The Marin School

The Marin School has been a great place for our sons, offering incredible teaching and small class sizes. The school is dedicated to finding the best in each individual student, and offers a supportive and challenging environment for the whole high school experience including great college counseling!
--Submitted by a parent

My son graduated from The Marin School in June and is now thriving as a freshman at a top-notch college. TMS's faculty is incredibly talented-- a college level faculty in my view-- and they prepared my son well for college. The small class size means TMS students can't hide or "fake it"-- they really learn well, and deeply. The intimate environment allows kids to feel safe enough to take educational risks, to push themselves, and to challenge each other. TMS is a great school, and I have high hopes that the new Head, who is very energetic and committed, will make it even better.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter had her pick of any number of high schools. We chose The Marin School because the class sizes are so small and the teachers are so good and engaging and don't teach "by the book" but still manage to send kids to top-notch colleges. As we came to find out after sending our daughter here, a tremendous benefit of attending TMS is that teachers recognize that students have lives outside of school and don't overwhelm them with homework and tests. Because of this, my daughter is learning better than she ever has. Finally, the icing on the cake: The kids here really get along. It's not clique-y, it's like a big family, with all grades interacting during lunch other free periods. I can't recommend TMS highly enough for students who would like something much more personalized than standard school fare.
--Submitted by a parent

I love teaching at The Marin School and find that the new Head of School is doing a remarkable job. She has supported the staff, sought our input and respected our opinions and expertise. I have enjoyed reading many of the reviews here and I am flattered by the views expressed about the teachers at TMS. New leadership is difficult for any school, it is my opinion that the new Head has acted fairly and decisively with only the best interest of the entire school community in mind .certainly not just to impress the board.
--Submitted by a teacher

My kid thrived here the past couple of years. But the new Head is a bad match, and seems to be more interested in impressing the Board than advocating for the students, and has handled some recent issues poorly and in a heavy-handed way. I know of two families besides ours who intend to find a different school for junior and/or senior year. It's very sad.
--Submitted by a parent

I have found The Marin School to be an excellent fit for my daughter. She is excelling in her classes, enjoys the company of the other students, and is benefiting from the TMS experience . With the extensive help available to her (teachers, advisors, and counselors) she is looking forward to life at college. The kids at this school aren t necessarily Preppy but they are smart and interesting individuals that value the education that they are receiving at TMS.
--Submitted by a parent

Don't believe it. The school accepts many kids from drug programs and drugs are a major and persistent problem at the school. Academically the regimen was incredibly easy, perhaps so that the grades can be inflated and the "prep school" label applies. Program benefits, like offsites, have been scaled back because of finances.
--Submitted by a parent

TMS is the most amazing school, my teenager has thrived there. Everyone at the school is committed to helping the kids reach their potential. The Director, Barbara schakel, has truly created an exceptional learning environment.
--Submitted by a parent

best thing that ever happened to my daughter. 6 to 1 student/teacher ratio. this school takes the 'under' out of underachiever! there's no other school like it in the bay area.
--Submitted by a parent

TMS is a dynamic school with a nurturing, caring and concerned faculty. Living in a district with highly rated public schools it was diffiuclt to justify spending $24K on a private school education. However with TMS you can see and feel the difference. The classes are small, the teachers genuinely know your child, and despite the school location, the students experience life outside of the affluent Marin bubble. To quote my son, 'The teachers actually care whether or not you are learning.'
--Submitted by a parent