Manhattan Academy opened its doors to a one-room schoolhouse in Manhattan Beach, California. Inside, the teachers set the goal of enabling preschool-aged children to enjoy a world of discovery and to reach their social, academic and physical potential. |
| Following the Montessori philosophy of education provided the Academy with a distinctive flavor. Within this small, comfortable environment, children were recognized and applauded for their uniqueness and therefore, were presented with an individualized curriculum, building on each child's individual strengths and overcoming individual challenges. Specialized Montessori materials that promote a very concrete, hands-on approach to learning allowed children to work at their own pace and internalize the concepts presented; they were not simply taught the material-they were able to feel it, on their own, in a non-pressured, non-competitive atmosphere. Maria Montessori, founder of this method of education, also believed that there was a world of potential in the young mind and if approached correctly, children would master skills that others would think impossible. Because of this approach, students are always inspired to move to the next level of accomplishment, whether it is in math, language arts, science or independent, self-help skills. |
The news of Manhattan Academy soon spread throughout the South Bay and beyond. Over the past thirty-plus years, the school has grown and evolved. No longer a one-room preschool, the Academy now boasts three locations within a three block area, housing students ages eighteen months through middle school. As students progress from the preschool years to elementary, some of the concrete Montessori approach gives way to a more traditional one, allowing students to take the next step and learn with a more abstract approach, preparing them for the rigors of high school and beyond. With a Montessori foundation firmly intact, children adapt with ease and often excel at an advanced pace.
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| The curriculum of the school has also broadened over the past thirty-plus years. Augmenting the original program, the school is now proud to offer a wonderful performing and fine arts program including music, drama, dance, creative art; journalism with the addition of a student-run newspaper; specialized science laboratory; computer laboratory; foreign language instruction; physical education on our field and in our gymnasium, along with an on-site swimming pool. |
| While the physical space of Manhattan Academy has grown over these thirty-plus years, the comfortable, familiar atmosphere persists; the individual approach remains. With the low staff/student ratios, each child is known as an individual, with strengths and weaknesses and unique characteristics. We are a close community of more than two hundred fifty students and their families, along with a faculty and administration who make it their business to know all of them. Because of this special character that is Manhattan Academy, students at all levels have fun while learning. Once they enter our doors, they embark on a world of discovery where they experience the joy of learning and have their imaginations fired. They develop a reverence for education and are given the tools to become independent, self-sufficient, critical thinkers with a respect for themselves and others, on their way to becoming productive, successful citizens. |
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