Life is a journey, not a destination…read more - Ralph Waldo Emerson This quote is the bedstone of Linda's practice. Though the destination is 'college' with Linda's individualized guidance the journey of discovery revealed several excellent college matches for our son. We interviewed numerous college counselors. Immediately we knew Linda was the right professional to take the overwhelming worry out of the daunting college process. She is thoughtful, inviting, well educated and absolutely client centered. Linda has a wealth of applicable knowledge and experience. She worked tirelessly with our son to find the right fit. Her method kept him organized and on track with regular meetings and check ins. More importantly he enjoyed working with her! Ultimately, Linda's expertise and guidance was integral in his Early Decision acceptance to Cornell. We look forward to watching our son work into his full potential and are overwhelmingly grateful for her help.

Better be good at computers because she refused to give me any written documentation of the…read more'research' she had compiled for my daughter, which is like a doctor refusing to release your medical chart! Not a good fit for our family at all.

ACA is dreadful…read more.. Just before my son got into ACA, his camp behavioral therapist said to me she believed he was being coached by the other parent to alienate him from me. And she was willing to work with me to ensure my relationship with my son remained healthy. Later, she started working at ACA and said her director Shana had told her she could no longer communicate with me. Dismayed, I reached out to Shana to resolve the issue, but she wouldn't respond. I then contacted the teacher again who emailed me stating my son hates me and the sooner I'm out of his life the better ... unreal. She did a complete 180 on me. Her response was probably due to her worrying about her job more than anything, which shows the power toxic people have over others. Regardless, teachers should never speak to any parent like that. After that, I show up to pick up my son and see Shana approaching my car with a stern look on her face. She then leans into my car window and demands I pay her. I told her to step away from my car, she then threatened to call the police and record me (she did neither -- essentially manipulating the situation), and all this happened in front of my son and his classmates. To say this behavior was out of line and unprofessional is an understatement. After the altercation Shana emails me (and for some reason, my ex-wife) threatening that I can't go on her property again ... the result? I must pick up my son from the adjacent church. On top of all that, the school accused me of stealing the papers my son brings home, which is asinine -- don't you keep copies?! Even worse, when speaking with the San Rafael school district they communicated to me the information received from ACA is unreliable, in other words my son isn't getting the education he deserves. And here's the real kicker, if you have any issues with this school you'll have to go to court. Why? Because it's a non-accredited school that answers to no one. Children should be in environments where there's structure and kindness, not toxicity. If you're thinking of having your child in this school, I highly recommend you do your homework to help with your decision making. I'm not the only parent who has had trouble with Shana.

Stop right here if you are searching for a school that is accepting, nurturing and goes above and…read morebeyond to work with kids that may struggle socially, behaviorally or academically in a larger school setting. Prior to ACA, my now 7 year old with ADHD, was in TK distress at a Novato public school. We made the move for Kindergarten and now 1st grade. Best decision ever!! The Director, Shana, has a gift of understanding what children with special needs (ADHD, ASD, Social Pragmatics, etc) need and how to help any parent through the challenges it may present. At ACA, my son has been given the chance to thrive academically with all the extra social and emotional supports that are often unavailable in public school. ACA is truly a diamond in the rough and deserves a major shout out!!!

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!

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.

If you're looking at schools in Novato, put Our Lady of Loretto on your list. The thing that won us…read moreover is how much it's truly about the kids. It's a small school, classes around 14 --15 kids and that means every single child is actually known here. My kids don't get lost in the shuffle; their teachers know them, notice when they need a nudge, and celebrate the little wins. Walking in, it just feels warm. I have made wonderful parent friends too. Can't ask for much more than that. Highly recommend taking a tour.

I'm current student at Dominican University of California. Each week I go into two classes here to…read moredo my student observations. First I want to say how hard these teachers work at this school. They have so much passion for teaching and that is something i have not seen in other schools I have been to. I appreciate the six grade math teacher Mr.Promis a lot. He is very knowledgeable and kind to each of his students. As well as Ms.Ryan in the SPED department. She is so kind and respectful to each of her students. Both of these teachers bring qualities of a wonderful teacher. I inspire to be them -José

This is for the school year 2021 - 2022…read more There are different experiences for each student here. Some kids can have a relatively smooth experience with minimal friction. But on the other hand if you're perceived as different - you your child will be a target - which is NOT RIGHT. There are some very disruptive kids who are yelling out VERY inappropriate things (sexual, derogatory, etc), thus disrupting class for the rest of the students. And the teachers glaze over them and nothing is done. Bullying is also allowed - despite the fact that there is a policy saying that its not. Teachers/After School supervisors (DXL) do nothing to prevent the harassment/bullying when its clear that a student is being targeted. Students are allowed to continue with no repercussions. If its is brought up to these authority figures - they sweep it away - saying that they are learning their limits. But one has to ask, at the expense of another students well being? And yet nothing is done to help prevent this. Students routinely yell out racist rhetoric, and discriminate against students they perceive as different. If the student is "in" with the teacher - the bullied student is not believed. To top it off - there are teachers who participate in this harassment - blatant body shaming from some the PE teachers, and force competitions in an unhealthy way (one student is the best - you should be like them and not be lazy). There is also gender discrimination - where they blame female periods for the physical issues that may occur. These kids are going through changes and SHOULD not be shamed for things that are happening with their body. Lastly even some of the admin staff are very rude to the students - when they come in sick - they believe they are faking it and tell them to deal. There is no kindness from them. I will say, that there are some teachers and admin staff that really do care about the kids, but its overshadowed by negative. Things need to change. While I understand there is only so much that the school can do, there should be better measures to ensure mental health a TOP priority (especially in the current climate we are in).

We could not be more happy with our Marin Montessori Middle School experience. We transferred our…read moredaughter in mid year and have been thrilled to see her engagement and interest in learning return. The staff are incredibly lovely and caring professionals who have the deepest respect for each student. We were met with openness and warmth and the turnaround for her academics was pronounced. She looks forward to going to school and loves getting to have choice in her own learning. Marin Montessori has truly created a culture of kindness and it has made all the difference for our family!

My oldest child is completing his first year at MMS, and I couldn't have dreamt up a better…read moreexperience for the equivalent of his pre-K year. He has always had a tough time with transitions until he made the transition to MMS! The school thoughtfully welcomed him in such a way that he walked in on his first day with no hesitation, making me feel at ease sending him to school everyday. The mixed age Montessori classroom environment nurtures his curiosity, giving him the opportunity to learn from his peers and practice leadership skills. The school's administration and guides are incredibly supportive of my child, meeting him where he is while ushering him to the next level. When my son's guide checked in with me after his first two days of school, the words she used to describe him were spot on. Beyond the school's administration and guides, the parent community has been an excellent resource to me and my growing family. My family moved to the Bay from the East Coast a few years ago, and I greatly appreciate that many parents are from other states and various non-US countries with diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences that their children can share with my children. I am looking forward to my second child starting in the fall!

We couldn't be happier with our experience at the Montessori School of Novato. Our older child, now…read morein 3rd grade, has absolutely thrived since he graduated from there. His reading skills are well beyond what we expected for his age, and it's clear the individualized approach and the thoughtful guidance from the teachers made all the difference. The teachers really take the time to get to know each child, not just academically, but as whole individuals, which helped our son build confidence and stay engaged. Our younger child, who is 3, has also had a wonderful start at Montessori. It only took her a few days to settle in, and after just a week of teary drop-offs, she now runs into the school with a smile. She constantly surprises us with new skills she's learned, especially how independently she can work through an entire project from start to finish. She often tells us how much she loves her teachers, and we can see how much she's growing and learning. The teachers also take pictures of the kids every day and post them so we can see what they are working on. Montessori School of Novato has created a warm, supportive, and stimulating environment for both of our kids. We are grateful to be part of this community and highly recommend it to any family looking for a thoughtful and enriching early education.

I recommend all teachers except Amanda. She is unprofessional and hold grudges against children…read more Tells other parents personal information about other parents both economic status and personal at home life. Parents, staff and children find her cold, hard to read, and cruel. If your child craves connection and safety her class is not the place to be. We loved all other staff and teachers.

Class here just didn't work for my daughter. While the owner and Manager were nice and tried to be…read moreaccommodating, my daughter never connected with any of the teachers and the teaching method didn't work for her. She is behind in first grade math and doesn't really understand any of the concepts. They didn't seem to have any good tools or techniques to really help her understand. They just gave her a quick explanation and then had her do a worksheet. There was never any follow through or continuity between one teacher and the next. We were left after 10 weeks of twice a week with virtually no improvement. On the plus side it's less expensive than a private tutor, but turned out to be a colossal waste of time.

Mathnasium been a great experience thus far. Really appreciate Sang's communication and progress…read moreupdates. Our child is genuinely enthusiastic about going and often asks "can I go to Mathnasium today?"