Edna Maguire Elementary School

This school only works if your kid fits in "the box". Children that learn differently or ask a lot of questions are marginalized. There is also a big push to get 'out of the box' kids into Special Education so that they are not considered when the STAR test results are tabulated. This results in an artificially high test result for the school. Some teachers are highly committed and amazing and some are not. If you get a great one, you have a great year, if not then you definitely suffer. Added minus: recess is a school wide, barely supervised,free for all.
--Submitted by a parent

Great Teachers for the most part. The district and the local admin not super responsive to parents. They have work to do concerning oversight of kids as they move from school to after-school activities and programs.
--Submitted by a parent

This is our first year at Edna Maguire and I am truly impressed. It feels like a private school. Our teacher is amazing. She is incredibly responsive, thoughtful and caring. The teachers are instilling a love of learning as opposed to demanding every five year old learn to read whether they are ready or not. Also, we love the outdoor garden complete with chickens! Great school!
--Submitted by a parent

I feel very fortunate to be able to send my children to such a nice school. Lisa Zimmer and her staff are very hands-on and outstanding. Most of the parents I have met here are very involved with the school and have their children's best interest truly at heart. If anything, it can be a bit overwhelming for working moms and dads to put in so much time volunteering, sometimes several hours per week. But parents can really get to know the teachers and other students this way. So far all of my kids' teachers have been outstanding.
--Submitted by a parent

Great teachers, great staff, great kids, great parents! Great library! Great music department! Great afterschool programs! Great garden! This school has it all!
--Submitted by a parent

My son is in second grade! We love this school.The garden is the best, the teachers and staff are the best! We are happy to be at Edna!
--Submitted by a parent

Outstanding Principal and teachers. Best of the BEST.
--Submitted by a parent

I am in my third year being a part of Edna and I find it hard to believe the less than par reviews I've seen posted. Lisa Zimmer is an excellent principal who not only is a great listener to parents but she acts on finding solutions to issues. She is a do-er. The teachers are all stellar. Yes, parents have their preferences on who they get each year it seems but really, there are no bad teachers. It is a loving, special place. I feel so blessed to be a part of this school.
--Submitted by a parent

We moved to Mill Valley over a year ago and this is our second year at Edna Maguire. Mill Valley School District only assigns new students to one of the 5 elementary schools after proof of residency is established. In many cases, like ours, it may not be the neighborhood school - New Residents Beware! Overall, teaching quality is good; Administration is a bit indifferent; and parents pretty 'cliquely.' Another interesting data point is that they sure do love to garden!
--Submitted by a parent

Our child moved to Edna Maguire from a private school... we love the attention of the teachers, the facilities are excellent, Lisa Zimmer (the principal) and Leslie Fielder (assistant principal) are amazing, attentive, and caring. From the first day we came to Edna Maguire until today we've felt welcomed and our child has enjoyed it tremendously while learning and progressing. We can't wait 'till our second one is able to go there. If you could design an ideal public, elementary school, you would design Edna Maguire.
--Submitted by a parent