At 165 years, St. Vincent's School for Boys is one of California's oldest schools. Founded in 1855,…read moreunder the direction of Jose Sadoc Alemany, 1st Archbishop of San Francisco. The school's current campus was designed in the 1920's by Leo Mitchell in a seamless mix of the Spanish Baroque and Mission Revival styles. It's crowning centerpiece is without a doubt its extraordinary Californian Churrigueresque style.

STUNNING WEDDING VENUE (4.5 stars)…read more My good friend married his beautiful love at this location 08.09.14!!! The property was spacious, the church was beautiful, and to witness the union was incredibly sweet. Mass was given (yay! Don't have to go Sunday). Next to the church opens up to a courtyard which held cocktail hour. Open bar of basic beer, wine, and bubbly were served. Mini appetizers were also served by waitstaff on silver platters. There wasn't much shade and everybody went to the side buildings to save themselves from melting in the scorching sun. In the back was another larger outdoor courtyard where the reception was held. For an "all boys" school the restroom was neutral for the evening. BUT we discovered a (fairly clean) women's restroom near the swimming pools. This gorgeous venue also turns erie at night... Lol especially the kids playground resembling a scary scene from a horror film. We rolled super deep for the wedding and all sat together. And every single one of us were blown away by the setup. Buffet style eats, open bar, pictures and videos, homie deep, and talking about "the years" when we all met each other when I was 19 and here we are in our mid 30s celebrating Jtec's wedding!!!! Time flies, I heart my extended BayArea SPAMilia. The best part of the evening... Everybody gone, staff packing up, we all run to the dancefloor, DJ spinning songs just for us, jamming tunes underneath the cold evening night (drunk), and some jumping into the courtyard fountain!!! CLASSIC. That's was one of the funnest weddings I have ever attended. Can someone get engage and have another wedding here!

After visiting a lot of churches in Marin and Sonoma County over 18 months, I tried Valley Baptist…read morein San Rafael and never looked further. The new pastor, David Craig, is an outstanding theologian who gives inspiring, Biblical, applicable sermons every Sunday. His Sunday school classes are worth staying for, also. Pastor David has done the coursework for a Ph.D. (which I think is call ABD - all but dissertation) in theology and has completed his Ph.D. in SERMON GIVING. He arrived right before Christmas and has brought two people to Christ already. Join us to see real Christianity at work - not the liberal "Church of What's Happening Now" variety or the legalistic, squinty-eyed people church. The people are warm and friendly.

After most of my life wanting to read and understand the Bible, God found this church for me…read more Pastor David Craig, is an excellent teacher, very dedicated, knowledgeable, I love his way of teaching , Saturday and Sunday mornings he is there teaching Theology. Also Sunday's service, the church is alive with music, and Lyn singing beautiful sons to our Lord. I look forward to be at church every weekend. I feel like a member of the family. Aurora Miranda

Because I am SURE there are folks looking for graduate theological education opportunities here on…read moreYelp, I thought I would toss in this school. After all, this is where all the cool Presbyterians are going . . . . um like when was the last time "Cool" and "Presbyterian" were used in the same sentence? Only in your head Bruce, only in your head . . . But seriously, solid theological education, a little left of the middle. Dr. Park is AWESOME as is the graduating class of 1995 . . . man I'm getting old ;-)

Wow. SFTS on yelp. Who knew…read more SFTS is set as the castle on the hill (really - built in the early 1900's) in San Anselmo, CA (yeah who'd thought San Francisco Theological Seminary isn't actually in San Francisco). It's a small mostly PCUSA (Presbyterian) seminary that offers a lot of historical critical biblical study, classes in spirituality (mostly contemplative styles), and other such pastoral training classes. You will want to take Professor Love's theology classes and Sister Beth Liebert's spirituality classes (if your ever enrolled here). If you ever get a chance you should come by and check it out.

Both of our children have been at Marin Montessori since they were two and we couldn't be happier…read morewith the experience. The school has provided a nurturing, intellectually rich environment where they are truly thriving, not just academically, but socially and emotionally as well. The level of independence, curiosity, and confidence they've developed is remarkable and we credit so much of that to the thoughtful, experienced teachers and the intentional Montessori approach. The sense of community here is strong and we've felt deeply supported as parents throughout every stage of their development. Marin Montessori is a very special place. It's hard to imagine a better foundation for our kids.

We have one daughter and we put a lot of thought into choosing a school for her. Marin Montessori…read moreSchool has been the best choice we have made for her! She has attended since first grade, and when it came to deciding on middle school, we wholeheartedly decided on the Junior High program at MMS. The growth that we have seen in our daughter at her time at the Junior High (the last year and a half), in terms of confidence and leadership ability has been nothing short of amazing! The faculty and administration are extremely experienced and present for our child. She has not only been challenged, but also supported by them. She has been able to delve deeper into her interests and try new and interesting topics that she might not have otherwise chosen. This year, as part of her Community Life Guild, she has had the opportunity to take on a leadership role, working with the Director of Admissions as a school ambassador to coordinate and arrange all the shadow visits for potential new students coming to the school. This has been an exciting highlight for her this year! The campus itself, located at historic St. Vincent's, is absolutely beautiful and serene. The kids have the opportunity to work on the MMS farm, planting and growing fruit and vegetables (which they harvest and cook), and also tending to animals--chickens, goats, pigs, and this year they have a few pregnant cows who will be giving birth soon! Such a wonderful opportunity to have at a school! The facilities have also been newly renovated including a renovated lounge and a brand-new commercial kitchen for the kids to cook in (they make community lunch every Wednesday). Our daughter will be graduating in the Summer of 2024 and we can honestly say that the Junior High Program at MMS has prepared her for the next chapter and whatever High School she chooses to attend. We can confidently say that she is ready for high school not only from an academic perspective, but also from a personal perspective because she has the confidence to advocate for herself and ask for help when it is needed! The middle school years can be a trying time, but our daughter has thrived at the MMS Junior High. She gets up every morning excited to go to school and eager to learn. What more can we ask for as parents? We highly recommend the Junior High program for anyone looking for a middle school that will offer your child a nurturing, challenging and supportive community!

MA is a great college prep school in the Bay Area!…read more Great location near downtown San Rafael! Amazing school grounds and facilities! Excellent teachers who have a love of learning and want to share these passion with students! Great sports and a NEW AQUATIC CENTER has been built! Truly has a school campus feel in an urban environment! You student will be equipped for that next stage in school!

Ma is a pretty good school and you should definitely look at yelp reviews to decide what high…read moreschool you're going to.

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.

My son attended St. Isabella from K through 8 and my daughter is currently in 4th grade. In that…read moretime we've had a few different principals but the current one, Mrs. Naretto, is by far the best. The size of the school, with one class per grade, is just right allowing everybody to get to know each other and the location, away from busy streets, with a large, grass field is safe. Aftercare is a particularly strong asset as you can use it on an hourly basis, as needed, with no long-term commitment. Teachers really care for the kids and the environment is supportive. I was not catholic when my son first started at SI (I have since become catholic). When we were considering schools for him I was not very religious and was unsure about a catholic education but my wife went to catholic school and felt strongly about it. I have since come to understand the importance of moral teaching, social justice and why it is important for your child, Christian or not, to understand that they are not the center of the universe (despite what mom and dad think!). In addition to giving our son an excellent education that prepared him for high school (he is excelling in his first year at Marin Catholic) SI taught him that serving your community and helping people in need are more than just nice ideas, they are the core of a well adjusted person and a valued member of society. Making a positive impact on the world is as important as knowing your times tables or what year the Declaration of Independence was passed. Maybe more so.

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.

I love OLL. I'm a parent of a first grader, and I truly couldn't be happier with our experience…read more From the start, there has been a strong sense of community that makes the school feel welcoming and supportive, not just on campus but beyond it as well. We absolutely love our first grade teacher, Mrs. Oswald. She brings so much warmth to the classroom and has a wonderful way of keeping the kids engaged and guided without it ever feeling harsh or rigid. Over the past two years, we've had a few situations come up with my son, both health-related and in the classroom, and I've always felt that she was fully in it with us. As a parent, I've felt genuinely supported, not just as an advocate for my child, but as a partner in his growth. That kind of care is rare. I've also been impressed by how the school handles concerns. Whenever something has come up, the school has followed through thoughtfully and addressed it quickly. The classroom community has been incredible, and the relationships extend well beyond the school day. The parents have truly become friends, and we regularly connect outside of school, which has been such a gift for our family. If you're looking for a school where your child is truly seen and where community extends both inside and outside the classroom, OLL is a special place.

I wouldn't recommend paying for this school. It's very cliché, with a mix of parents who either…read morewant to shelter their kids, focus solely on religious education, or send their kids there simply because they attended the same school and/or parents saying via 539, without considering other educational experiences. The school used to have a good reputation, but not anymore. The Academy is no different from any public school. You might get lucky and be placed in a grade with parents who share your goals, but that's not guaranteed. The school's infrastructure is very old and in need of repairs across the board. The only way to fund these repairs is through donations, which come from the parents. So, in addition to paying tuition, you'll be asked to contribute towards fixing chairs and buildings where your kids are being educated. Save your money--consider investing it in tutoring or paying for religious education separately if that's important to you. Or, if you're stuck in a really bad district, then this school might be an escape. On the pro side the school does try to do what they can't but are dragged down with zero money and not the best community of parents.

My wife and I were married here in 2015 and were so thrilled with our experience that we have been…read moreattending church regularly ever since (now with our 1 yr old daughter). It is a great place for anyone looking for a non-judgmental place to find community and pursue spirituality. The church embraces the progressive views Mill Valley is known for and sees its role to pursue social justice and community (current focus is housing policy, sanctuary movement). Its progressive theology is also reflected in its series of speaker forums which occur periodically on Sunday evenings. They also hold superb concerts in the sanctuary which was built in the Arts & Crafts style by a Tam High teacher and students beneath towering redwood trees. The open-mindedness of the congregation and ambitions to pursue social justice is inspiring.

Beautiful and charming place to get married. The interior of the church is very cute and they have…read morea reception hall all in the same location. Across the way is a park that is great for photos. The only con is the parking. Your guest will have to find street parking unless you shuttle them back and forth to the school parking lot that can be rented. I shot a virtual tour of the church also. You can contact me if you'd like to see it.

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.

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.