Chadwick History
In 1935, after discovering the rampant overcrowding of the local public schools, Margaret Chadwick opened Chadwick Open Air School in San Pedro, Calif., enrolling two of her three children. She and her husband, Commander Joseph Chadwick, believed in the kind of education that was both all-encompassing and experiential. Every student — regardless of academic inclination, race, religious background or socioeconomic status — was seen as a possibility yearning to unfold. The Chadwicks knew that, just like the surrounding lands they cherished, each student simply needed to be acknowledged and nourished in order to thrive.
Greatly impressed by Margaret Chadwick’s vision after attending a school play, Palos Verdes developer, Frank Vanderlip, generously donated the land. Chadwick School’s co-founders, the Roesslers — whose own children were among the first attendees — also provided financial support. And so, in 1938, the Chadwick Seaside School officially opened.
What began as a homeschool expanded rapidly, with some students boarding on campus and others attending as “day pupils.” The surrounding lands set the perfect stage for a farm, sparked by the gift of a piglet to Margaret Chadwick on her birthday. Next came horses, rabbits, chickens, the student victory gardens and a full-time farmer. Chadwick lovingly called it her “Animal Kingdom.”
At Chadwick, character, compassion and play were as essential as academics. Experiential learning beyond the classroom fueled students’ young minds and fostered their highest potential. Education was seen as an opportunity to positively impact students, their communities and the world at large. It is on these core principles that Chadwick’s philosophy was founded. That ripple effect can be seen in the incredible contributions Chadwick students and alumni continue to make each day.
