Marin Catholic High School

This school is downright scary. I expect that conservative, Christian families without any interest in diversity of opinion (or student body) would find this school inviting, but what my son and daughter saw was an intellectually incestuous, nepotistic community assembled to advance an agenda wholly separate from a true education. It's a shame that people pay a lot of money for it. No more for us, thanks.
--Submitted by a parent

ye ye swag ye ye swag ye ye swag ye ye swag ye ye swag ye ye swag

We have one son attending and another about to apply. We've been very happy with the academic challenges afforded through their AP and Honors programs. The teachers are very knowledgable and supportive of the students. We are not Catholic but our son really enjoys the Theology program - thought provoking ethical conversations. The size of the student body is just right for our family - not too big, not too small. We came from a local public middle school where the student discipline was atrocious and have really appreciated the healthy, supportive and disciplined environment that MC has offered. Can't say enough good things about administration and faculty.
--Submitted by a parent

A good fit if your family is Catholic, athletic, and conservative. Many of the teachers are MC alumnae, and the school has a warm, supportive atmosphere. Students are required to take four years of theology in which spirituality, meditation and service emphasized, along with specific Catholic teachings against abortion, birth control, and homosexuality. There are multiple opportunities for religious reflection, through morning mass and retreats. In the fall of 2011, four habit wearing Dominican nuns joined the faculty. The school has outstanding athletic facilities, and the vast majority of students participate in team sports, many for every season. There is an active conservative club, and the Honors Global Studies class does a unit refuting the science of climate change, mostly using religious and right wing political arguments.
--Submitted by a parent

i just transferred out of this school (thank god) to Redwood a mile away. It provides satisfactory education and because teachers are often coaches at school as well they never have any time to help teachers. also many teachers cannot come on for morning help because they go to mass. Redwoods teachers are always available to help and work with you on any subject. MC is also very conservative and often prioritizes religion over the academic success of the students. basically kids come here because they want an easy acceptance at LMU or USD, which are great schools but they arent willing to work hard to get into better schools. The worst part about MC is that the students are very cliquey and disclusive. basically if you are rich, you are popular. That is not the case at Redwood. The schools dont even compare to eachother because redwood is far more superior

Marin Catholic is an excellent choice for students who are average to gifted. My daughter is gifted and has found the classes to be academically challenging. The administration is very supportive of both students and teachers. We are not Catholic, but my daughter has found the school to be respectful. With that said, it is a Catholic school and parents and students need to be respectful of Catholicism. The school may not meet the needs of the very creative student, or a student that hates sports, the student who is vocational in aptitude and a student who excels in music. But it is great for the majority of students. The size is truly perfect: small enough for everyone to have a role and large enough for diversity.
--Submitted by a parent

The student cliques are tough on students who do not belong. If the student does not come from a wealthy family the ability to 'belong' is difficult and can be demoralizing.

The academic program is very strong in the advanced courses of Honors and AP classes. In regular classes you can see a significant dropoff in the amount of work and difficulty of tests. The teachers are very knowledgeable of their subjects and some of them are graduates of the High School themselves. Extracurricular activities are of abundance at MC. Yet competition is evident as the emphasis on winning tends to foreshadow the emphasis on having fun in certain sports. The major sports of football, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, and baseball are taken very seriously. The school offers many other sports besides the ones listed and offers visual art and music programs. There is a play every semester and visual art classes are mandatory in order to graduate. Parents are involved in the sense that they plan most of the events and cater teacher brunches, etc. Overall, the school has a great atmosphere.
--Submitted by a student

Marin Catholic provides a terrific college prep education!
--Submitted by a parent

School has an excellent reputation for preparing their students for college and life. Students learn in an environment of top expectation balanced with teachers who care and are dedicated to the students success.
--Submitted by a parent