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.

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.

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.

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.

What a wonderful school community. I truly enjoy teaching my science enrichment program at this…read moreschool. The staff, educators, kids and families are very encouraging as a whole and eager to create a positive, diverse learning environment.

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!!

This school exhibits cult-like practices and raises serious concerns about student welfare. The…read moremajority of students are white, and there appears to be unequal treatment between staff and children--for example, teachers wear shoes while students are not permitted to do so. There are significant concerns regarding child safety, emotional wellbeing, and the overall quality of education, particularly given the high cost of attendance. The environment feels judgmental and unwelcoming. The school does not accept or support all children equally, which directly contradicts the values it claims to promote. Several children are turned away after being quickly judged and denied the opportunity to attend--even when they genuinely love the school. The potential emotional impact of this kind of rejection on a child is serious and appears to be disregarded. For an institution that presents itself as nurturing and values-based, this lack of compassion is troubling. I am not impressed with this "private" school. They should practice what they preach and prioritize helping all children succeed. Staff behavior often comes across as self-centered rather than truly child-focused.

My son works at New Village school. We had a wonderful time at their Winter Faire!!! Experiencing…read morea magical atmosphere of happy families, music by teacher and students, and delicious food. In one cozy room, young children were making fairy homes. I asked if I could make one too, and they said yes.

We transferred here after two years in a local public school and cannot be happier. The campus is…read moreextraordinary and filled with beauty all around, from the redwoods to the babbling stream. Education with purpose is not only their motto but one they truly live up to. The community and staff are down to earth and kind and inclusive and educated and driven and all around wonderful. They truly shape the minds and the character of the students to be sharp, creative, and conscientious members of society.

so I just want to review their hiring process. I was asked to do two not in person interviews that…read moreseemed great. then they told me I had to go to the campus and they expected me to be there from 7:50-1:30 on a work day interviewing with different school admin. I did as much as could because like most people I actually have to work a job that pays. After spending 4 hours there I told them I'm sorry I have to get to my other job. You would think that investing that much time would result in being hired. But no it did not. All I can say is any other place would have respected a persons time and not wasted half of their day. they would have gotten all the people together and had a panel interview. so I mean all I can say is that I feel really disrespected by this staff. Who does that? I dunno. if you like bougie people that clearly do not mind wasting your time this is the perfect location for you. And sorry I do have to say this because you must be an extreme elitist to think wasting half a work day doesn't impact the average joe. it does. if someone who has helped open wellness centers and is on the 40 under 40 list for the north bay business journal isn't good enough for them, then who is? thanks! Not only this but the person in charge Stacy Cohen, left me several times during this 4 hour stink to wait on the admin who had not received any copy of this interview schedule from the day before. She had emailed me the night before this schedule telling me she had been sick on her travels but when I got there and she was coughing all over the place she continue to tell me she wasn't sick. One of the people she had set up to interview me never even showed up. They were not even on the campus that day. So I sat for an hour of my time waiting for someone who isn't there to show up in a library while I could have been at my actual job. So not only is this snobby elitist behavior but inconsiderate and rude. If this is what you want from your admin staff of your school please go here. Not to mention being extremely combative over things that made no sense. She apparently got angered when I shared an answers from one of her staff as if this was my opinion. A major lack of ability to take any criticism, it was an extremely unprofessional interview in which at the end I still offered to come back another day to meet with these other people who could not be there that day and since I was leaving. Instead they just waited till after the holiday weekend to tell me no thanks.

Loving teachers and a wholesome environment. The kids are outside as much as possible. My daughter…read moreis in the preschool (sage) class. We transferred after having a not so great experience at a different school where the teachers were cold and burnt out... this is the complete opposite. The teachers are amazing. In particular, Ms.Carrie, is a gem... greets my daughter every time we do drop off, holding her hand and telling her how happy she is to see her! This is a nature based school and the have an amazing lunch program with organic healthy food. My daughter went from being a picky eater to now loving her veggies thanks to the lunch program. The director, Melinda, is fantastic, super smart and passionate about the school and loves every single kiddo. This is the best preschool in Novato!

We love Hummingbirds Nest. This is our first preschool experience where our dude loves being…read moredropped off, and tells us to pick him up from school as late as possible. The teachers are caring and supportive. He comes home singing songs about nature. They play outside a ton, even in the rain, which is perfect for us. He loves his friends there. His imaginative play is fully supported. He helps around our house more now because that is just normal, part of school too: chop veggies for soup (with safety knife), help sweep, etc. We've seen such a complete turn around in our son after a really tough school right before this (teachers there were cold, our dude said he didn't feel loved there, he revolted) and when another school closed suddenly. Melinda and team communicate openly with parents, which is so refreshing. (Note: ignore the for sale sign; that is for the property. The school stays). My mom taught kindergarten for years and knows a good school when she sees one; she also loves this place. Thank you to all the teachers and staff at Hummingbird Nest!

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.