I'm going to be honest and share that Educare wasn't our first choice. At the time, I thought I…read morewanted something more niche or up with the trends of other types of school styles and we chose Educare because we found them to be the most dual income family friendly with hours starting at 730am-5pm and year round so no need to plan for summer camps. Turns out, Educare was the best decision we could have made for our us and our kids, especially having compared notes with friends from other schools. We started there as early as 22 months- the youngest that they'll take them. Educare has provided so much growth for my kids- both socially and academically. They've grown to speak up for themselves, to work both independently and as a team, to behave appropriately at restaurants, make friends easily at playgrounds, focus on tasks, cope with quiet time, try new things/foods, and transition successfully through various situations and scenarios. The teachers and staff approach everything with such empathy and love- even potty training. My youngest had issues pooping in the potty and it was a long two month journey. Instead of making it my problem, the teachers approached it with patience and worked with my little one until she was fully able to let go of the fear and anxiety. One of my favorite things that Educare does, aside from providing breakfast/snacks/lunch, is celebrate all the various cultural holidays and occasions. They also provide two parent/teacher conferences twice a year- both of which the school stays open vs closed like others. The community of parents and friends we've met have been so special. Lastly, I couldn't have asked for my kiddo to be more prepared for kindergarten. We didn't have to spend time after dinner or before bedtime to help them catch up either emotionally or academically. As our kinder teacher shared during our first parent/teacher conference when discussing various school assessments, "the Educare kids usually all do really well."

Educare is such a wonderful school. We had our son at a more strict, more well-known Montessori and…read moreit didn't feel right (too sterile, no smiles!) -- then we found Educare and my son has absolutely thrived here. The teachers and staff blend a high degree of learning with fun, they host so many great events to learn about different cultures, and it's a total bonus that the kids learn in both Spanish and English. As we're heading to kindergarten this fall, it's clear that the Educare kids are extremely well prepared to enter kindergarten with confidence. And if you're planning to be in the LCM public schools, it's awesome for the kids to have so many familiar Educare kids at their elementary school. I'm truly grateful that we found Educare and want to spread the word -- they didn't show up as prominently in my original search as some of the preschools with a more 'elite' reputation. But now that I've seen many friends go through many different pre-schools, I can say with confidence that Educare stands out for nurturing and preparing kids for kindergarten -- socially, emotionally and academically. Moving my son to Educare is one of the best parenting decisions I've made.

We were at CMLC for 3 years, and our experience was stellar! The teachers are so loving,…read morethoughtful, and intentional. There is absolutely no "going through the motions." The Reggio Emilia approach to childhood education allowed our son to blossom into himself rather than be molded into someone he is not. The teachers know each student intimately. Natural Classroom days allowed our kid to explore beautiful surroundings with friends at his own pace. We will miss the bonds created at Curious Minds! Highly recommend!

I can't recommend CMLC enough. We have been with them for over 6 years and (2) kids. We feel…read morehonored to be part of the little community that is built around this school and will miss it dearly. The teachers go above and beyond in so many ways to engage our kids in new activities and help them grow. They also provide weekly photos, weekly summaries of activities, topics, challenges faced by our children as well as the class room as a whole. Not to mention the quarterly review letters, that call out our children's strengths, challenges and learning path ahead. Jackie is a 5 star administrator. She has been there every step of the way to build the CMLC community as well as keep us updated on current events effecting the school. She has provided in depth advice for both of our children to set them on the best path forward. THANK YOU!!!!

I learned about NPNS through my sister and sister in law, they both sent their kids here and had…read morereally positive experiences. I am so happy we started our daughter this year. It is a coop so there is some family involvement like working one day a week in the preschool which is one of the main reasons I joined. I love being able to get a first hand look of my daughter learning through play and how she is interacting with her peers. I also love that it is mainly outdoors, play based, child centered, and Reggio Emilia inspired. The teachers are so supportive, nurturing, and have so much knowledge on child development. If a coop preschool can work for your schedule I highly recommend enrolling your child. I am so happy to have found this special school/community.

We love NPNS! It feels wonderful to have found a primarily outdoor program focused on play. The…read moreenvironment is set up nicely so there is something for everyone. I love that the activities never feel forced and kids can explore as they choose while being surrounded by caring and supportive teachers and parent volunteers. It feels like a very developmentally healthy program for children where they can just be themselves. I feel supported as a parent that there are other caring adults helping to keep an eye on my kids and I enjoy working with and getting to know other families/children. Teacher Laurynn does a wonderful music class and plays the guitar. My kids are constantly singing the songs at home!

I attended Marin Horizon in the early-mid 2000s, from 3rd through 8th grade. Those years were…read moreextremely formative for me, but unfortunately were not positive - in fact I remember them today as being the worst years of my life. The academics at MHS may have been good, but were rendered irrelevant by the brutal, ceaseless bullying I experienced, the scars of which haunt me to this day. I have memories of horrible things my classmates did to me while the faculty and administration stood by and did nothing. It pains me to think that my parents spent so much money for me to be treated so poorly, and even today I wonder how I made it through those years of misery and came out the other side. Today I'm 32 and have a wonderful and fulfilling life that I am extremely proud of - everything I have is not because of, but rather in spite of, my time at MHS.

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!

My two boys have gone through Brookside and absolutely thrived. The teachers are ALL amazing,…read morededicated, nurturing, loving, smart, wonderful people who have allowed my children their own voice with just the right amount of guidance. My boys have gone from shy to confident well-prepared for the next step kids. The admin and staff are so strong and supportive of both kids and parents. Brookside has the academics partnered Social Emotional Learning, buddy programs, Special Education (with amazing support for children and families), Stem programs, service learning (Children 4 Change), Outdoor Education, Integrated Reading & Writing Curriculum, Award-winning Music programs, Visual & Theater Arts programs, and more all of this at our beautiful elementary schools. The support for special education is absolutely solid. RVSD schools are top notch in all ways. Thank you for making my children's experience so very special!

I've had kids at two different RVSD schools. Both of them have been excellent. Our experience at…read moreBrookside for the district-wide T-K program was wonderful. The teacher was loving, fun, and incredibly patient with a diverse group of lively 4-5 year olds. The other school we've been at is Hidden Valley and the staff and community there are lovely. The teachers know all the kids, and the Principal not only knows all the kids names, but she knows a good number of the parent's names too. I remember volunteering in the garden after school and she came out to help. Then she thanked me for all my volunteering even though I work full time. She remembered that from a prior conversation, I didn't even recall. The school has a buddy program so kids are partnered-a younger student with an older one. My kids love it.

This is the best preschool, and we highly recommend it. Solange is a loving, well-trained,…read morereliable, and experienced caregiver. It is so important for children to be cared for in a loving manner, and to have easy access to a large yard where they can safely learn about nature and about gardening. Solange is also a great cook! Our child loves Solange!

We've been sending our 3.5 year old to Solange's preschool for nearly 2 years now and her younger…read moresister will be joining her soon. Solange creates such a warm environment for learning. Her students love her dearly. She has a montessori teaching credentials and decades of experience teaching preschool. Her curriculum includes advanced concepts like seasons, holidays, countries, gardening and cooking. Solange also has a beautiful indoor/outdoor space with so much light and fresh air. She uses her extensive garden to teach the children about caring for plants, about patience and long term gratification. In true Montessori tradition, Solange also supports their growth and self sufficiency in areas like hygiene, dressing, cleaning, and other fine motor/coordination skills like cutting, tracing, and pasting. Interpersonal skills abound at Solange's. I find my daughter asking me how my heart feels, meaning she's interested I understanding my feelings. She coaches herself to take a breath when upset, and recounts appropriate behavior in group situations 'we don't push our friends'. Overall, we are so glad we found such an incredible teacher for our two girls during these formative years. Please consider sending your child to Solange's Montessori Preschool. Our daughters would like to meet your kiddos!

My two boys have gone through Brookside and absolutely thrived. The teachers are ALL amazing,…read morededicated, nurturing, loving, smart, wonderful people who have allowed my children their own voice with just the right amount of guidance. My boys have gone from shy to confident well-prepared for the next step kids. The admin and staff are so strong and supportive of both kids and parents. Brookside has the academics partnered Social Emotional Learning, buddy programs, Special Education (with amazing support for children and families), Stem programs, service learning (Children 4 Change), Outdoor Education, Integrated Reading & Writing Curriculum, Award-winning Music programs, Visual & Theater Arts programs, and more all of this at our beautiful elementary schools. The support for special education is absolutely solid. RVSD schools are top notch in all ways. Thank you for making my children's experience so very special!

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.