There are a lot of great music classes for kids, however none of them have the extra special touch…read morethat Music Makers offers--exposure to guest musicians, music theory and opportunities to play on "real" kids sized instruments. Have you ever seen a kid-sized cello? My toddler was completely amazed by the opportunity to play on this tiny instrument. He sat in the chair, grabbed the bow and began to "play" and sing Twinkle Little Star. There is a different instrument each week, for my son to "check out." Where else can you have a rich experience like this? Music Makers gives us a delightful exposure to music, movement and singing AND is an excellent primer for my child to learn more advanced study of music when the time comes. Cindy has been teaching for over 25 years, and has all kinds of tricks/gifts to keep the kids focused and engaged. I always learn something too! Check out her free preview class and see for yourself!

Awesome music class for kids (1.5-6 years old)! My 3-yr-olds attended the Music Makers summer class…read moreseries and absolutely loved it. The class CD is their music of choice for the car, and they keep asking about 'their' class over and over, despite that the series is now over. We signed up for the upcoming fall session and can't wait for it to start. Cindy, who teaches all the classes (together with a piano accompanist), is excellent in keeping all the kids engaged. She uses all kinds of clever interactive approaches that even the most distracted kids get intrigued, and want to participate. I like that she emphasizes the learning aspect - so kids, while having fun, also get to learn about music and try a variety of different instruments. I am not easily impressed with classes, but this one is a really good one. If you want to get a taste before committing, Music Makers offer free preview classes.

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 librarian, Lisa Brigulio, is AMAZING! She teaches my kids in a fresh and exciting way that…read moremakes my kid feel euphoric. This lady needs a raise!!

Finally Purcell is retiring !!!! I thought the day would never come. Please don't let the door…read morehit you on the way out.

It's hard to describe in words why The Little School in Tiburon is so amazing. Is it the teachers?…read moreIs it the parents? Is it the individual attention each child receives due to the class size? Or is it all the above? My son comes home from school on a daily basis with new knowledge that I am so proud of. Whether it is about the circle of life of a caterpillar or the transformation of a simple vegetable from the garden to a healthy snack such as zucchini bread, I love how the teachers are so hands on with their teaching approach. They play, they do gymnastics, they garden, they hike, they have music class, all while learning their numbers and how to write their letters. From Nursery to Pre-K, my son is learning the tools for him to excel in Kindergarten.

The Little School Tiburon is absolutely wonderful! The play-based education, the facilities and…read moreprograms all make The Little School Tiburon the best choice for pre-school. But what truly differentiates this school from every preschool in Marin, is its extraordinary teachers and the community. We could not find a better place than The Little School Tiburon for our children for some of the most crucial years of their education. We are currently in our third year and my kids are so excited to go to school every morning!!

Mill Valley Nursery School was such an amazing experience for our family. We sent both of our kids…read morethere and not only did the school make us better, more informed parents, but we made some amazing friends as well. It's a very special community. Once your kids get into elementary school, you realize how removed you are from their education, but at MVNS you get to be a part of it. I will forever cherish that time. I highly recommend this preschool!

We have been at Mill Valley Nursery School with two of our daughters and it's been a wonderful…read moreexperience. MVNS is truly a special place for preschoolers to do what they do best: play. The outdoor space is one of a kind along with the resident chickens. Our director is also amazing and leads with a deep understanding of child development. The emergent, play based curriculum has helped our girls thrive and prepare them for elementary school. There is also no other place in Mill Valley we can be as involved in their early childhood education which has been helpful in my parenting journey. On top of that, the community is warm and supportive and we all get to know one another's children in deep and meaningful ways. We'll be sad to leave MVNS, however the benefits of being here will impact us the rest of our lives!

Well, if you want 'inexpensive' schooling for your K-2 grader(s). Want heavy parental involvement…read more Exceptional teaching and unbelievable infrastructure and accoutrement (I don't think they teach French, can't you tell). Send your kid to a great public school system (The Reed Unified School District). I didn't learn my multiplication tables until the 4th grade but in the middle of the 2nd grade they are into multiplication, division already! They have a strong emphasis on the 'three R's" but blended into modern methods. The teachers are just phenomenal. Thank you Gillespie, Spindler, Raiche, McLernan, Modlin and Eagen!!!

Key points I wish I had known: LACK OF DIVERSITY -take a look at reddit, news articles, google…read morethese 3 words: marin county racism. See if its a good fit for your family values. THE WEBSITE for the schools here makes the school appear more diverse than they are, one of the minority kids doesn't even attend these schools- I don't know about the rest, but you should visit the area when the school is released and determine for yourself if the website is consistent with what you see with your own eyes. Also take a look at staff composition of school staff, Town staff, police and emergency staff, and the composition of the kids in the after school programs. HIRE TUTORS- apparently its a well known secret that most hire private tutors etc. and this is reflected in the scores of this area. The private tutors and learning centers may fill you in on what the real deal is in the area. Hope this helps you before your kid is set back years. Also be aware that the learning centers in local distance all have ties to the schools/staff. PENSION FIASCO - read up on the articles that explain why /how this county is luring young families here. SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS read about the election and what they did to Matt Nagle and what his platform was. The "DISCRETION" built into rules and if they are arbitrarily applied. WATCH BIG LITTLE LIES-I heard that everyone who wants to move here should watch it. I gave an extra star because everything does look pretty. It's a shame people are moving here from the city thinking their kids will get a better education.

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.

My daughter had the privilege to attend Marin Horizon School for 8th grade and her experience…read moreexceeded 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!

We've been at Marin Horizon from pre-K through 6th grade so far. It's an excellent and unique…read moreschool. 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.

This thanksgiving, there are many things to be thankful for, one of them is to recognize this…read moreestablishment! "The Edna maguire Mustangs are racing in the right direction " I would like to express my appreciation for the Edna Maguire elementary school of Mill Valley . It is a great thing to observe that the educators care about each other in the challenging time of the Pandemic . A well organized and professional environment, Mr Leo Kostelnik the Principal's daily announcements are educative and brainstorming for kids , by which he oversees a highly talented and dedicated people! It is a product of team efforts , skills and talent ! Some with 20 years experience in education , The Teachers produce high quality work ! Teachers like Mrs Ordonez, Mrs scholtz are fantastic without forgetting other teachers , like Lisa Monge , Mrs Jen ( Calm and relaxation expert )Mrs Bremer , Lindsay Caruso, Miekley Leslie , la lanne Jackie , Jennifer Ferrer , Fielder Leslie, Mr Mares and Mr Tong , They are very patient , enthusiastic and love their job ! The zoom link distance- learning is successful . Kids seem to be happy , learning and following along well ! As the teachers and kids are preparing to go back to school for in person learning when it's the right time ! The school is well prepared. Masks and hand sanitizers are used frequently! The classrooms are kept clean and health precautions are observed! Keep up the good work and happy thanksgiving!