Warm and friendly environment, excellent teachers and staff, beautiful facilities, lots of nature and open space! A truly magical place.
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Posted by a parent on 10/07/09
I have three children at MWS. Having experienced both public and private schools in Marin County, we believe we have found Utopia. The sprawling 11+ acres of breathtakingly beautiful land is enjoyed by all. The Preschool and the Kindergarten is the sweetest, aesthetic, most nurturing environment I
... Read more have ever encountered. The incredibly rich curriculum in 1st-8th Grades can only be likened to the education a Pharaoh may have received with the personal and special attention of a Scholar. Fieldtrips and projects transport the students into the world of their subject matter with the capable guidance of their brilliant Teachers and parental involvement. Read less
Posted by a parent on 09/19/09
There are few decisions a parent makes that they never second guess. Our decision to send my children to Marin Waldorf is one of those. The dedication to a truly heart & soul approach to education is exhibited in everything one experiences. From the curriculum to the monthly class parent meetings to
... Read more the faires and events on campus. All of the individuals participating in my children's education at Marin Waldorf come to work every day because they truly believe in Waldorf's alternative approach to learning and it shows in every interaction with the children. I encourage anyone reading this review to experience a bit of this school and see for themselves. Read less
Posted by a parent on 09/18/09
I'm a former public school teacher and have a child here now. Marin Waldorf School (MWS) has been such an amazing experience. Our child is hungry to learn. In today's age of 'No Child Left Behind' that emphasizes test scores, it's nice to a school such as MWS that focuses on more than reading, writing,
... Read more and arithmetic. Graduates learn how to 'think' -- something that one does not find in many students until after their collegiate career is done. It's no wonder that graduates here go onto some of the best universities in the country, seeking to make the world a better place. By introducing subjects when children are developmentally ready makes all the difference in the world. Read less
Posted by a parent on 09/18/09
Our two children have attended Marin Waldorf (K-8) through preschool and kindergarten and are now in the grades. As parents, with advanced degrees through the mainstream public education, we felt like our educations were good. But now that we have seen the Waldorf-style of teaching, our eyes have been
... Read more opened. At Marin Waldorf, much like any top public/private school, our children are learning the 'reading, writing and arithmetic' you would expect. But here we see something far greater happening. Our children are developing a true love of learning. The learning happens for these students first through experience, and later through theory, not the other way around. And that makes all the difference. The standards here are high, the faculty on staff are absolutely top-notch and the experience is enriching for the family as a whole. It also helps that the campus is pastoral. Read less
Posted by a parent on 09/18/09
A beautiful vision but there are some real issues at this school. Scratch the surface.
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Posted by a parent on 08/01/09
I have a 20 year old child and an 11 year old. The 20 year old went through public school all the way. My thought was that we live in a very nice area and the public schools are fine, I was wrong. Many kids make it through public school just fine- a Waldrof education is so much more. We made the decision
... Read more to put our now11 year old into Marin Waldorf when she was starting the 3rd grade. By the time she had finished public school in 2nd grade, she was constantly upset and stressed about school, especially the timed math. Even though she'll probably never be a great mathmatician, she no longer has stress about it. Her teacher gave her confidence that she could do it. I now have guilt for having never given my son this kind of education, he would have been so much happier and confident. Read less
Posted by a parent on 06/23/09
We moved to San Rafael so that our son could attend Marin Waldorf. We were attracted by our interaction with the teachers, the robust curriculum, and the overall feel of the graduates--who are articulate, confidant, and ready for the world.
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Posted by a parent on 12/28/08
I have one child at this school and one child in a public school. Both are great! Marin Waldorf is an inspiring, intellectually and spiritually based school to me well thought out use of funds and fantastic curriculum. It is terrific for my kid who is a self-lead, curious and abstract thinker. The ability
... Read more to teach to the whole child and teach well is remarkable at this school. The staff is consistently present and they have time and space to actually get to know and to teach each child. The campus is safe. It is not an easy school academically but respect for the child is initiated so the children seem to want to do well. Yes there is homework. Yes there is expectation to work to ones highest standard. But there seems to be a different way of handling the growth of these young children and in that, the panic of not getting things done perfectly, fades, and with that, the ability to work well blossoms. I wish I had gone there as a kid. Read less
Posted by a parent on 10/30/07
MWS has a rich arts and academic program with an inspiring curriculum that parallels the development of the child with the development of man's unfolding understanding of himself and his world. Music and art are integrated into academic lessons. Children stay with their main teacher from first to
... Read more eighth grade with specialty teachers teaching games and physical education, handwork (knitting, sewing, crossstitch), music (vocal, recorder, strings, Orff percussion instruments), gardening, woodwork, eurythmy (movement with speech and music), Spanish, German and extra Math. Each class does a play every year which draws from the curriculum and involves every child. The campus is beautiful with a forest of oaks, playgrounds and a large garden. The kindergartens and preschool are nonacademic and emphasize stories, songs, cooking and imaginative play. The rooms look like the living room of a loving grandmother with toys made of wood, wool, cotton and silk. A parent's dream! Read less
*The resources listed are programs that the institution is staffed to support. Staffing for a program does not guarantee that it will be offered. This content is provided by the institution and may be incomplete. The institution may offer programs not listed here. Please contact the school directly for additional details.
Advanced Placement
AP classes are college-level classes offered at the high school level. Once a student completes an AP class and passes a final comprehensive examination conducted by the College Board, the student earns college credit for the course. AP classes are specific and not to be confused with other higher-level classes such as honors classes.
Before/After School
"Extended day" programs where the school day is extended before and after school to accommodate working parents. These programs should not be confused with common after school clubs or athletic activities.
Gifted and Talented
A school system may identify 10% to 15% or more of its student population as gifted and talented. A brief description of each area of giftedness or talent as defined by the Office of Gifted and Talented:
general intellectual ability or talent - high intelligence test score (usually two standard deviations above the mean), and high levels of vocabulary, memory, abstract work knowledge and abstract reasoning;
specific academic aptitude or talent in one area such as mathematics or language arts;
creative and productive thinking, the ability to produce new ideas;
leadership ability, the ability to direct individuals or groups to a common decision or action;
visual and performing arts, special talents in visual art, music, dance, drama, or other related studies;
psychomotor ability, such as practical, spatial, mechanical, and physical skills.
Vocation/Technical Curriculum
Vocational and/or technical courses offered within a comprehensive school, usually a senior high school.
Special Education Classes
A school or program within a school that provides services and training to students with moderate to severe mental and/or physical disabilities.
Adult Education Classes
Programs offering GED or equivalent courses for adults within regular schools, whether classes are held during evening or daytime schedules.
English as Second Language
English language classes for students whose first language is not English.
San Rafael schools — Marin Waldorf School is located at 755 Idylberry Rd, San Rafael CA 94903. 755 Idylberry Rd is in the 94903 ZIP code in San Rafael, CA Marin Waldorf School is a Private school that serves grade levels PK - 8.
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Test Score Ratings
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