San Rafael is located 12 miles north of San Francisco and is Marin County's oldest city. With fifteen public schools and more than ten private schools, San Rafael offers many educational choices to the prospective homebuyer, including one private school that is certified as "Green" by the County of Marin. Dominican University of California is also located in San Rafael.
The vibrant and multicultural community of San Rafael is served by two school districts.
San Rafael City Schools administers six elementary schools, one middle school, a combination elementary/middle school, two comprehensive high schools, a continuation high school, and an independent study high school.
Dixie School District oversees four schools: Dixie Elementary, Mary Silveira Elementary, Miller Creek Middle School, and Vallecito Elementary. High school students in the Dixie School District attend Terra Linda High School (which is part of the San Rafael City Schools district).
125 Bahia Way
San Rafael, CA 94901
Phone: (415) 485-2415
Website: Bahia Vista School
Grades: K-5
Bahia Vista School is located in southeast San Rafael. It has a multicultural student body, many of whom are English language learners. Bahia Vista Elementary School provides on-site services that offer additional educational support, recreational activities, and childcare to students and their families.
800 Belle Ave
San Rafael, CA 94901
Phone: (415) 485-2420
Website: Coleman School
Grades: K-5
Coleman Elementary School serves the Dominican neighborhood and downtown San Rafael. Among the attractions on the campus is an enrichment center, which includes a large multipurpose room with a stage, a music room, and art/science room, and a large kitchen. Coleman School offers childcare, after school enrichment classes, and family support services.
1175 Idylberry Road
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (415) 492-3730
Website: Dixie Elementary School
Grades: K-5
Dixie Elementary is located in the rolling hills of the Lucas Valley. Dixie School has earned the distinction of being named a California Distinguished School in 2002 and a National Blue Ribbon School in 2004. The City of San Rafael maintains a childcare facility on the campus of Dixie School.
25 West Castlewood Drive
San Rafael, CA 94901
Phone: (415) 485-2430
Website: Glenwood School
Grades: K-5
In 1998 Glenwood was named a California Distinguished School. It has also earned the distinction of being a National Blue Ribbon School. Glenwood School had a 2006 API of 919, which placed it in the top 10% of schools with a comparable grade range.
225 Woodland Ave
San Rafael, CA 94901
Phone: (415) 485-2317
Website: Laurel Dell School
Grades: K-5
Laurel Dell is a small school that serves families from the Brete Harte, Picnic Hill, and East Gerstle Park neighborhoods. After school activities, including tutoring, are offered through grant funding.
375 Blackstone Drive
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (415) 492-3741
Website: Mary Silveira School
Grades: K-5
Mary E. Silveira was named a California Distinguished School in 2000. After school classes are offered and include chess, cooking, dance, art, and Spanish lessons. Daycare for students at the school is provided through San Rafael Community Services.
498 Point San Pedro Road
San Rafael, CA 94901
Phone: (415) 485-2450
Website: San Pedro School
Grades: K-5
San Pedro Elementary School serves a diverse cross-section of students living in the communities east of Highway 101 and the area south of the San Rafael Canal. After school programs are available through grant funding.
75 Happy Lane
San Rafael, CA 94901
Phone: (415) 485-2440
Website: Sun Valley School
Grades: K-5
Sun Valley Elementary School was named a California Distinguished School in 1997. Sun Valley Elementary is located in the western end of San Rafael, adjacent to rolling hills and open spaces. Sun Valley students scored above the state average in all proficiency areas on state standards tests in 2006.
50 Nova Albion Way
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (415) 492-3750
Website: Vallecito School
Grades: K-5
Vallecito School is an award winning school located in the Terra Linda area of San Rafael. It was designated as a California Distinguished School in 1993 and again in 2006. Vallecito School ranks in the top 10% of California schools having a similar grade range. After school care of offered through the City of San Rafael Community Services on a fee basis.
177 North San Pedro Road
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (415) 492-3150
Website: Venetia Valley School
Grades: K-8
Formerly called Gallinas School, the recently renovated Venetia Valley School is located about two blocks away from the Civic Center and serves the communities of Los Ranchitos and Santa Venetia. In addition to the core curriculum, students in grades 6-8 are offered physical education, band, technology, and drama classes. Gallinas School was named a California Distinguished School in 1995.
280 Woodland Ave
San Rafael, CA 94901
Phone: (415) 485-2400
Website: Davidson Middle School
Grades: 6-8
Davidson Middle School serves students entering from Bahia Vista, Coleman, Glenwood, Laurel Dell, San Pedro, and Sun Valley Elementary schools. Davidson was named a California Distinguished School three times, in 1988, 1990, and 1994.
2255 Las Gallinas Ave
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (415) 492-3760
Website: Miller Creek Middle School
Grades: 6-8
Located in the Lucas Valley area, Miller Creek Middle School upholds rigorous academic standards and has been named a California Distinguished School three times, most recently in 2005. Modernization of the campus was completed in 2001. The Miller Creek Home and School Club supports many school-wide enrichment activities.
185 Mission Ave
San Rafael, CA 94901
Phone: (415) 485-2330
Website: San Rafael High School
Grades: 9-12
San Rafael High School is located in central San Rafael. The curriculum at San Rafael includes college preparatory instruction, with honors/advanced placement in the academic disciplines. San Rafael High School also offers courses in technology, business, industrial arts, and other vocations.
320 Nova Albion Way
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (415) 492-3100
Website: Terra Linda High
Grades: 9-12
In 2005, Terra Linda High School was designated as a California Distinguished School. Terra Linda High offers a variety of elective classes, advanced placement classes, and enrichment programs that provide students with access to a well rounded education. Vocational programs are offered as well. Over 90% of graduates enter post-secondary educational institutions.
150 Lovell Ave
San Rafael, CA 94901
Phone: (415) 485-2435
Website: Madrone Continuation
Grades: 10-12
Madrone Continuation High School offers alternative secondary education. Athletic and physical education facilities are shared with San Rafael High, but Madrone operates separately. Students may earn a diploma at Madrone or reintegrate with the comprehensive high school program.
4380 Redwood Highway
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (415) 491-0792
Website: Oracle Independent Study
Grades: 9-12
Oracle is an independent study program designed for students whose needs cannot be met in a traditional classroom environment. A special curriculum is offered and concurrent enrollment in community college or ROP is encouraged.
San Rafael is home to some of the finest private schools in Marin County.
180 North San Pedro Road
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (415) 472-1833
Website: Brandeis Hillel Day School
Grades: K-8
Type: Jewish
Brandeis Hillel Day School is a Jewish day school, which shares its campus with the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, and Congregation Rodef Sholom. The modern facility includes classrooms for grades Kindergarten through eight, computer & science labs, swimming pools, and a library/multimedia center.
1 St. Vincent Drive
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (415) 491-4700
Website: Dunham Academy
Grades: K-8
Type: Nonsectarian
Dunham Academy is on the St. Vincent campus. It is designed to meet the needs of academically talented students. The Academy operates on a year-round basis, and is opened extended hours as a convenience to parents who must work early or late. Admission is competitive.
1411 Lincoln Ave
San Rafael, CA 94901
Phone: (415) 454-6618
Grades: 7-12
Type: Nonsectarian
Leebil Learning Center is a special education school serving students with a variety of learning disabilities.
1600 Mission Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
Phone: (415) 453-4550
Website: Marin Academy
Grades: 9-12
Type: Nonsectarian
Marin Academy is a coeducational, academically rigorous, college preparatory high school located in San Rafael. Campus facilities include two theaters, a visual arts center, two gymnasiums, a swimming pool, and an all-weather synthetic playing field. Marin Academy has a comprehensive academic program. Completion of 3 years of a world language is a graduation requirement, and language choices include courses in French, Spanish, and Japanese. Over 99% of Marin Academy students attend four-year colleges, including Duke, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, and UC Berkeley. The County of Marin has certified Marin Academy High School as a Green Business.
755 Idylberry Road
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (415) 479-8190
Website: Marin Waldorf School
Grades: PreK-8
Type: Waldorf
Waldorf education offers a complex and diverse program. In the Marin Waldorf School, students remain with their teacher throughout the grades. The classes are basically ungraded until late middle school. Although there is no standardized testing, seventh grade students at Marin Waldorf begin practicing for SSAT placement. There are no computers or video aids in the classrooms.
620 Del Ganado Road
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (415) 479-7373
Website: Montessori de Terra Linda
Grades: PreK-6
Type: Montessori
Montessori de Terra Linda is associated with the Association Montessori Internationale. There are three primary classes in the Monatessori de Terra Linda School. Each primary class spans a 3 year period, with the 3rd year being what would normally be the child's Kindergarten year. Children move on to the elementary program that is divided into two multi-age classes. The lower group is for 6 to 9 year olds. The upper elementary class includes children from 9 to 12.
1 Trinity Way
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (415) 479-3727
Website: St. Isabella Elementary
Grades: K-8
Type: Christian/Catholic
St. Isabella's integrates technology into the curriculum throughout the grades. Extended Day offers all students before and after school care that has planned activities, including a nutritious snack, sports, games, art, crafts, and homework time.
39 Trellis Drive
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (415) 472-8000
Website: St. Marks School
Grades: K-8
Type: Nonsectarian
St. Marks School, located in the Terra Linda neighborhood of San Rafael, is a nonsectarian, coeducational elementary/middle school. St. Marks offers a challenging academic program, coupled with character development — as are reflected in the Seven Pillars of Character: honesty, caring, fairness, responsibility, courage, respect, and citizenship.
1100 Fifth Ave
San Rafael, CA 94901
Phone: (415) 454-4455
Website: St. Raphael School
Grades: K-8
Type: Christian/Catholic
St. Raphael School is a fully accredited Catholic elementary school located in downtown San Rafael. St. Raphael meets the Standards required by the state of California in addition to teaching a program including religion, as directed by the Department of Catholic Schools through the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
1 St. Vincent Drive
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (415) 499-7616
Website: Timothy Murphy School
Grades: 2-12
Type: Special Education, Boys
Timothy Murphy School provides special education services to boys ages 7 to 18 years of age. It is, predominately, a residential program, although some day students are accepted. Terra Linda High School provides integration for students ready to reenter a public school environment.
San Rafael is also home to the campus of the Dominican University of California, an independent Catholic university.
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