Hmmm....do I admit I went here? I'm certainly not going to give my graduation year!!…read more Oh, okay. The good: Excellent academics, great facility, gorgeous grounds, awesome teachers. My biology teacher even officiated at my wedding (love you Marty!). Lots of smart kids, lots of artistic kids, I suppose some athletes, but I was SO not one of them. The not-so-good: Yup, it's a snobby private high school in Marin. Lots of kids got really nice cars for their 16th birthdays, lots of entitled rich kids. But I wouldn't say I was ostracized for driving a 1983 volvo wagon... Because it's small, there isn't a lot of social diversity, and very little ethnic/socioeconomic diversity. And I don't even want to think how much it costs to go there now, or how much it will be in (gulp) 2018 when my son heads off to high school. I can guarantee the only way we'll afford to send him is is if he gets some alumni-kid scholarship!

What an incredible school! I've had the privilege now twice to attend a school performance because…read morewe have a friend on staff. What I wouldn't give to have attended a school like this. The grounds are immaculate. It has so much charm and none of the pompousness you may expect from a place like this. The performances we saw were very well done and so much fun to watch. The only down side is I have to start saving now because my 5 year old says she wants to go here when she's older.

I went to high school here and it was not as pretty as it is now. What lucky kids, and they…read moreprobably don't know how good they have it. Talk about an institution for learning.

The sheer enjoyment of giving an opinion to my high school as an adult seems so beautifully…read morecathartic, and so wrong. Just perfect, so me. Why is Tam so much more fly than when I went there? It's not like I went to school in the dark ages. I'm not forty. I'm not embarassed to tell anyone that I'm 26 years of age and that I was class of 2000. That school, for the area that we are in was incredibly ghetto in my opinion a few years back. Our science classes had no new equipment and so we would be stuck with twenty year old beakers that you couldn't read the measurements on. The glass on the tubes seemed so thin I was always terrified it would break in my hands when I put them in the centrifuge (oh yeah, sorry, we didn't have a centrifuge, bummer). My drama department, for whom I will represent until I die, holla CTE, holla, had productions in a ghetto side room attached to the gym which we called "the black box". Folding chairs half falling apart and duck taped stage boxes were what we used to create "lavish" productions and blocking. But I guess maybe we had it better. We needed to create bigger and larger concepts in order to make the meager surroundings fantastic to our audience. We had to work harder. The back parking lot was filled with potholes, which would damage my car. Hence, the fact I was that asshole student that parked my nice car in Mead theatre (yes, right in Mead theatre to those that know it) and for some reason got away with it. Must have been that crazy rockstar mentality of "fuck you, and who gives a fuck" that I had back then, and still retain to this current day. Some of my teachers were incredible, hence the four stars, that's just for you guys! I had some inspirational teachers that literally changed my life like Dr. Cruz and Susan Brashear. They helped to make me believe in myself and were my home away from home while going through those difficult formative years which I try to keep telling them have never really gone away. My high school reunion is coming up soon. I'll be interested to see all those people that I never really liked that tried to cheat off of my science and foreign language tests, who I never let. It wasn't my fault that they didn't study or get it. I'll have to re-dye my hair the color it is now, pink, which is the color it was in school 8 years ago. Oh, and show up in my Ferrari with one of my sexy high school teachers that they'll probably assume I was sleeping with in school (did I? hmmmm......) as my date so that I can really come back and throw 'em through a loop. I do have a note to my science teacher at Tam though. You know who you are, the one that told me that I would never become of anything, and that I was cheating beacuse I didn't need to study like the other kids, because I understood it and it came second nature to me. The one that told me I should be a writer and not a veterinarian. Well hey there, I was top of my class in Boston in sciences. So eat that shit bitch! See staff of Tamalpais High School!!!! I haven't changed a bit. I just have a better car, more authority, I'm more obnoxious, and have a better laywer.

My two children have been attending Marin Waldorf School for three years, starting in preschool and…read morekindergarten. They are currently in kindergarten and 2nd grade. In the beginning, we chose this school for its strong and nurturing environment, where every detail--from the physical space to the daily rhythm--is thoughtfully designed to support children's growth and learning. Over the years, our appreciation for the school has only deepened. We are especially grateful for the dedication and care of the teachers and staff, who not only support each child as an individual but also foster a sense of community among the students. Contrary to some misconceptions about Waldorf education, this school offers a progressive approach that truly prepares children to be thoughtful, engaged citizens in the modern world. We feel incredibly fortunate to be part of such a special school community.

Our son is currently in kindergarten at Marin Waldorf School, where there are two teachers for…read moresixteen students. He can be shy, but he quickly formed strong bonds with his teachers and made friends faster than we expected. Within the first week, we noticed a real shift. He became more confident, independent, and better regulated at home. It truly felt like he had been longing for something he finally found. The school's emphasis on rhythm, storytelling, singing, nature, practical work, and the seasons suits him beautifully. He especially loves starting each morning with a short run near the ancient oak tree before circle time. The time spent outdoors has been incredibly grounding for him. The campus spans ten acres, with plenty of space for the younger children to explore and a separate area for the grade school students. The parent community has also been a wonderful surprise. Families are welcomed with coffee and tea at drop-off, which creates space to connect with other parents and the staff. There are also parent groups, music evenings, lectures, and seasonal festivals throughout the year. Most importantly, our child is genuinely excited to go to school each morning. As busy working parents, we feel very grateful to have found this school. We would wholeheartedly recommend Marin Waldorf School to families looking for a warm, nurturing, and thoughtfully run early childhood program.

I'm always careful to speak out about Oak Hill School because my son isn't a "typical" attendee…read more He's ADD and not neurotypical, but never tested as on the spectrum. We went through four different public school Special Ed systems in different districts, tried multiple interventions and strategies, but his engagement with the curriculum in public school had ground to a halt by the time he reached seventh grade. Knowing he was out-of-the-box, I started looking for a place where he could thrive on his own terms. He's curious and inventive, but not one for marching to anyone else's drum. The public school system kept trying to "break" him, to make him conform - and I understand why! They have many students and they can't cater to each individual, but if you're trying to "break" my younger son, you'd better come to the table with a lifetime supply of patience and endurance because I've lived with him for seventeen years now and I've yet to see a crack in his persistence. It took eight months to entreat the district for a transfer. Since he didn't test as on the spectrum, they questioned why I thought it was a good fit for him, but within weeks, he was engaging with the teacher and staff. Over the last three years, he's gone from wholly unresponsive in public school to developing his own ice cream business with a fellow student, budgeting and making the product, participating in a Sonoma State University survey of non-neurotypical students to provide feedback for NASA's research on an astronomy course, participating in a student internship at a local restaurant and engaging with his fellow students. The staff and faculty is indeed like a family, as one of the other reviewers said. Only maybe better than most families. I can't speak from her perspective, but from my own, it's a place of tremendous acceptance. A place where the students are valued for their gifts, where they're encouraged to advocate for themselves and aided in expanding into their potential. Finding Oak Hill has truly been a turning point for our family. I found it at a point where I'd begun to despair that my son wouldn't make it out of the public school system in one piece, when the hurdle of high school graduation had felt remote and improbable. He's now approximately a year and a half from graduation and we've discussed college options. He's interested in science and engineering. Finding the right school for our children is SUCH a personal decision and one's experience can vary so much from the next. Many of the schools where my sons struggled were highly ranked. Quite a few of them offered programs I might've loved when I was their ages, but hypotheticals don't translate to the individual needs of our kids. All I can say is, Oak Hill is an incredible place with a staff and faculty of warm, thoughtful people and my son has become more thoughtful and engaged through his association with them.

This has been a wonderful school for my son John. He's struggled for many years, and we found the…read morefaculty to be wildly supportive. Charlie Beavis in particular has been an incredible counselor for John, both academically and spiritually. The positivity and light that radiates throughout the campus has been undeniable. We definitely made the right decision looking back over the past few years.

We have travelled extensively and my children have experienced different school environments…read more The New Village School is a fantastic school, a place where children love to learn. A lot care and attention goes into the education that each child receives. The children are encouraged to be individuals, free thinkers and most importantly, they are allowed to be children. A lot of emphasis in put on respect for each other and their surroundings. I urge anyone in doubt to pay the school a visit and see how happy the children are because their holistic development is nurtured.

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.

We were a new 6th grade family joining the MDS community. Our son was previously at Highlands…read moreChristian Schools in San Bruno from 18 months old (They have a wonderful toddler daycare) to the 5th grade. It was great for our son to be entering the 6th grade at a new school with another dozen or so new children from outside schools. The summer buddy family program gave us an opportunity to meet other rising 6th graders and their families. We cannot thanks these parents enough for the warm welcome prior to the start of the school year. In the 6th grade the kids are given their own laptops to be used throughout Middle School. The 6th grade 4 day Outdoor Ed trip to Pinnacle National Park fell on our sons birthday. It was his first time away without any parent chaperones and he loved it. The school dealt with COVID-19 by following the science and took great precautions to ensure the safety of the children. In late March 2019 there was a 2 week teacher training then the kids were back in school via Zoom. We continued to use distance learning in the 7th grade until the winter break when he returned to the classroom. He is now in the 8th grade and we feel grateful to MDS for keeping our kids and community safe. The teachers, administrators and staff are 100% vaccinated as are the students age 12 and older. The kids ages 5-11 are now catching up to reach 100% vaccinated. The high level of education and life experiences our son is getting at MDS has exceeded our expectation. He has made new friends and is excited to be looking at the next chapter of his education, High School. We highly recommend this independent school.

As a parent with more than one child at Mark Day School, what continues to stand out most is how…read moredeeply the school truly knows each student. Beyond academics, teachers take the time to understand who children are--their strengths, challenges, interests, and values--and help them discover how they want to contribute to the world around them. Mark Day School builds on basic structures of academic knowledge acquisition and focuses on something far more meaningful: developing thoughtful, reflective, engaged humans. The culture encourages students to think critically, speak confidently, and act with empathy and purpose. Public speaking, collaboration, and self-awareness are woven naturally into daily life, not treated as add-ons. The result is a community of children who are not only capable learners, but genuinely wonderful people--curious, grounded, and a joy to be around. Mark Day has a rare ability to shape students who will contribute to society in meaningful, positive ways, and as a parent, that gives me tremendous confidence in the education my children are receiving.

The typical public school wasn't working for my daughter so we looked around to see what else there…read morewas. HPS is a unique one-to-one teaching situation that allowed her to catch up on the subjects she was behind. Before HPS, she thought she didn't have the smarts for math or science, but after a few months at HPS she became confident in math and science -- all she needed was a new approach...an approach no other school in Marin has. Now (two years later) she has blossomed into a confident teen who is interested in life and the world. We owe her transformation to HPS and she would say the same!

Headlands Prep has been a fabulous experience for our daughter. She is extremely bright and…read moreinquisitive, and the teachers have met her interest, challenged her, guided her and really connected with her every step of the way. Along with her academic interest, she has ADD and this has proven no hurdle at Headlands. The teachers are equipped with the right tools to keep students engaged, let up when necessary, and refocus when required. The administration is incredibly student-focused and understands the different learning styles that make a learning community. Our daughter has felt supported, has grown academically and has connected socially. We really couldn't have asked for a better middle school and high school experience!

What can I say about this amazing place! Every year kids are getting into UCLA, UCB, Cal Poly SLO,…read moreUC Davis, USC etc. I am not talking about a few kids, I am talking about a huge amount. My own kid got int Cal :)From the exceptional Counselors (Laura T) , to the award winning teachers, this place is awesome! I am so grateful for the education my kids received from this High School. If you are lucky enough to get accepted into the STEM program, you will have Mr. Williams, who is absolutely wonderful. My son decided to study physics due to this amazing teacher. I love, Love, everything about this school. My kids were involved in Volleyball, football, baseball, Lacrosse, and wrestling. All I can say is the coaches and experience was great. The community of Novato is so involved in school activities. This is a place where the teachers actually care about the kids. Novato itself is a gem with tons of hiking trails and great weather. People really care about each other in this town, and I hope it never changes.

We were Visitors for the jr. peewee football league, but treated very nicely…read more Beautiful views. Bleachers were nice. Garbage cans were emptied during the game. Clean restrooms. $5 for adults, kids were free.

My daughter attended MP&MS from the age of three through eighth grade, and she is now thriving in…read morehigh school. We recently had our first parent-teacher conferences, and every single one of her high school teachers shared the same observation: she knows who she is, understands how she learns, and confidently advocates for herself -- qualities they said are remarkably rare among freshmen. To me, that speaks volumes about the education she received at MP&MS. This is a school that does so much more than teach academics. It nurtures confidence, independence, curiosity, compassion, and a strong sense of self. The teachers truly see each child as an individual and give them the tools to succeed long after they leave. After ten years as part of this community, I can say with complete confidence that MP&MS gave my daughter an extraordinary foundation, not just for high school, but for life. We couldn't be more grateful.

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.

my daugher graduated from san domenico in 2017 with honors and, as a result, was very well…read morepositioned to select the college of her choice. her san domenico experience was tremendous, and a part of her life that i'm sure she will never forget, especially considering the very close friends she made in the four years she attended. the ethnic diversity sd offered and championed never ceased to amaze me, a diversity that also encompassed international students from every corner of the world. i was equally impressed with sd's willingness to make their tremendous academic program accessible to lower income families, which further enriched the sd experience. having said that, my daughter enrolled at sd when it was an all-girls high school, and her class remained all-girls throughout her time there, as the classes below her began to accept boys due to sd's (controversial) decision to move away from an all-girls high school format. parenthetically, i can't say enough about what i consider to be the enormous personal and academic benefits an all-girls high school can offer. my daughter also attended sd when it was considered a "catholic school", however it could hardly be compared to the "catholic school" sd once was decades ago, which i considered to be a positive. altho we are a catholic family, we had no desire for our daughter to attended a rigidly denominational high school, instead our priorities were focused on the education and academic support she would receive, which sd delivered in spades. now that sd is no longer an all-girls school, i'm sure it's quite a different experience. however i am close friends with two families who have high school age boys enrolled at sd, and they have been very happy with the experience.

We transferred here after two years in a local public school and cannot be happier. The campus is…read moreextraordinary and filled with beauty all around, from the redwoods to the babbling stream. Education with purpose is not only their motto but one they truly live up to. The community and staff are down to earth and kind and inclusive and educated and driven and all around wonderful. They truly shape the minds and the character of the students to be sharp, creative, and conscientious members of society.