My daughter had the privilege to attend Marin Horizon School for 8th grade and her experience exceeded our expectations on every level. My only regret is not moving to MHS earlier. What most impressed me was how close the teachers, staff and administrators got to know her, and the dedicated coaching she received in every single class. This struck me reading the narrative from each teacher in the first report cards. It was clear they knew my daughter deeply and had worked closely with her to develop her strengths and push her in the areas she needed to grow. The school community was incredibly warm and welcoming, she had many new friends within days of joining the school and felt as if she had been there for years. This was clearly intentional, MHS focuses on fostering a sense of belonging, bonding with teachers, character building and strong academics. I highly recommend MHS and can see why they have been voted 'Best Private School in Marin' for many years. It is indeed the best! read more

We've been at Marin Horizon from pre-K through 6th grade so far. It's an excellent and unique school. Both my husband and I went to private schools (and in my case subsequently 3x Ivy league degrees) and we are from the Northeast. This school may not be for everybody, as it is progressive education. But as entrepreneurs we feel it prepares our son for the future like no other. It is academically rigorous, in a multi-disciplinary, collaborative sort of way. It gives equal attention to social emotional learning, which based on the importance of EQ is a great foundation for professional success and personal happiness later in life. And in addition to fostering intellectual curiosity, complex thinking and empathy, Marin Horizon is an inclusive community for the whole family. As Marin parents we have many excellent education options. In our case, MHS has been a great fit and supportive community. With student-centric learning, the MHS teachers will really know and understand your child and bring out the best in him/her. Our son is super excited to go to school every day and even though we think he's quite advanced in many ways academically and social-emotionally, he always remains engaged, challenged and supported. Other strengths of the school are its outdoor ed, the nurturing Montessori-inspired preschool/lower elementary environment, and small class sizes for middle school. As former Brooklynites we also appreciate its socio-economic/ethnic diversity and global perspective, esp. for Marin. Private school is a big investment, but if you find MHS to be a great fit for your child, it will be money and time that is very well spent. read more

If you are looking for more than just a school, for a second home and a true "village," then Marin Horizon School is your school. The emphasis on character building as well as academics results in graduates who are not only ready for high school, but for the world. The kids who come out of MHS are good citizens. The school provides a safe, nurturing community environment not just for the students who attend, but for their entire families as well. Excellent teaching staff, progressive leadership, warm and down-to-earth families make MHS a truly one of a kind school in the heart of Mill Valley. read more

I have been at MHS for 4 years and feel it has placed our oldest child into a realm of academic excellence, at a least a year beyond her peers in the public school she now attends. The environment is warm and nurturing and the curriculum is engaging, creative and highly participatory with the children. The school may not have the extensive facilities that other private schools have, but it makes up for it with an environment and way of educating that stands apart. That said, choosing an educational environment for your child is a highly subjective process. This school may not be for everyone, but given my experience it gives an extraordinary amount to the children, teaches learning in a creative way that excels learning (in our experience that is) and has an outstanding parent community that 'keeps it real'. I am a huge fan of this school and I think that it is subject to a lot of unfair criticism. This is very much many people's 'cup of tea'. Also, it must be noted many people attend the lower school with no intention of staying; they have already decided to move onto other private schools come Kindergarten. I am a strong believer that the new head is not only an outstanding individual but a strong leader. He is incredibly engaged with the community and has been in my younger childs classroom at least 5 times since the beginning of the year. I give two thumbs up! This is an amazing option for an education. read more

My son recently started K at Marin Horizon and while he seems to enjoy it socially, I've been unimpressed by it academically. To be clear, it's not a bad school by any means I just don't feel it's worth the tuition they charge. Unless your child is introverted and could benefit from smaller class size, I would say that most of the public schools in Marin are probably comparable. We looked at some of the private schools in the city and were much more impressed with the philosophy and curriculum but the downside is the commute. read more

Visited the school and had mixed feelings by what we saw. There was construction under way for the Upper School when we visited. Of the 5 southern Marin private schools we visited, this one was our second to last choice at the end of our touring. The school had a tiny campus. The kindergarten kids were rather cramped in their rooms, and the Montessouri program meant that there were multi-aged classrooms (some may consider that good, but we felt it wasn't for us). There was very little space, and hopefully they will find some way to expand their campus. This school was by no means inexpensive, so I would have expected more in terms of resources and facilities. I am sorry if it seems like I am putting down the school, but I will not do a dishonest review. This is truly what we experienced, as good as the academics is at a school, it is only part of the equation. In addition the pre-school program was very unimpressive. Sorry to offend people, but it was to us - we found Marin Primary and Middle School to have a MUCH better pre-K program. Let me put it to you this way, it's a good school, but the way they market themselves - not what we expected, as they were our first choice before we actually visited the campus. read more

I was browsing on yelp and was quite shocked to see that MHS has received several negative reviews from angry neighbors who are upset over a sidewalk. This sidewalk was recently built to keep residents and MHS students safe on a quite busy street. As I regularly walk on this street with sometimes as many as four young children (we carpool) I was overjoyed when the project was finished and I did not have to grab on to my kids trying to dodge speeding cars anymore. I find it quite inappropriate that some of the residents who were against this project try to hurt the school and its reputation by posting negative and irrelevant reviews on yelp. These reviews should definitely be read with a grain of salt as they have little or nothing to do with the education and quality of the school itself. I speak from first hand experience. We have been a MHS family for almost five years and have been extremely happy there. Our two oldest children have absolutely thrived, both academically and socially. We love the teachers who have been nothing but outstanding. We don't live in Mill Valley and we spend approx 30 minutes driving each way. While this is exhausting we believe that it has been absolutely worth it. Tired of the commute we initially enrolled our second child in a very popular and more local preschool closer to our house, but having already experienced the excellence at MHS we quickly realized that the two schools were not even comparable. Thankfully we were able to transfer our daughter to MHS mid year where she has been since. We instantly noticed a huge difference in her enthusiasm and awareness. She now started coming home from school wanting to share everything that she had learned. In other words, our experience at MHS has been worth every minute spent on the road and we absolutely want to give this very special school our warmest recommendation. read more

Couldn't disagree more with these reviews, and I can't imagine a faculty more dedicated to the best interests of the children they teach than the teachers at MHS! If you're really interested in accurate feedback about the school, check out the 12 reviews that have been filtered by clicking the link for "filtered" reviews below. read more

We had a very poor experience with Marin Horizon. Our child turned out to be gifted. The first grade teacher has no idea what gifted means. She apparently believes that it means that a child is able to print beautifully and do the same mind-numbing mathematical calculations over and over again (at least this was the impression I was left with after numerous meetings). A child may be gifted in any number of different ways - and I will readily admit, a very active, curious gifted child can be a challenge for a teacher. But that is one of the reasons we chose initially chose Marin Horizon - because it touted its resources. Unfortunately when push came to shove, the resources were not available or not provided or the school simply didn't have any coherent approach. As our child grew bored with the repetitive nature of the first grade work and homework, we sought more challenging work from the first grade teacher. She responded by provided more of the same type of work. Our child grew extremely frustrated with being asked to find two letter words in magazines (he was reading well beyond that level and actually asked me if he seriously had to find the word "no" and use it in a sentence because it was a "baby" word) and adding 2+2 over and over again (with the only change being that the additional math work would feature two + two bunnies instead of the two + two horses that the other children received). Our child was not fooled by the additional animal pictures and realized that these were the same problems over and over and over again. This teacher also declined our frequent requests to observe the classroom. We finally had to ask the head mistress to intervene. We then sought a meeting with the teacher and administration where a series of accommodations were promised to keep our child engaged. Some were provided some were not. When we asked about the absent accommodations we were assured that they would not work. When we complained that we should have been told that the school unilaterally decided not to provide the accommodation - we were labeled troublemakers. When we were told that our child would not be offered a contract for the second grade unless he underwent testing for ADD, and we expended the time and money to subject our child to the testing, and the results came back showing his IQ and all other cognitive abilities were in the 97%-99% range for all metrics, and we provided the results to the school, the school's head mistress shrugged and told us to our face that Marin Horizon could not provide the curriculum that our child would need. I really don't think that the head mistress even read the report. A family with a gifted child, or a bright child, would be better served by any of Mill Valley's excellent public schools that enjoy substantial parent and community support. Also, in our opinion, Marin Montessori, Ring Mountain or Marin Day look to be far far better options. But don't take my word for it, check the school out for yourself. If you are trying to get a pre-school spot, I strongly urge you to spend at least an hour observing the first grade classroom. If the school balks at that amount of observation - don't be surprised. read more

My two boys (ages 8 and 10) are currently students at Marin Horizon School and have attended since preschool. I cannot say enough positive things about their experiences at Marin Horizon. The teaching, curriculum and community are all outstanding. To me, what speaks volumes is that my children wake up each day engergized and excited about going to school. They love learning and are thriving. I cannot ask for more from a school -- it is a special place. read more

They did NOT return my "refundable capital deposit" even though other families who LEFT Marin Horizon School were returned their money. I would say "buyer beware" and read the several NEGATIVE YELP REVIEWS, esp. the "filtered" ones below BEFORE sending your precious children to this "school." Read here: http://www.marinhorizon.org/MHSTuition "Annual refundable capital deposits of $1,000 per child enrolled at MHS are required from families with students in Primary through 7th grades. The maximum accrued capital deposit is $10,000 per child enrolled at MHS or $15,000 per family, whichever is less. Capital deposits payments can be financed through special arrangements that MHS has made with an established local bank. Capital deposit refunds of principal are made in September of the year following the student's graduation or departure." PS - Be a true, loyal friend, unconditionally. Karma. read more

My children go to the school and it's been an incredible experience. My daughter is in her third year and my son will start in the fall. My daughter is developing so well there - both academically and personally/socially. At 5 years old, kindergarten, she's reading and doing addition/subtraction. When we ent to the Zoo she wanted to ride the camels because she did a report on them but noticed that they only had dromedary camels and not the bactrian camels she did her report about. (A quick lookup on wikipedia told me two hums vs. one.) She hates summer break and always asks when school starts again. I also live in the neighborhood and love having the school there. There are no other schools in the neighborhood and the MV school system puts you last on the list when it comes to school choice so you have no idea where your kids will go if you go that route. We have HV friends who's kids were assigned to Strawberry which is hell to get to/from if you're a HV resident. It's really nice having a good neighborhood school. They are great neighbors and any time there have been issues, they've been very responsive to neighborhood concerns. Those include building a street gutter to fix a drainage issue after just one neighbor mentioned it, removing parking cones (to prevent people from parking in front of neighbor driveways) when not in session and keeping open the playground for use by anyone after hours (including use of their balls and other equipment). There is a small issue about a sidewalk that a few neighbors dislike but, while supportive of it, it's DPW project not a school one. Many of the neighbors want it as without it, people especially kids have to walk in the street of a major thoroughfare in the neighborhood. As a concession to the neighbors, most of the kids that don't take the bus have to get dropped off at Whole Foods and then walk down this street to the school which is another reason the sidewalk makes so much sense. read more

The third grade was our first year, then fourth, and now fifth. When we moved to the area from the East Coast and shortly thereafter started school, we arrived to some school events a bit after they had started. Around the third time running late, I sighed to a parent, "We're the late family," to which he replied with a smile, "So, are we going to start labeling, now?" The wisdom in his warmth signaled to me that we were in a special place. Since then, I have grown used to a parent mentioning non-violent communication (also known as compassionate communication) or hearing a teacher-lecturer speak of labeling the behavior, not the child. The school seems to strike a common-sensical balance in so many realms (work/play; being little/growing up; independence/interdependence; events/breaks; strict education/social opportunities), and, in this busy world, our Marin Horizon students have taught us some practical mindfulness techniques. I get such a good sense and have a solid feeling of trust, having spent many days meeting most everyone, by now. The teachers are conversant in the whole child, even to the degree of keeping up with technology trends of Eighth Graders... and even to the degree of knowing that the whole child can be found in the midst of family and community. Our child had been labeled (gifted- "twice exceptional") and we had labeled ourselves (privileged-"wage slaves").Yet no one had given us any concrete means of how, through school community, to use these products. Marin Horizon gave us that, also! I'd say it "upgraded" us or "evolved" us as a family and as conscious and engaged citizen-neighbors. I have to admit, I am very proud to be a Marin Horizon parent! read more

This school is terrible. This school is like a VIP day care center (from pk to 8th grade). A. Some teachers have no teaching experience let alone a college degree. B. Most teachers teach by having their students make projects instead of learning from books. This would be okay if this was an art school. ;-) C. They know you are paying big bucks so they avoid confrontation in regards to your kids issues. They always say your kids are doing great when in fact they might not be doing okay. D. They don't discipline kids or reprimand the "bullies." They make believe this doesn't happen at this school and the parents are oblivious to it. Read C. Send your children to another school where teachers are credentialed with college degrees and don't teach to the parent's pocket book. There are some parents on financial aid. But this school is funded solely on the parents who pay big bucks. Why would they chance losing a "live one?" This school is not thriving whatsoever. Their website post many class openings whereas other schools are 100% full with long wait lists. 2 + 2 = 4. Go elsewhere. Don't drink their kool-aid. It's dated. read more

D.P. From Mill Valley writes: We absolutely love Marin Horizon School. Two of our three children are in the preschool program with our third starting the toddler program in the 2012. My question to you is: Will ALL your kids be staying at this school till 8th grade? D.P. also writes: The teachers are incredible; our children truly have passion for learning, a retention of knowledge that I wish for daily, and a hunger to learn more - it's really unlike anything I've seen before. Our daughter can differentiate between Van Gough, Jackson Pollock and Kandinsky, can read, write, knows the continents and what they look like, can count, add, subtract, understands differences in cultures, etc...and she's 5. My question to you is: Are ALL other students learning the same way (past and present)? D.P. also writes: Our son is making similar age appropriate progress and learning is fun for him. Both kids can't wait to go to school each day. I attribute this to the amazing teachers who work with such passion and brilliance that it makes it difficult to look elsewhere for top notch education. My question to you is: Have you ever looked; applied; or rejected elsewhere? D.P. also writes: The community is supportive and loving. My question to you is: Does this apply to families who are no longer there? D.P. also writes: We are lucky to have hired Dr. Luis Ottley, who came from Fieldston Ethical Cultural School in NY. Many of the administrative challenges are on the up and up as is the outward marketing of this hidden gem. My question to you is: What do you mean up and up? What does hidden gem mean? Do they hide their skeletons? D.P. also writes: If you're looking at schools, this fall, Marin Horizon School should be on your list. I assure you you won't be disappointed. My question to you is: What if I am disappointed? Would you be there for my family if there were any problems whatsoever? Or would you "see no evil hear no evil." read more

MHS is a fantastic school to say the least. My husband I are teachers with graduate degrees. We have taught at and attended several independent Marin/ East coast schools. We have very high standards for our children's education. This is a safe, nurturing school that my kids feel a part of. The basis for all learning is interest. The way the teachers deliver challenging curriculum in creative, multi-sensory approaches is unique. I also feel very comfortable in the parent community. The parent body is unpretentious. My children have been very supported and are growing up into compassionate, interesting and community oriented people. I credit the school. I think it is Marin County's best. read more

Regarding another reviewer's "poor experience" - I could not disagree more and have ample datapoints to refute earlier review. The poor experience cited by another is in COMPLETE contrast to the experience my children have had at Marin Horizon School over the last 9 years. During their time as students (both started as toddlers and my third child will be starting in the toddler program in Sept. 2009) they have had phenomenal teachers who have come to know them as individuals and have customized their learning experiences accordingly. Even the very different experiences of my two MHS children, both of whom were extremely advanced, early readers, validate the school's commitment to "teach the individual child." This school not only can handle bright and gifted children, but our experience has been that the teachers absolutely thrive on the challenge of accommodating the different needs of their students. I have so many examples of how MHS teachers have developed and adapted the curriculum to accommodate the needs of my children but I will only list a few. My daughter, who was reading at a 4th grade level in Kindergarten, was given consistent ideas on books she could read that were appropriate in terms of both reading level and content. Her 2nd/3rd grade teachers would give her advanced spelling words to study from the Marin County Spelling Bee -- they even attended when she competed in events (on weekends!). Her 1st grade teachers modified the weekly reading assignments to help cultivate her love of learning. My kindergarten-aged son was given classroom time, support and encouragement to write and illustrate books. In first grade, he was encouraged to continue writing his books and has been given extra math work to keep him challenged. I should also note that all of these moves were instigated by the teachers as they were very much in tune to the needs and learning styles of our children. I have heard of children being counseled out of the school for behavior reasons which I know is never easy. I would encourage you to ask the administration for more information related to when and why this happens. I do not believe that it is EVER related to the school being unable to handle a child that is too bright or gifted. My 2 children are proof of the joy that the teachers and administration derive from being able to customize a program for a child that has advanced learning needs. If your goal is to have children that have a life-long passion for learning, then I can think of no better school than MHS. We first went to MHS for their excellent toddler/primary program but decided to stay once we got to know the community and learned more about the elementary program. As my children get older, I feel even more strongly about MHS as I see the teachers, administration and other parents as being critical to helping me raise my children to be prepared, well-rounded, caring citizens of the world. Years ago, a parent of older children encouraged me to attend graduation (where every student gives a speech) to get a sense of what MHS does to prepare and educate students. I was blown away by their poise, intelligence and passion. I would encourage you to see for yourself the types of students that graduate from MHS (graduation is open to the public on June 11th). Best of luck in your school selection process. read more

We love the school. Indeed, there are excellent public schools in Mill Valley. For us, this school offered a creative teaching method (not regulated by Standardized Testing), small class sizes to teacher ratio, a quaint and beautiful setting, and a flexible drop-in aftercare program. The later was imperative for two working parents. After being there three years we have fallen in love with the teachers and staff that work there. When my 5 year-old runs through the halls, they all know him by name. It has become an extension of home and for us, that peace of mind has been worth the tuition. read more

When we started looking for schools for our then 4.5 year old, we decided to tour MHS based on a friend's recommendation. We live in SF so the thought of our little boy attending Kindergarten in Marin was not something we seriously considered, but we both loved the school when we toured it, so we decided to apply. Well, our son was accepted, and fast forward two years, and he is THRIVING at MHS. He is now in the first grade and continues to love EVERY minute that he spends at Marin Horizon. His Hawk (Kindergarten) year was fantastic. The teachers are amazing -- so loving, caring and nurturing, while also teaching him to read and write and challenging him everyday in different subjects like math, science, art, Spanish, PE and many more. His confidence level has grown tenfold since he started at MHS and we owe it all to the school. Our son, who was too shy to participate in show-and-tell at his preschool, happily volunteered to be the scene narrator in his class play. He stood in front of 40+ parents and proudly recited all of his lines. He's made many good friends -- in his own class, but also many in the lower and upper grades. The kids who attend MHS are kind, supportive and caring which says a lot about the school, and its warm and welcoming parent community. Our son so loves going to MHS that he has no problem getting up every morning to catch his 7:30am school bus. And every day, when I pick him up from the bus stop, I ask him about his day, and he shouts out, "It was FUN!" MHS does what it says it does. It provides an academically challenging and rigorous curriculum in a warm and nurturing environment. It's a hidden gem of a school, and we are so thrilled that we found it. read more

I am writing this to review claims made by MHS that they are good neighbors in the community where they have established their school. So that I may be seen in a fair light by those who will take my negative review badly, I wish you to know that my nephew went through their program to the limit of the class level they offered at the time, and I think he had a very positive experience as a student at the school. That said, my issue with the school is that, in the person of their then director, Roz Hamar, the school sought grant funds to have a sidewalk built on an adjacent street to benefit their students who walk on that street to and from school. The proposal was received with great dismay when the news that it had been accepted and funding of $900,000 was to be made available came out, 4 yrs after the process was started. I have lived in the community for 42 yrs, and, during the period the grant proposal was being pursued never once received notice of the intent to have this sidewalk built. Also, information was included in the proposal that was untrue. Fact. The street in qquestion has a 100 yr. history of safety, with not one incident of injury reported yet. The sidewalk will be located on one side of the street and the adjacent neighbors will be required to pay for its upkeep forever. Why would you want to send you child to a school that cared so little for its neighbors that it never approached the concerned property owners, or the neighborhood in general, to try to work out a solution to the "perceived" problem that would meet the needs of those who will be most affected? The school serves a student body of some 300 children with appr. 5% residents of the community where it is. The street in question is a rural street in a rural zone where sidewalks are discouraged by the area plan, written years past but not referenced by the sidewalk planners. Make no mistake by thinking that the neighbors are anti-safety; they are not. What was deleted from this process was any effort to solicit from the largest stakeholders any input on what would work best for the people who LIVE in the community and also meet safety concerns, such as improving on existing pathways which have served the community well since long before MHS was started (as a much smaller enterprise located elsewhere in Mill Valley). Boycott MHS. read more

Our son is about to graduate from Marin Horizon and has had a great experience there. I work at the Buck Institute for Education, and have strong opinions about what makes a good school (we emphasize progressive education and project-based learning) so I'm a "tough but satisfied" customer. One of the best features of the school is its ability to differentiate what they do based on an individual child's needs. The double-grade classes (2nd-3rd and 4th-5th) help with this too. My son's 3rd grade teacher quickly recognized his math skills, so she accelerated him so he was able to move to pre-algebra by 5th grade and he's now learning geometry, mostly by independent study. In assigning differentiated readings or guiding students in choosing books, the teachers likewise found books that challenged and interested him. When assigning roles for major group projects and simulations, they found just the right one for him. They dig deep into topics in history and literature, so my son's intellectual bent was enriched, and his teachers knew how to draw him out in discussions. MHS also has a wonderful visual arts program, which he's enjoyed, along with the PE program, jam band, and flag football. Students emerge extremely well prepared for any high school and the middle school staff is great at helping you with the admissions process into the high school that best fits your child. We love their teaching philosophy, experienced and skilled teachers and overall values. While MHS does have learning support services for students with some learning differences, other kids who have special needs or who can't handle some degree of independent learning might not be the best fit with this school (true of and most private schools). The public schools have excellent services in that case. read more

Since 1977, Marin Horizon School has provided the highest quality primary through middle school education that can be found in Marin County. Master teachers, compassionate administrators, and friendly families combine to make Marin Horizon School a model for excellence in education. My friends, family, and co-workers from around the country constantly compliment my children on their ability to relate to others in an intelligent, empathetic, and articulate manner. Marin Horizon School has done so much to cultivate their social and emotional intelligence, while providing a rigorous and challenging academic curriculum that prepares them to succeed in high school and college. Thank you, Marin Horizon School. read more

Both our kids attended pre-K through 8th-grade graduation. We made a lot of sacrifices to send them here and they were well worth it. We love the school and remain dedicated to it as parents of alums who are now in excellent, top-tier colleges and remain very appreciative of the education they received in the warm and welcoming community here. I always felt good after dropping my kids off for school here that they were in a supportive place of active learning. read more

MHS has been an ideal school for our child who is bright, creative and independent. This is our fourth year in the school and she is thriving in the first grade under two excellent teachers. She receives individualized, "advanced" lessons and the support to work to her full potential. Families who choose this school believe that education is about a lot more than just tougher math problems. MHS offers a strong academic curriculum as well as a community that values learning to live and work with others. read more

I have been going to this school since i was in kindergarten. 1st-5th grade were really great, i really bonded with my teachers and learned A LOT. but last year, when i became a sixth grader i was actually looking foreward to school every day. The teachers are ABSOLUTLY amazing and they will do anything to help you. They make the work as easy as possible, but i have learned SO SO SO SO SO much. i was thinking about changing schools last year because of social issues, but the teachers and I worked that whole thing out. I am so glad i hadnt changed schools because if i had i wouldnt be writing this review. :) read more

When I think about a school where my children spend the majority of their week, I want it to be safe, I want them to be nurtured, happy, engaged and challenged. I want a friendly, caring community whom we can share good times with or pull together and find support during difficult times. I want the teachers to be approachable, I want to be able to spend time in the classroom and get to know the kids and experience the classroom dynamics. At Marin Horizon School you will find ALL of this and more! It is that special, gem of a school where I take my kids every morning and am greeted by staff and parents with smiles and warm hello's. It is that caring type of place where hugs are shared with teachers and the teachers are available to the parents. In fact, there have been times I've seen MHS teacher's go above and beyond when a child is struggling with a subject or a social dynamic. I don't worry about my kids being bullied at this school, because school yard bullying is non-existent. It is a school that teaches their students about respecting each other and the world around us, beginning at the preschool level where my kids shared conflict at a peace table set up in the classroom. They teach kids to speak up for themselves and ask questions and keep them engaged with a very creative curriculum and instill in them a of love of learning that you just don't find at other schools. And as my kids get older, it just get's better and better. My kids absolutely love and look forward to going to school and that, in my opinion, is what it's all about. read more

We absolutely love Marin Horizon School. Two of our three children are in the preschool program with our third starting the toddler program in the 2012. The teachers are incredible; our children truly have passion for learning, a retention of knowledge that I wish for daily, and a hunger to learn more - it's really unlike anything I've seen before. Our daughter can differentiate between Van Gough, Jackson Pollock and Kandinsky, can read, write, knows the continents and what they look like, can count, add, subtract, understands differences in cultures, etc...and she's 5. Our son is making similar age appropriate progress and learning is fun for him. Both kids can't wait to go to school each day. I attribute this to the amazing teachers who work with such passion and brilliance that it makes it difficult to look elsewhere for top notch education. The community is supportive and loving. We are lucky to have hired Dr. Luis Ottley, who came from Fieldston Ethical Cultural School in NY. Many of the administrative challenges are on the up and up as is the outward marketing of this hidden gem. If you're looking at schools, this fall, Marin Horizon School should be on your list. I assure you you won't be disappointed. read more

A school is only as good as it's teachers and there are some good ones and there are some bad ones. In kindergarten they were warm gentle and patient, just as you would hope when you hand your babies off to someone else for hours in the day. Unfortunately the 1st grade was a different experience as the teacher didn't welcome parents involvement in the classroom. We watched our sons self esteem plummet during the year so much that at one point he rolled up in a ball and wouldn't participate and had problems sleeping at night. When we tried to discuss the situation with his teacher she couldn't even look me in the eye while talking to me. I tried to speak to the headmistress about it with another parent but the teacher just got defensive about the fact I went to the headmistress. That being said the other teachers we came into contact with were all very helpful and helpful. We decided that our son could benefit from a "bonus" year to get back his self esteem and become the happy boy he had been, just not with the same teacher so we changed schools. read more

I have to say not every school works for every kid. Kids are different. Even "gifted" kids (always hated that term since is was stuck on me in 2nd grade). MHS works for my son. He's been there for 4 years now. I love the education he's getting. It's not just that he's learning to write well, speak well and think creatively - it's that he's learning about conflict resolution, public speaking, and time management, as well as empathy and respect - all since preschool. It's not a school for a kid who needs a lot of structure to focus or who can't work independently. This year in reading there were kids who were just starting to read along with kids who were reading Harry Potter books. Not only was every kid at every level taught and engaged, the teachers also took it one step further to teach the kids about different kinds of smarts and how different people excel in different ways. The school really does look at the whole child and nuturing as well as educating them. read more

My family and I are very big fans of MHS for a variety of reasons, aside from the education. (I say this not only believing MHS fosters a great education but because I think children are capable of a wonderful education at any of the private and public schools in Marin, if the family/school match is appropriate.) That being said, there are myriad reasons for choosing schools, beyond the education provided. I don't have "gifted" children, nor was I one, myself. I believe my children are smart, interested in learning, kind and willing to listen to others. All parents probably think the same as their own kids. MHS just happens, thankfully, to be the inclusive, adaptable and realistic community we seek. What I'm most impressed with is that the educators and admin don't think they're good enough! They strive to be better at educating, communicating and participating. Who wants a school that, as a whole, feels it's "good enough"? The greatest achievement of education is to constantly improve upon oneself. I also believe MHS puts children first, not the parents. I don't spend my day there; my children do. It makes sense to me to put their (the child's) interests and security first and foremost. If I have a concern, disagreement, what not (and who doesn't with every school) it will be heard. I attended MCDS myself, Urban in SF and then Tasis England (boarding school). My kids might have been able to attend MCDS but we didn't even try. Legacy isn't important to me. The right match is far more important and thus far, we're at MHS for another 10 years. For those who aren't happy with MHS, I hope they find a good match and I'm sure they will. Most importantly, MHS puts kids first and when kids are happy and thriving, the parents usually are, as well. read more

Marin Horizon School could be the best kept secret in childhood education. When we enrolled our first child at the school as a Toddler, I was a little skeptical about whether we needed to consider private schools. After all, Mill Valley has really good public schools. Then, as I watched my daughter get into the program -- as she quickly started to love to learning -- it became apparent that there is something very special in the air at MHS. I am quite convinced that it comes from the faculty and their relentless dedication to teaching each and every child as individuals while engaging them as part of the community at the same time. Seven years later, with my daughter entering fourth grade and my son entering first grade, I have become a total convert on the importance and value of an MHS education. Yes my kids read, do math, explain science to me, etc all at grade levels higher than I would have anticipated (they're not gifted, by the way) but even more important, they are engaged in their learning process. They treasure their education as much as I do -- could I ask for more? read more

My daughter is in the 5th grade at MHS. She has been there since she was a 2-year old in the Toddler Class" (my, that's 9 years!). There are many things that makes this school special. I guess we have to begin with the teachers. They are experienced and absolutely dedicated to the kids' education. You should see the bond that forms...remarkable! Beyond teachers, the curriculum is so innovative. The "spiral curriculum" sees each year's learning build upon what was taught the year(s) before. And early on, the students learn great life skills like public speaking (that begins with "sharing" in primary classes), how to research subjects, peaceful conflict resolution, time management, etc., etc. One of the key aspects of the school, in fact what I think makes the school different from all others, is how, in effect, each child receives a "personalized" education. Of course, all the kids study the same material in the classroom. But the student:teacher ratio is so low (12:1 student:teacher; 9:1 student:teacher + specialists [art, music, etc]) that the teachers are able to learn what each kid needs and to provide it. If a child needs help in a subject area, s/he gets extra help. If the child learns faster, more challenging work is provided. So each child really does receive an education tailored to the child's particular needs. I guess the proof of the pudding is in the results. 90% of the graduates get into one of their top choice high schools. I wouldn't have my daughter anywhere else. read more

I was a student at Marin Horizon, and let's just say that not only did I have the best time in middle school, but every grade I went through was an experience that I will never forget. My parents were going to pull me out to Park School, after 1st grade, but decided to stay, and they say to this day that it was one of the best decisions ever made. The teachers are encouraging, inspiring, and just fun to be around. I had relationships with my teachers that I know I could not get anywhere else. I am proud to be a part of the Marin Horizon School community, and there is no other place that I would of rather been. The environment was nurturing and I never felt like I was judged, at all. My whole experience in middle school was something that I can't even begin to explain. My teachers were getting us engaged in things that I didn't know I would ever like, and even though the sports aren't as competitive as other schools, we still bring the most spirit out of any school. It's disappointing for me to be reading those negative comments because truthfully overall, Marin Horizon has given me the options that I would of never been able to have if I went to any other school. Yes, it is small, but that allows us all to do things such as going on class camping trips or bond with the younger kids. I know for a fact that if you went to any other school, they wouldn't let you go off campus when you are in 8th grade for lunch, and that is the type of trust that the teachers have in the students. I thank Marin Horizon for being some of the best years of my life, because yet again, words cannot describe how much I loved it there. So, hopefully this comes across as helpful, because I know that if you ask almost any family that goes there currently, they will talk about how fantastic it truly is. Going on to high school was sad for me to do, but when I got there, I knew that they had prepared me. I was happy, engaged, challenged, and supported at Marin Horizon. Why wouldn't you want your child to be that? I loved going to school everyday, and the energy was amazing. So thank you MHS for caring for me, and helping me throughout my life. read more