Marin Montessori School

Our son graduated from Marin Montessori’s (MMS) Junior High in 2023 and is enjoying a great first year in high school in San Francisco. He was fortunate to attend MMS’s primary and elementary programs, as well as two other AMI schools along the way. Consequently, we have a solid understanding of the pedagogy and have experienced its successful application in various settings. Most recently, we feel deep appreciation for the MMS Junior High team for creating such a caring, safe, nurturing, and academically rich environment for our son to grow and prosper. The team expertly guides these adolescents toward agency, advocacy, collaboration, initiative, peace, and the cultivation of the habits of mind to be engaged learners wherever they apply their focus. These are skills for the jobs that don’t yet exist.All of MMS’s teachers have the depth of knowledge and autonomy to follow each student's individual development, giving them what they need not just academically but with regard to the development of the whole person. At the Junior High, the administrative office sits at the heart of the school; as an example of the open culture here, it often serves as a hub of activity — with students chatting with administrators, the head of school, or faculty in equal measure. Subtle but significant, this partnership mindset manifests in many ways at the school: morning gatherings, student-led community lunches, students leading creative expressions classes, chores on the farm, caring for animals, and planning/planting/harvesting crops. Students have the opportunity to participate in/take ownership of virtually every aspect of their life at school. Though our son has attended Montessori his whole life, the two years he spent at the MMS Junior High were especially impactful despite the pandemic. He is imbued with confidence in engaging with the adults in his life, has a strong moral compass, empathy toward his peers, and motivation to see things through completion. It has been a wonderful partnership with MMS and we recommend this program with no hesitation.

Our children started in the toddler program and are now well into their primary years (3 and 5 years old). Their experience has been nothing short of exceptional from day 1. The teachers (aka guides) are top notch, lead by example and set a culture of collaboration, community and curiousity in the classroom. Our children have been consistently supported emotionally, socially and educationally in their early childhood years. We can't say enough good things about the school and would recommend it to any family without hesitation.

We have had our two children enrolled in MMS Toddler and Primary programs since 2021 and cannot say enough incredible things about the school. It is a daunting task to evaluate all Marin County pre-school options, and MMS always stood out from the pack. From the thoughtfulness of the admissions process, to the caliber of the teachers and facilities at the Corte Madera campus, we couldn't be happier with the decision we made for our children!

A disappointing year - the program has gone downhill from when our first child attended. Our 2nd child had an okay experience in 7th, 8th grade but the optional 3rd year was a disaster. The school was too small and unable to deal with older, spirited teen boys. Our son fell behind in math and found it boring as it was entirely online software instruction and geometry the entire year. He hated school and lost his self-esteem because they labelled him a troublemaker and wouldn't let him move beyond his mistakes. When his new school found out what he had gotten in trouble for - they couldn't believe it. Typical teen boy behavior they said - not a big deal - nothing they couldn't deal with. When he had ideas that were different, he was shut down and made to feel bad - he stopped sharing. There were double standards at MMS Jr High - Some students were favored and got special treatment - their mistakes overlooked. As hard as our son tried, he just wasn't good enough. The school admitted they blamed our son for an incident for which he wasn't even present. What a relief to pull him out in March and put an end to all the drama. We transferred him to public school where he thrived - teachers said he was kind, engaged, and a pleasure to have in their classes - his grades went up. Without the stifling small school environment and constant negativity (where every tiny mistake was seen under a microscope), he was a completely different child. MMS was a toxic environment for him. MMS Jr. High has potential - they used to have Washington DC, Model United Nations and research trips but those fell off towards the end. A program overhaul and additional training for burnt out staff would really help. While some staff were very supportive, toward the end of the year, some were putting students in detention and told to stare at a wall without clear explanation. The farm program used to be great but my son said it was incorporated less and less. Facilities and technology were run-down/old. Update: (Initial rating was 2 and edited original post due to length limits). Sam, the Head of School, called me - he saw my comments and had taken them to heart. He told me the school has updated some furniture and the kitchen, and staff had summer training. Model United Nations is back for some students, and no more detentions. Some other changes are planned. Sounds promising for future students and I appreciate him reaching out to me. The school didn't work for us but it did for others.

Marin Montessori Junior High is the best kept secret in Marin. Our daughter is dyslexic and struggled in public school even with support and an IEP. We decided to transfer to a private school in 6th grade expecting her to thrive in a smaller school environment. Instead she was overwhelmed by the intense academics and competitive nature of the students.We were thinking of sending her to a 1:1 school just to get her confidence back but decided to tour MMJH after hearing that the campus had a farm (my daughter is an animal lover). What we discovered on the tour was what we had been looking for all along; a nurturing academic environment that truly sees each student for who they are and fosters their strengths. My daughter was drawn to MMJH's hands on learning program that allows students to pick their classes. She has beekeeping for science and cooking for PE. The teachers are brilliant at meeting kids where they are at and supporting a curriculum that isn't one size fits all. In a few short months she has gone from being a reluctant learner who hated school, to an engaged student who feels a part of her community. As a parent, the MMJH community has been very welcoming and inclusive. I felt at home from day one. I've also been so impressed by the Grounded and Soaring podcast/website the school produces. It's a valuable resource for insightful interviews and parenting strategies. We are thrilled we found this amazing school and community and only wish we had discovered the beauty of Montessori learning earlier.