Here are a few of the best private schools where you can send your children. These partners offer high quality education covering a wide range of subjects to help prepare your kids for the world.
Read our comprehensive guide to private schools in Marin and beyond here.
Interested in how some of these local schools are incorporating AI into their curriculum? Click here.
Our Lady of Loretto School
Dedicated to the spiritual and academic growth of our students.
Our Lady of Loretto School located in Novato is an engaged educational community steeped in the Catholic tradition and dedicated to the spiritual and academic growth of our students. As a Catholic school, we provide our students with a strong academic foundation through a rigorous faith-based curriculum. In collaboration with our school families and parish, the faculty and staff foster the spiritual, academic, physical, and emotional development of each student.
We graduate a community of students who are honest, respectful, independent, spiritual, thinkers.
The OLL Advantage:
- Proven outstanding academics with varied extra-curricular opportunities
- Carefully selected and gifted faculty members
- Developing students with a positive self-image, personal values, respect for others, and self-motivation
- Thorough preparation for living and working as committed Christians
- A cooperative ministry of highly dedicated teachers, involved parents, engaged students, supported by the Our Lady of Loretto parish community
- Admits students of any race, color, nationality, and religious affiliation
1811 Virginia Avenue, Novato, CA 415.892.8621
Lycée Français de San Francisco
LFSF, A Well-Rounded Multilingual and Multicultural Education
LFSF, the Lycée Français de San Francisco, offers a unique multilingual and multicultural education program designed to empower students to become adaptable global thinkers, able to make meaningful contributions to our world. From Preschool (2 yo) to High School,LFSF students grow up cultivating curiosity and critical thinking, empathy and respect for others.
Our program, which includes an international section starting in Elementary school, allows students to graduate with a double diploma(French Baccalaureate and U.S. High School Diploma), and is an excellent preparation for universities in North America (for 80+% of our students), Europe or anywhere in the world.
Accredited by CAIS (California Association of Independent Schools) as well as the French Ministry of National Education, LFSF brings you close to 60 years of experience in bilingual education.
Today, LFSF is a Candidate School* for the renowned IB programs to add an international track (LFSF iTrack) from Kindergarten to Gr 12. This continuous program provides students with an outstanding French language acquisition curriculum that will lead to an IB Bilingual diploma. Contact our Admissions office for more information.
LFSF is opening its doors for 4 Open House Events. We look forward to meeting you!
*LFSF is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that LFSF believes is important for our students.
*Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org
Ashbury Campus, Ortega Campus, Sausalito Campus l [email protected] l 415.661.5232
Sterne School
Start With Strengths
Sterne School is a co-ed independent day school serving 4th-12th grade students Bay Area-wide. Sterne offers a learning experience with small class sizes and integrated supports designed to amplify each student’s strengths. Every student has a unique learning profile, and our program meets them where they are at in order for them to build academic stamina, develop executive function skills, and engage in social-emotional learning.
Our distinct but complementary Lower, Middle, and High School programs are designed as a seamless progression from foundational literacy and math skills to a comprehensive A-G college preparatory program. With state-of-the-art facilities and resources, Sterne also offers robust arts, athletics, and experiential learning, plus social and service opportunities throughout all grades, giving every student the space to unlock their full potential.
838 Kearny Street, San Francisco, CA 415.922.6081
Saint Patrick School
Inspiring Smart Minds and Kind Hearts
Our educational environment consists of an innovative curriculum which cultivates engaged learners and encourages students to work to their full potential. Our school community fosters an enthusiasm for learning and inspires students to be critical thinkers who lead with compassion.
We believe that a partnership with parents helps our teachers motivate our children in developing their unique talents and gifts with confidence which prepares them for success in premier high schools.
We invite you to tour St. Patrick School to learn about our programs and to hear about how we partner with the parent community to educate the whole child.
Together, we help our children grow to be STAR students.
Skilled Learners – Thoughtful Individuals Active Christians – Responsible Citizens
120 King Street, Larkspur, CA 415.924.0501
Chronos Academy
Integrating All Subjects Chronologically
In the shade of a redwood grove in southern Larkspur, Chronos Academy recently wove a netted play structure among the towering trunks. They foster learning in much the same way. They invest in the talents, interests, drive and curiosity students already possess with rich content, varied experiences, open challenges and quality feedback to create an interwoven set of honed skills and deep knowledge.
They focus on a student’s strengths while supporting their weaknesses with flexible scaffolding from specialists. They foster giftedness so students can stretch to their fullest potential.
Daniel and Celeste Ezell created the Chronos curriculum together with their family, a passion project after eighteen years in education. They integrated a historical narrative, designed making projects, and recorded their own memory songs. As founders, they teach with enthusiasm and joy and train their team in their unique approach. They are dedicated to their students’ confidence academically, socially and emotionally.
At Chronos Academy everything ties together. All subjects integrate each week to a chronological timeline with memorable songs, student presentations, and making every day in the workshop. Multi-age classes of 8-12 students learn history, science, math, PE, art and literature content together while they develop skills individually at their own pace.
Founded in 2019, Chronos Academy is expanding. Learn more about Chronos Academy, a boutique, independent TK-8 school for gifted students.
110 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur, CA l 415.383-2283
Brandeis Marin
Integrity. Kindness. Service.
Brandeis Marin stands proudly as a visionary hub for social impact education and innovation.
Talented faculty and low student/teacher ratios give our students the individual attention they need to grow into scholars, athletes, artists, and change-makers with a passion to transform our world and excel in life.
By cultivating academic excellence in an inclusive community that brings to life progressive Jewish values, we inspire open minds and courageous hearts – nurturing compassionate, ethical, and engaged leaders.
If you’re looking for an exceptional K-8 education for your child and a welcoming community for your family – you belong at Brandeis Marin!
180 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael, CA 415.472.1833
Saint Hilary School
Compassionate. Future Ready. Innovative
Saint Hilary School is a Catholic K-8th Grade school that combines an innovative 21st-century curriculum and traditional values that cultivates empathy, and honesty. Each student develops a unique friendship with God and receives Grace to show compassion to others and develop Grit to help overcome adversity in their lives.
Our students pursue academic excellence through a challenging curriculum that fully prepares them for the secondary school of their choice. Students participate in their learning using collaborative inquiry-based methods, and hands-on projects. We offer our students the means to be successful through differentiated resources and instruction methods shared by our dedicated educators. Our graduating classes consistently rank in the top 10% nationally in Math and Language Arts, two critical areas measured by the Renaissance Learning Star Assessment. Our students develop unique and confident voices for lifelong success. Come visit us today.
765 Hilary Drive, Tiburon, CA 415.435.2224
Marin Primary & Middle School
Be connected. Be curious. Be courageous.
At Marin Primary & Middle School, we inspire joyful learning, honor each child, and build connections to empower all students to make a difference.
We believe that it’s deep connections—between students, with teachers, and with ideas—that help kids know themselves and push through boundaries in school and in life. Every day, we strengthen these connections so our students are able to tackle new challenges, pursue their goals with optimism and courage, and apply all they learn to the world they’ll inherit.
From preschool through eighth grade, we engage children in a warm academic environment that embraces growth and honors the journey of learning. Each stage of development is a building block to ensure success in the classroom and beyond.
Through collaboration and creativity, we build insight, deepen empathy, and ignite inspiration. We are committed to listening to all voices, embracing honest conversations, and advocating for inclusion in our community. You will love who your child becomes at Marin Primary & Middle School!
With the ever-changing technology landscape, we aim to prepare our students with the knowledge to responsibly use tools to enhance their learning. Artificial intelligence is an incredibly powerful resource and can be applied to many aspects of education. With student safety as our number one priority, our faculty are exploring ways to integrate this technology and guide students in its application with curiosity and integrity.
20 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur, CA 415.924.2608
Marin Horizon School
Where Academics and Character are Classmates
Marin Horizon is an independent, toddler through 8th grade, co-educational day school nestled at the base of Mt. Tamalpais, surrounded by trails and open space. At the core of a Marin Horizon education is the development of each student’s unique and confident voice.
• Challenging, rigorous, student-centered curriculum
• Faculty who believe close student-teacher relationships are the key to student success
• Students encouraged to take risks, think critically, and become creative problem-solvers
• Supportive and joyful learning environment where a diversity of backgrounds and ideas are embraced
• Experiential education program that reinforces the
social-emotional learning, independence, and leadership fostered in our classrooms
305 Montford Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 415.388.8408
Headlands Preparatory School
Transforming the Learning Experience
Headlands Preparatory School is an award winning, WASC accredited, college preparatory school for students in grades 6 through 12. Our mission is to offer our students a transformative educational experience that helps build academic self-esteem, develop self-awareness, and nurture responsible contributors to the global community while mastering college preparatory courses.
Our one-to-one model and flexible scheduling allow students to learn at their own pace and design a schedule that supports their academic needs and personal interests. While the individual is the focal point of our learning process, we have built a strong sense of community among our students and faculty. Students form friendships based on common interests discovered through our small group electives, lunch time social clubs, community building, and service activities.
1050 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 415.944.2254
San Domenico School
Exceptional Education and a Sense of Purpose
As Marin’s only independent K-12 preparatory school with day and boarding options, our mission since 1850 has been to provide an exceptional education rooted in inquiry, reflection, and purpose. Our expansive 515-acre campus serves a truly global community, thanks to our boarding program that welcomes students from across the Bay Area and more than 20 countries around the globe.
At SD, we believe that what students do with their education is just as important as their academic achievement. We challenge our students with a rigorous curriculum that also encourages them to reflect on their learning, find their purpose, and celebrate in community. When students develop a deeper sense of purpose, their academic engagement increases along with their well-being, resilience, and leadership. An exceptional education—where values and academics join together—creates more than great students; it develops great people.
1500 Butterfield Road, San Anselmo, CA 415.258.1905
Winston Prep Marin County
A Place to Be Understood
What makes Winston Prep Marin’s learning model different from other traditional learning programs is the way it helps cultivate a deep understanding of each student’s individual needs. Serving students in grades 3-12 with learning differences such as ADHD, dyslexia and nonverbal learning disabilities (NVLD), Winston Prep faculty continually assess how students respond to their skill development plan.
Students receive one-to-one remediation daily, focusing on their specific academic and social goals. Winston Prep’s Focus program ensures that students are continuously evolving and developing skills, helping them thrive.
We often hear from students that for the very first time they feel understood and are part of an educational community where they belong.
For more information, visit www.winstonprep.edu/our- campuses/marin-county. Contact admissions at katkins@ winstonprep.edu or 415-993-5533.
1 St Vincent Drive, San Rafael, CA 415.858.1015
