It's been disheartening to watch this school's accelerating slide into mediocrity…read more Things were bad before COVID, and then some new administrators and teachers came in. It looked like things turned around for a year or two, but now they're worse now than before. The one remaining bright spot were the friends and community we built through the school, but now many families we know are pulling their kids out for other schools, or are actively planning on it in the coming year. The school is raising tuition and hoping to scoop up clueless newcomers to area who heard about how great MPMS was in the past, before they realize what it is now.

We have sent all three of our children to MPMS and they thrived, both academically and socially…read more There is a commitment to knowing each student not just for their school work but for their emotional growth and development. MPMS is a hidden gem in Larkspur and I appreciate the commitment the school makes to deeply knowing kids and their needs. The parent/faculty community is wonderful too.

This school exhibits cult-like practices and raises serious concerns about student welfare. The…read moremajority of students are white, and there appears to be unequal treatment between staff and children--for example, teachers wear shoes while students are not permitted to do so. There are significant concerns regarding child safety, emotional wellbeing, and the overall quality of education, particularly given the high cost of attendance. The environment feels judgmental and unwelcoming. The school does not accept or support all children equally, which directly contradicts the values it claims to promote. Several children are turned away after being quickly judged and denied the opportunity to attend--even when they genuinely love the school. The potential emotional impact of this kind of rejection on a child is serious and appears to be disregarded. For an institution that presents itself as nurturing and values-based, this lack of compassion is troubling. I am not impressed with this "private" school. They should practice what they preach and prioritize helping all children succeed. Staff behavior often comes across as self-centered rather than truly child-focused.

My son works at New Village school. We had a wonderful time at their Winter Faire!!! Experiencing…read morea magical atmosphere of happy families, music by teacher and students, and delicious food. In one cozy room, young children were making fairy homes. I asked if I could make one too, and they said yes.

I'm current student at Dominican University of California. Each week I go into two classes here to…read moredo my student observations. First I want to say how hard these teachers work at this school. They have so much passion for teaching and that is something i have not seen in other schools I have been to. I appreciate the six grade math teacher Mr.Promis a lot. He is very knowledgeable and kind to each of his students. As well as Ms.Ryan in the SPED department. She is so kind and respectful to each of her students. Both of these teachers bring qualities of a wonderful teacher. I inspire to be them -José

This is for the school year 2021 - 2022…read more There are different experiences for each student here. Some kids can have a relatively smooth experience with minimal friction. But on the other hand if you're perceived as different - you your child will be a target - which is NOT RIGHT. There are some very disruptive kids who are yelling out VERY inappropriate things (sexual, derogatory, etc), thus disrupting class for the rest of the students. And the teachers glaze over them and nothing is done. Bullying is also allowed - despite the fact that there is a policy saying that its not. Teachers/After School supervisors (DXL) do nothing to prevent the harassment/bullying when its clear that a student is being targeted. Students are allowed to continue with no repercussions. If its is brought up to these authority figures - they sweep it away - saying that they are learning their limits. But one has to ask, at the expense of another students well being? And yet nothing is done to help prevent this. Students routinely yell out racist rhetoric, and discriminate against students they perceive as different. If the student is "in" with the teacher - the bullied student is not believed. To top it off - there are teachers who participate in this harassment - blatant body shaming from some the PE teachers, and force competitions in an unhealthy way (one student is the best - you should be like them and not be lazy). There is also gender discrimination - where they blame female periods for the physical issues that may occur. These kids are going through changes and SHOULD not be shamed for things that are happening with their body. Lastly even some of the admin staff are very rude to the students - when they come in sick - they believe they are faking it and tell them to deal. There is no kindness from them. I will say, that there are some teachers and admin staff that really do care about the kids, but its overshadowed by negative. Things need to change. While I understand there is only so much that the school can do, there should be better measures to ensure mental health a TOP priority (especially in the current climate we are in).

We sent all three of our children to St. Patrick's School from K - 8th grade, and we could not be…read morehappier looking back on their education there. The academics and character development curriculum were both excellent. Our oldest daughter is now CEO and founder of an internet startup and recently gave a speech crediting three St. Patrick's teachers for her success. Despite many years of formal education, she said she never worked harder or learned more about teamwork than she did in seventh grade. Our second daughter, a natural born introvert, learned to almost enjoy public speaking through the school's annual speech contest, which works to give all students the poise and confidence to speak in front of an audience. She's now a successful TV producer in LA. Our youngest has since graduated Magna cum laude from UCSB and embarked on a holistic healing and Ayurvedic medicine career building on her strong foundation of empathy, compassion and excellent writing and communications skills learned at St. Pats. My husband is Catholic. I went along because of St. Pat's rigorous academics and because they seemed to demand more of its students than other schools. What I found was so much more than any of that. I discovered a supportive community of families, new lifelong friends, teachers who truly love the work they are doing, a gentle approach to religious studies, and the courage to teach true character development and hold kids to a high moral standard. The result was a student body made up of happy, well adjusted, future leaders. I highly recommend this school.

We could not be happier with our decision to send our kids to St. Pats. Our daughter is on her 3rd…read moreyear at the school and is thriving during one of the hardest years of adjustment for many during pandemic. I was so impressed at the school's pivot to distance learning when the pandemic occurred and continuous effort to increase safety to reopen, and provide options for many of us working parents to ensure our kids receive the best education safely. If requiring virtual learning, it's the best around. If wanting to have kids in person, they are well taken care of and I have zero worries each day as I've watched the school maneuver this crisis. It's years like this that you especially appreciate what you have. We couldn't feel more secure in our decision to send our kids to St. Pats. I'm in awe by the principal, Ms. Hadsell's responsiveness and transparency with all parents. The hands on education is also unmatched. We toured many schools in Marin before making our decision and feel assured we made the absolute best choice for our children.

If you're looking for a wonderful preschool I highly recommend San Anselmo Montessori School (SAMS)…read more- especially their PreK program! The moment I walked into the light-filled main classroom I knew this would be the right fit for our family. A tucked away but easy to get to campus with a picturesque view of the San Anselmo hills, this hidden gem is located in a very warm, safe, tranquil open space. My daughter has been enrolled at SAMS since June 2024, first attending their summer camp program and now as a PreK student. I cannot say enough good things about this school. The facilities, the students, parents, the curriculum and mostly, the patient, nurturing, incredible teachers. Once a week each student has their dedicated Garden Day group and they spend the first half of school outdoors learning about nature, tending to the various plants and trees in the back lush garden. They sample things they have lovingly helped grow, partake in creative projects, as well as other earth science learnings throughout the day. My daughter is in the oldest age group at SAMS and breaks out into the PreK group every afternoon. This small subset of students are taught in a converted greenhouse that is clean and organized yet has a homey, poetic feel to it. The students spend their days doing engaging activities, a mix of self directed work, lessons and artistic projects. This week they have been reviewing sight words, an introductory lesson in fractions, learning different parts of a fish and decorating gingerbread houses. A few noteworthy takeaways my daughter has shared with us is the idea that at school everyone is included (or no one is included - alone time) and exhibiting pride in personal responsibility and independence. My daughter has made strong connections and close friendships, she gets excited every morning to go to school - and has even asked to go in on a Saturday! This inclusive program I can confidently say will support your child to regulate emotions, help develop kind, considerate, thoughtful kids that will be beyond kindergarten ready when the time comes. This school has truly been such a gift to our family. We will be sending our youngest as soon as she is age eligible! https://samontessori.com

We have been at SAMS for four years now-our older child attended for three years and our younger…read morechild is now in his first year. We have been blown away by the program at SAMS. It's both a well-run organization (clear communication, policies, etc) and a loving community where children are seen for who they are and are given the love and support to thrive. The great parent community is just an added bonus! A few of the things that make SAMS special, in no particular order: - The physical space is inviting, clean, bright and organized. Children are invited to be the leaders in their space since everything is right-sized for them. Our kids feel so comfortable and empowered the second they walk in the door. - The outdoor space is incredible. Similar to the indoor environment, the outdoor space is perfect for kids, with child sized versions of real garden tools, a fantastic playground and a beautiful garden geared toward children's love of nature. - The communication from the school is excellent. We love the weekly newsletter, which often includes links to resources for us as parents. We grownups learn a lot from the team at SAMS, too! - The Montessori philosophy has been perfect for our kids. When we first started looking at preschools, we knew that we didn't want our kids to be in a space that felt too rigid/formal. SAMS honors the Montessori philosophy fully and always feels free and playful at the same time. - The pre-kindergarten program has been amazing for our older child and we are planning for our younger child to stay for this year, too. We have found this final year at SAMS to be a huge benefit for our kiddo in terms of confidence, grace and courtesy, social emotional growth, and academic growth. The third year of SAMS was extra magical for our child and set her up for major success as she entered elementary school. - THE TEAM is, of course, the very best part. The SAMS teachers are incredible-compassionate, patient, skillful, brilliant, and creative. They are inspirations and our children love them so much! Thank you, SAMS!

lowk mid school frfr teachers cool sometimes but lowk only a few fire ones. Mr. B is lowk skibidi,…read morefun events and education tho.

Students confirmed with me privately that some teachers here are extremely unprofessional. A…read moredifferent teacher than the ones I mentioned in my previous Yelp review called a student a sexist, sexual slang term in front of other teachers and students and accused the student of wearing a certain kind of inner garment, which the student was not wearing. This student's outfit conformed to the dress code. None of the teachers confronted this teacher in front of students. I pasted the same Yelp reviews I wrote here to GreatSchools.org. But they mysteriously don't appear there.

As an alumnus (1959 - 1967), I'm disappointed that the school has chosen trendiness over substance…read more I will not give my opinion on teaching "the gender non-binary" to second graders. But I will note that parents seem to be afraid of giving their opinions, which was certainly not the case when I attended the school. In second grade, my teacher Miss Williams read "The Princess and the Goblin" to us. There was no question that the school was patriotic and valued a classical education. Today the decision makers claim that the school is just following the vision of its founders, who emphasized educating "the whole student." But I doubt that the founders would approve of what the school is doing today. The insincere virtue signaling that pretends to be social justice is not a grass-roots phenomenon but rather a fashionable elite pose that allows the unjust to pretend they care when they really do not. Imposing this on children can only be described as a travesty. The parents are trapped because it's the powers above them who have imposed this on the rest of us, and careers and reputations are at stake. Instead of socially engineering students, my alma mater needs to get back to teaching the basics and treating students as the unique individuals they are rather than as representatives of groups. The motto of the school when I went there was "A spirit always surging." Today, I would say "cringing" is a more accurate description.

Our child just completed first year here. This school has surpassed our expectations and we are…read morealready looking forward to the next school year. The environment is friendly, fun, supportive, and progressive. The facilities are fantastic, and there is ongoing construction and improvements happening. There is an emphasis on the overall child, not just academics. If your child is lucky enough to have Doug Zesiger as their teacher, I have nothing to say but the best things about him. It is sad to see Dierdre leave, though - as she has been fantastic :( Step-up day was a moving experience, and it was so cool to see the 8th graders 'stepping down', and stomping their feet when the kindergarteners 'stepped up.' It was a very memorable day! I know it sounds like I am going on about this school, but I really can not imagine a better environment for my children. There really was nothing negative I can say at all about this year. I know a few parents had gripes about the bus and after school offerings, but that is maybe all I can even think of (very minor in my opinion). We applied to a number of independent schools in San Francisco and Southern Marin and were accepted to all, but MCDS was our top and standout choice. We couldn't be happier after our first year and without hesitation highly recommend this school. I have no doubt this school is one of the best in not only the Bay Area, but in the country.

The Ross Preschool (TRP) is a place that any child and family is blessed to have in their memory…read morebook. I know I'm not alone when I say we were sold within the first seconds of entry when greeted by the incredibly dedicated and enthusiastic teachers and head of school, David Allen-Hughes. Not only is the school environment -both in and outside- truly magical and inviting, but it is also extremely clean and well cared for, updated with well-organized, child-accessible, and aesthetically pleasing everything (think beautiful natural wood and beyond!) David and staff are constantly mindful and proactive about improving their school, so it is ever-evolving with new and exciting teaching tools and beautifying additions (ie outdoor garden and climbing wall, sensory projects, water table exploration, interesting visitors and programs from the community, etc, etc). David and teachers communicate with parents thoughtfully, often, and well in advance, so you always feel in the know. My child feels loved and at home at TRP. His mind is inspired to think creatively and independently and he's given the tools and encouragement to thrive. He calls it his 'happy place.'

This preschool is truly one-of-a-kind. Our son attended for two years and had the most wonderful…read moreexperience in every way. The teaching staff is the best of the best, the play-based curriculum includes everything from art and music to math and science. The emphasis on social/emotional development is very strong and the sense of community among the families is wonderful!!