Now is the time parents assess their options and determine where they may want to send their child to school. This is a difficult choice and a time when many city families start to consider the cost savings of moving to Marin and enjoying the benefits of California’s top public schools. I can help you find one of the Marin agents I manage who can provide you with detailed school info, just call me at 415.389.5601 or email me at hpay@mcguire.com.

The California Department of Education created the Academic Performance Index (API) which ranks each of the state’s schools on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 representing the best. In Marin, 27 schools received the top score of 10, while eight more received a 9.

Here is a quick overview of the school sequence with the top rating of 10. Note that not all schools for a particular city may be included as a 10 ranked school; check with the district to ascertain if a property is within the school boundary. These numbers reflect a May 2010 API release date. Prices are based on the 6 month average to avoid spikes caused by individual properties.

Tiburon/Belvedere

• Average Home Price $2,325,000/$2,655,000
• Price Per Square Foot $693/$1,269
  
  
  
  • Bel Aire Elementary – ranked 10 – 951 pts
  • Reed Elementary – ranked 10 – 951 pts
  • Del Mar Middle – ranked 10 – 926 pts
  • Redwood High School– ranked 10 – 884 pts

Mill Valley

• Average Home Price $1,380,000
• Price Per Square Foot $595
  
  
  
  • Edna Maguire Elementary – 10 – 938pts
  • Old Mill Elementary – 10 -  950 pts
  • Park Elementary – 10 – 940 pts
  • Strawberry Point Elementary – 10 – 910 pts
  • Tamalpais Valley Elementary – 10 – 935 pts
  • Mill Valley Middle – 10 – 911 pts
  • Tamalpais High School – 10 – 868 pts

San Anselmo

• Average Home Price $823,000
• Average Price Per Square Foot $408
  
  
  
  • Wade Thomas Elementary -  10 – 930 pts
  • White Hill Middle – 10 – 898
  • Sir Francis Drake High School – 10 – 851 pts

Ross/Kentfield

• Average Home Price $3,115,000/$1,770,000
• Price Per Square Foot $626/$564
  
  
  
  • Ross Elementary 10 – 911 pts
  • Bacich Elementary 10 – 946 pts
  • Adeline Kent Middle 10 – 942 pts
  • Redwood High School– ranked 10 – 884 pts

Larkspur/Corte Madera

• Average Home Price $1,252,000/$909,000
• Price Per Square Foot $498/$487
  
  
  
  • Neil Cummins Elementary 10 – 918 pts
  • Hall Middle School 10 – 914 pts
  • Redwood High School– ranked 10 – 884 pts

Nicasio – West Marin (60 students K-8^th)

• Average Home Price $850,000 – 1 home sold
• Price Per Square Foot $275 on 20 acres
  
  
  
  • Nicasio School – 10 – 906 pts
  • Sir Francis Drake High School – 10 – 851 pts