Los Alamos (The cottonwoods in Spanish) is a town built upon four mesas of the Pajarito Plateau and the adjoining White Rock Canyon. The townsite or “the hill” is one part of town while White Rock is also part of the town. Home to the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos was founded to undertake the Manhattan Project. Top-ranked among New Mexico public schools, Los Alamos High School’s academic achievements have been recognized by a number of national publications.