We started Jan 2024. I had a kindergarten boy and a 8th grade girl that started at Marin Christian…read moreAcademy. I see a huge changes in both of my children for the better. My son is now in 1st grade: He loves his school and looks forward to hearing about God and reading his bible. His reading and math skills have caught up as last year he was behind when we started at Marin Christian. We are so grateful to see how great he is doing and my son is so proud of his achievements here. My daughter was only at Marin Christian for Jan 2024 to June 2024, then transitioned to high school. She says what she learned in those few months have stayed with her and that she is much closer to God and this has helped her find her way at high school. She also was behind as she was home schooled over covid. In these few months this school was able to help with confidences and taught her what she was missing to do great in high school. She loved the middle school and we wished that we find this school sooner. Thank you Brenda

Fantastic local school that offers an alternative to public school. Great teachers and the school…read moreadministration is top notch. My children are very happy here and I feel they are receiving quality academia and being well-cared for. The MCA parents association offers ample opportunity to meet other parents and support the school.

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 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.

My daughters love coming here! The teachers are great and my girls come home and are excited to go…read moreback to school the next! Can't thank Marcie, Katie, Jennifer, and Rosa enough for caring for my 2 girls!! I'm so glad I found this place!

My kid went here for a year and a half the staff there are great! They are caring and have patience…read morewith the kids. She learned so much while in their care and made so many great friends! I would definitely recommend them to any family in search of child care!

Teachers were always good. Just a really liberal school. Lots of the kids end up going to…read morealternative schools afterwards. Or those outdoor learning schools.

Toured many preschools and found St. Francis to be the right fit for our child. While the school is…read morenot faith based we liked that the campus was at a church and tucked away. Immediately upon touring St. Francis we felt it was something special. It felt cozy and whimsical yet they offered structure and an established reputation. The staff are competent, caring, and enthusiastic about their work. We love our teachers so far and our kiddo is constantly doing things at school like art, cooking, and general play that support her current social and emotional skillsets. Definitely a great place to start your kiddos educational journey. We feel very lucky to be a part of the St. Francis community.

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.

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.

This is an amazing school! Very respectful of childhood, development, and allowing students to be…read morethemselves. Emphasis on creativity and healthy relationships amongst the students, teachers and families. A great community that is supportive and striving.

We love Hamilton School! The staff is caring and dedicated, and there's a real sense of community…read morehere. Principal Bryan Clement is bringing fresh energy and meaningful changes that are making a big difference. We chose Hamilton over private school options, and we feel incredibly lucky to be part of such a supportive and growing school environment.

Yes, some of the school grounds does have trash and feels unkept. The classrooms, play yards and…read morestructures are clean though and that's where they are most of the time anyways. I'm not sure why some reviewers are complaining about food, its free food that parents don't need to prep to make the night before. We ourselves sampled it, its comparable to airplane food i suppose but its free and we don't need to pack lunch for kids, which is a big win, Our kids are super picky but never complained about the food, just the selection on some days. Mr Bronson (3rd) and Mrs Goldman (1st) left very positive impressions on my two daughters. In the 3 years my kids attended this school, i never saw any fights or bullying and the yard watch people are very attentive. Big kids seem supportive of the smaller kids. Test scores on GreaterSchools is low and mostly due to language barriers, but otherwise our kids thrived here and met good friends. We didn't get a sense our kids were held back at all for how the class helps with ESL students.

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.