In 1991, Marilyn Mosley Gordanier came to a profound realization. It was time to open up her own school, one that would bring to life her vision of an institution that matched curriculum to the child, rather than forcing the child to match the curriculum. Prior to this realization, Marilyn had been directing the Oak Meadow homeschool program in Ojai, California, meeting twice a week in-person at the local Episcopal church. This program was steeped in the Waldorf philosophy, embracing creativity, a connection to nature, and the whole development of a child, heavily influencing how the curriculum was structured. Based on her experiences teaching and instructing this program, she felt it was necessary to expand her approach, working to successfully meet the needs of each unique child that made up the student body.
She envisioned an innovative school that would not just provide families with curriculum, but also with a completely customized approach tailored to each student’s needs. Marilyn has always believed that children are gifted in many ways, and to successfully meet them where they are at in education, building a strong foundation with parents, mentors, teachers, counselors, and community members is paramount. She wanted to ensure her school would focus on providing direction while empowering students and parents to make the right decisions for their education and future.
Marilyn was inspired to name the school “Laurel Springs,” gaining inspiration from the aromatic Laurel tree, which is prevalent in Ojai, as well as the gushing spring by her cottage that represented water springing from the earth and making way for new life. Laurel Springs would be a new kind of school, one that would honor each child’s individual path to learning and growth, serving the child’s natural development rather than pressuring students to follow a predetermined path.
When Laurel Springs School first opened back in 1991, Marilyn made history as the leader of one of the first online schools in the United States. The small but mighty original Laurel Springs team started as a group of three staff members fueled by purpose and genuine optimism, and current students even volunteered to help spread the word. From helping with mailings to participating in presentations to representing Laurel Springs around their communities, students found ways to help out, setting a long lasting legacy of Laurel Springs students feeling a deep connection to their school.
By 1994, the Laurel Springs team expanded from three to eight members, and this growth continued as additional families and students joined the school. We’ve seen some incredible growth over the past 35 years, and since our virtual doors opened, K-12 students have been able to learn in the way that suits them best, from the comfort of their own home, to traveling around the world, to pursuing passions outside of traditional school like dance, sports, and performing arts. This new shift from standardized education allowed each student to approach learning in their own unique way, getting the opportunity to choose the path that works best for them.
We can’t wait to celebrate 35 years in 2026, and this milestone is especially important to us because it highlights the way in which we have been able to remain steadfast in our roots. Flexibility, personal attention, and human connection have remained at the core of everything Laurel Springs has offered for the past 35 years, and we plan to continue focusing on these essential core components for the next 35 years and beyond.
Our dedication to fine tuning curriculum for each individual student has led to more than 6,200 students from around the world graduating over the past 35 years. Our most recent graduating class of 2025 saw 86% of students receiving admittance to at least one of their top three schools, and 90% of students scored at least a 3 or higher on one AP exam.
To celebrate the past 35 years, we will be offering a variety of in person and virtual events throughout the 2026 calendar year for all grade groups, as well as in person and virtual events for alumni. Students and parents will also have the opportunity to meet with founder Marilyn Mosley Gordanier during the Year End Celebration hosted in June 2026 in San Diego, California. We also plan to celebrate our first Founder’s Day on October 1st, 2026, and will share a never before seen documentary about Marilyn’s journey as well as a video highlighting the full history of Laurel Springs School.
As we look forward to everything we have in store for our 35th anniversary, we are extremely grateful for every teacher, staff member, parent, and most importantly our wonderful students. Our school was born out of a bold vision by our extraordinary founder Marilyn Mosley Gordanier, and we would not have been able to continue doing what we do without our wonderful Laurel Springs community. We can’t wait to see what the future holds and are ecstatic to celebrate this important milestone with you all this year.
