Marin County Schools Guide
Branson School in Ross
Marin County Schools Overview
One of the many reasons people decide to buy a home in Marin County is the strength of our public and private schools. Marin is widely known for exceptional education options—often regarded among the best in California, and frequently recognized on a national level as well. Families are drawn to Marin for its combination of strong academics, engaged school communities, and a wide range of public and private choices.
This website displays GreatSchools ratings on individual home search detail pages so buyers can easily compare nearby schools while exploring neighborhoods.
The California State Board of Education also offers the California School Dashboard, an important additional resource for parents. The Dashboard provides reports for local educational agencies and individual schools using multiple measures, including chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, English learner progress, graduation rate, and more. It offers a broader perspective than test scores alone.
Below you’ll find a town-by-town overview of many Marin County schools, both public and private. Please note that school districts, boundaries, programs, and enrollment requirements can change. As we view homes for sale together, we can discuss likely school assignments for a specific property. I always recommend confirming details directly with the school district for any home you’re considering.
A quick note on school ratings: While scores and rankings can be helpful, they are only one part of the picture. Over the years, I’ve spoken with many parents who felt their children thrived at schools that may not rank as highly as others in Marin. Fit, culture, support, and community matter—and Marin offers many outstanding options.
If you’re new to Marin, the Marin County Office of Education is an excellent resource for learning more about district boundaries, interdistrict transfers, and the public school system countywide.
Marin Schools by Town
Click a town name below to learn more, or visit my Marin towns overview for a guide to all Marin County communities.
Belvedere / Tiburon
Public
Private
Corte Madera / Larkspur
Public
- Neil Cummins Elementary School
- The Cove School
- Hall Middle School
- Redwood High School (serves several towns)
Private
Sausalito
Public
Private
Mill Valley
Public
- Mill Valley School District
- Tamalpais High School (serves several towns)
- Edna Maguire Elementary
- Old Mill School
- Park School
- Tamalpais Valley School
- Mill Valley Middle School
- Strawberry Point School
Private
- Marin Horizon School
- Mount Tamalpais School
- Ring Mountain Day School
- Kumara School
- Ross Academy Montessori School
Kentfield / Greenbrae
Public
Private
Fairfax / San Anselmo
Public
- Ross Valley School District
- Brookside Elementary School
- Hidden Valley Elementary School
- Manor Elementary School
- Wade Thomas Elementary School
- White Hill Middle School
- Archie Williams High School (serves several towns)
Private
San Rafael
Public
Private
- Brandeis Marin
- Marin Academy
- Marin Waldorf School
- Mark Day School
- Montessori de Terra Linda
- Saint Isabella School
- St. Raphael Elementary School
Novato
Public
Private
Which Towns Feed Which Public High Schools in Marin County
Southern Marin
In central and southern Marin County (generally south of San Rafael), there are three primary public high schools: Tamalpais High School, Redwood High School, and Archie Williams High School. Transfers within this group are generally more common than transfers to high schools farther north in San Rafael or Novato, though availability varies by year and circumstance. You can read more about interdistrict transfers here.
Tamalpais High School Attendance Area
Archie Williams High School Attendance Area
Redwood High School Attendance Area
- Kentfield School District
- Larkspur-Corte Madera School District
- Reed Union School District
- Ross School District
Central Marin / San Rafael
San Rafael is served by two main districts: the San Rafael City Schools (often serving central and parts of southern San Rafael) and the Miller Creek School District (generally serving neighborhoods in the northeastern / north San Rafael, including much of the Terra Linda corridor.) Because boundaries and enrollment policies can change—and can vary even within a neighborhood—families should always confirm school assignment directly with the district for any specific address.
Miller Creek School District serves transitional kindergarten through 8th grade. Students attend Lucas Valley, Vallecito, or Mary E. Silveira Elementary Schools before moving on to Miller Creek Middle School. District enrollment is approximately 2,000. Class size averages 22 students in kindergarten through third grade, 25 students in grades four and five, and 26 to 30 in grades six through eight.
Most Miller Creek graduates attend Terra Linda High School, which is part of the San Rafael City Schools system.
Northern Marin / Novato
Novato is served by the Novato Unified School District, which includes San Marin High School and Novato High School. The district provides an interactive boundary map tool that families can use to explore attendance areas.
Higher Education in Marin County
Marin County is also home to two well-known institutions of higher education:
- College of Marin
- Dominican University of California (pictured above)
School Recognition & Additional Resources
These resources can be helpful starting points for research, but programs, ratings, and award cycles change over time—always confirm current details directly with the school or district.
- California School Dashboard (look up individual schools)
https://www.caschooldashboard.org/ - GreatSchools.org (school ratings & reviews)
https://www.greatschools.org/ - Marin Preschool Guide (Marin Mommies)
https://www.marinmommies.com/preschools - California Distinguished Schools (2025) — State announcement + list
https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr25/yr25rel18.asp
Historical references (prior years):
- California Distinguished Schools Awardees (overview page + links to prior awardees)
https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/cs/distschools.asp - California Distinguished Schools (1986–2023 awardees data file)
https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/cs/documents/dsawardees.xlsx
(Use this file to filter by year, including 2021 / 2020 / 2018.) - California Gold Ribbon Schools (2017 awardees — program discontinued)
https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/gr/
Final Notes
School information can change frequently. If you notice an inaccuracy or have an update to share, please let me know via the contact or comment forms below, or text me directly at 415-847-5584. I truly appreciate your help in keeping this guide current. I usually make any changes or corrections within hours of being contacted.
Last Reviewed & Updated: January 2026
Thinking of Moving to Marin County?
Thomas Henthorne is a consistently top-ranked Marin County real estate agent with Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty, known for thoughtful guidance, strong negotiation, and polished marketing. He is the publisher of a widely read Marin real estate blog covering local market insights, neighborhood spotlights, and the lifestyle that makes Marin such an exceptional place to live. Thomas also brings a design and branding background to every listing and client strategy, with an emphasis on presentation, positioning, and results.
You can learn more about Thomas here.
Call or text Thomas at 415-847-5584 to discuss your real estate goals.
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Help Keep This Guide Current
School information can change over time. If you notice an error, outdated detail, or have an addition to suggest, please share it below. I review submissions regularly and appreciate your help in keeping this Marin Schools Guide accurate and up to date.
See something on this page that needs updating? Please add your comment here and I’ll update it within 48 hours…. Thank you! Thomas
Saint Mark School (Private) is in Venice, CA, not in Marin. Thinking maybe about Mark Day School in Terra Linda? https://www.markdayschool.org/
Whoa that would be a long commute! Thank you so much, Bruce, I’ve corrected the link. I really appreciate your help!
This is a great place to start as I try to figure out schools in Marin. Thank you for putting it together.
It would be great if you can add Headlands Preparatory in Sausalito as well. http://www.headlandsprep.com
Sure thing – just added it. Thanks, Nicola! Best, Thomas