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.

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.

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!