Tucked away in the quiet village of Two Harbors, this one-room schoolhouse once provided a rare educational outpost on Catalina Island’s rugged western end. It served generations of children whose families worked in the island’s conservation, marine science, and tourism industries.
Before the schoolhouse opened in 1987, children in Two Harbors faced a grueling daily commute, boarding a boat at sunrise, hiking up a hill, and taking a bus to reach Catalina’s only other public school in Avalon. The perilous journey, coupled with a near-tragic accident where a young student fell overboard, led local families to demand a school of their own. With the help of community members, boaters, and donors, the Little Red Schoolhouse was built, complete with a brass bell and a single teacher overseeing multiple grade levels.
Despite its charm, the school constantly struggled with low enrollment, at times serving as few as three students. In 2005, it nearly shut down, but locals and yachters raised $100,000 to keep it running. For years, it remained one of California’s last true one-room schoolhouses, with older students helping teach younger ones, much like in the pioneer days.
However, by 2014, enrollment had dwindled below the district’s required minimum, and the school was forced to close. Today, the schoolhouse still stands on Two Harbors Road, its red walls weathered by sea air, its windows now silent. It remains a poignant reminder of the island’s fading small-town life, waiting for the day when enough children return to ring its bell once more.