Don't let concerns about homework get in the way of a kid's success. Saint Marks is a great school: it delivers an excellent education and its students move on to the best independent high schools. Look at it this way: You send your kid to S.M. so that he can get into Branson or M.A. You send your
... Read more kid to Branson so he can get into Stanford or an Ivy. He goes to Stanford so he can fast track at a first-rate enterprise. When he's a corporate officer he'll thank you. Read less
Posted by a parent on 09/15/09
Saint Mark's School has been such a great experience for our son who has been there since Kindergarten and is now in 8th grade. Saint Mark's has a strong commitment to providing not only an outstanding education but also instills strong character and citizenship through their Seven Pillars of Character
... Read more program. The Administration, teachers and friends that we have found there have been wonderfully supportive. Our son has always enjoyed school and even now as a teenager looks forward to his days at Saint Mark's. I certainly would highly recommend this school to a prospective parent. I know when we started looking at schools it was overwhelming but when we visited Saint Mark's I knew we had found a home. Read less
Posted by a parent on 09/15/09
Saint Marks is the 'Home Work School' of Marin. I am astounded by the student reviews below who do not acknowledge this. Yes, it has many lovely programs to give children a broad education, and yes it has some wonderful teachers, and yes it is a very well run school, but the curriculum expects hours
... Read more and hours of homework from about grade 3 on, particuarly, in grade 7. I would not recomend it because of that reason. There is no famiy time if you have a child at this school. All-nighters in the 7th grade to prepare for tests and get homework done is quite normal. Read less
Posted by a parent on 09/14/09
We also feel that homework is much, much too high. The teachers are good, and they do try to hold to the policy of no short-term homework on the weekends. But the daily weekday homework is so great that it makes it really difficult, impossible really, for kids to be involved in team sports or any other
... Read more activity or just hang with us. Seventh grade is a meatgrinder, and pointlessly so. Worse than pointless, really: kids in puberty need their sleep and down time, and Saint Mark's doesn't give it to them. Read less
Posted by a parent on 09/14/09
Saint Mark's is a wonderful school that successfully prepares students for high school. I am an alumni of the class of 2009, and I am very confident about starting high school. I was accepted to every school I applied to and fell very ready to move on to high school. Saint Mark's definitely helped me
... Read more with that. The teachers are great. They think of ways for the students to learn a lot while having fun and maturing. Read less
Posted by a student on 08/31/09
I have attended Saint Mark's for nine years and am quite baffled by some of the previous homework-related reviews. I have never struggled with too much homework. Much of the homework was challenging and forced me to think, but I never had trouble managing my time. I am early-to-bed kind of person and
... Read more I like to read before I go to sleep, and I was able to be in bed by 9:30 every night. I do believe that students may struggle with homework if they do not pay attention in class or manage their time well. People should send their children to Saint Mark's expecting a challenging education that will completely prepare students for what lies ahead. Read less
Posted by a student on 08/31/09
I'm surprised at the last person who posted on excess homework. We have not found that at all. It has been my experience that my child and his friends embrace the homework assignments, and get the work done with little parental pressure necessary - thanks to the school's ability to promote individual
... Read more responsibility. My son and his friends are all involved in sports year round (at least one)......and they are all very happy kids. This school has made childhood (and parenting) a very happy and rewarding experience for our family. Read less
Posted by a parent on 08/22/09
I totally agree with everyone who says there is far too much homework at Saint Marks. My girls have had to drop out of basketball and piano because they have too much work to do. Saint Marks has diminished them as persons.
... Read moreRead less
Posted by a parent on 08/21/09
Saint Marks offers just about everything I'm looking for in a school--strong leadership, PE everyday, art and drama, diversity, the world's languages, strong academics, sportsmanship, a values-based education, independent thinking and the opportunity for parents to be involved (or not). I LOVE this
... Read more school! Read less
Posted by a parent on 08/19/09
We have been parents at Saint Mark's for the past nine years, with both of our children starting in kindergarten. One child has graduated, and the other is now in the upper division. Saint Mark's has challenged our children in a nurturing environment that lets them grow and learn fully. The teachers
... Read more are excellent. The administration sets the tone of respect for self, others, and learning. My children and their peers found/find the academics rigorous yet not overwhelming -- they had/have plenty of time for sports, music and friends. 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 — St Mark's School is located at 39 Trellis Dr, San Rafael CA 94903. 39 Trellis Dr is in the 94903 ZIP code in San Rafael, CA St Mark's School is a Private school that serves grade levels K - 8.
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Test Score Ratings
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experience, academic programs, extracurricular activities, resources for special needs students, etc. These ratings are
not provided by the state Department of Education, which may have their own rating systems.
