Rico Rodriguez Is All Grown Up! 'Modern Family' Star Opens Up About College Plans

“Modern Family” Season 8 star Rico Rodriguez, who plays the role of Manny Delgado, is all grown up.

The actor is already 18 years old and is in senior high school at an independent study school in Oak Park, Calif. While speaking with ABC News, Rodriguez said that his school also offers the same curriculum as would other high schools in the United States. However, the independent institution is a place where other young actors and athletes go to for education. “It’s funny because you still get the whole social aspect because you’re on set hanging out with your friends and then you go to school on campus. All of the curriculum is the same; it’s just a different scenery,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez is already contemplating on his college plans, but the actor said that he might take an entire year off before continuing his studies. Rodriguez was inspired by President Barack Obama’s daughter Malia, as well as his “Modern Family” co-star Ariel Winter, who both went on a year-long break before going to college. “I may probably take a year off and weigh my options of what’s coming up next. If ‘Modern Family’ continues, to finish that off. Before I even start thinking about college, I want to finish off senior year on the right foot and do the best job that I can,” he explained.

In other news, “Modern Family” Season 8 will premiere on ABC next week. Just recently, the network dropped a series of photos from “A Tale of Three Cities.” The synopsis for the episode was already released online via Spoilers Guide, which reads, “After recent trips take the Dunphys to New York; Mitch, Cam and Lily to the Midwest; and Jay, Gloria, Manny, Joe to Juarez, Mexico; the Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker clan reunites.” One of the photos showed Alex (Winter), Haley (Sarah Hyland) and Luke (Nolan Gould) hugging each other. Another photo showed Claire (Julie Bowen) and Phil (Ty Burrell) panicking outside a luxurious hotel.

“Modern Family” Season 8 will premiere on ABC on Sept. 21 at 9 p.m. ET.