Mill Valley
The Mill Valley School District is an elementary school district serving Mill Valley and the unincorporated areas of Alto, Strawberry Point, Tamalpais Valley, Muir Beach, Panoramic Ridge and Homestead Valley. The District includes five kindergarten through fifth grade schools: Edna Maguire, Old Mill, Park, Strawberry Point and Tamalpais Valley. Sixth through eighth graders attend Mill Valley Middle School. District enrollment is 2,490 students. Class Size Reduction has been implemented in grades 1-3 and most kindergarten classes. Class size average in grades K-8 is 22.4 students. Mill Valley School District students reside in the Tamalpais Union High School District, with most attending Tamalpais High School.
The Mill Valley School District Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed between 12-1 daily).
Support Services
With the support of PTAs and Kiddo! (our education foundation), students have the opportunity to participate in K-8 art, music, drama, poetry, dance and enrichment programs. Both educational partners also support the funding of technology hardware. There are also services and/or programs for students who need additional academic help and programs for English Language learners and gifted students, as well as special education services for identified students. In addition to the counselors for our middle school students, there are district-wide counselors serving all K-5 schools.
Student Achievement
As part of the Marin Teaching Network (MTN), grades 4-8 students participate in performance assessments. Students in grades 2-8 participate in the mandatory state STAR program, which includes the California Standards Test (CST) and the nationally normed California Achievement Test (CAT/6) in grades 3 and 7. Progress reports, which reflect progress toward curriculum standards and skills, are completed and sent home each trimester. STAR results are available online at the California Department of Education’s website: http://star.cde.ca.gov.
Community Involvement
Parents, community members and local businesses support local schools through a parcel assessment estimated at $4.4 million annually and contributions to Kiddo! and local PTAs augment a broad range of school programs, including the arts and technology. PTAs and school site councils provide many opportunities for parent participation. The Mill Valley Parks and Recreation Department provides optional after school programs for interested students. Before and after school childcare is available at most elementary schools.
Ken Benny, Superintendent
Mill Valley School District
411 Sycamore Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 389-7700 Fax: (415) 389-7773
www.mvschools.org/
Edna Maguire School – Grades: Kindergarten – 5
414 students
School hours:
8:30 to 1:30 (Kindergarten)
8:30 to 2:50 (Grades 1 – 5)
Library hours:
M/T/W/Th: 8:30 to 2:50
F: 9:30 to 2:50
Edna Maguire School is a California Distinguished School. It is situated in a residential area on 11 acres of land at the foot of surrounding hills. It features “The Children’s Garden,” a two thirds acre fenced plot of land with individual classroom garden beds, an orchard and a pumpkin patch. Edna Maguire is also an “Eco-literacy” school where the principles of ecology are integrated across the curriculum. Student Green Teams promote the 5 R’s – re-think, reduce, recycle, reuse and rot throughout the school.
The school offers additional assistance to students who speak English as a second language. Reading and math teachers, along with instructional assistants work with small groups of students in order to individualize instruction. Mobile laptop carts with 30 iMacs are used in each classroom on a rotating basis.
Individual classrooms have desktop computers and LCD projectors. Our mobile laptop carts allow students to integrate the use of technology into their studies.
Two large fields established at the site were donated to the school by the Mill Valley Soccer and Little League Associations.
On site daycare is available before and after school.
School website: www.ednamaguire.org
Lisa Zimmer, Principal
Edna Maguire School
80 Lomita Drive
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 389-7733
Old Mill School – Grades: Kindergarten – 5
305 students
School hours:
8:40 to 1:40 (Kindergarten)
8:30 to 2:50 (Grades 1 – 5)
Library hours:
M/Th: 9:00 to 2:50
W: 9:00 to 10:00
F: 9:00 to 11:00
Old Mill School, the district’s oldest elementary school building, is a California Distinguished School. This modernized facility incorporates computer technology and internet access in all of its classrooms and the library/media center. The school is three blocks from Mill Valley’s business district and across from Old Mill Park and the Mill Valley Public Library. The facility has a large auditorium and 14 classrooms. Old Mill provides students with a well-balanced academic program integrating thematic instruction and project-based learning activities. Students and teachers use Cascade Creek in nearby Old Mill Park and the proximity of Mt. Tamalpais as an outside learning environment. Part-time instructional aides assist teachers and work with small groups and individual students. Parents are encouraged to participate in their children’s education through a variety of volunteer opportunities.
Mill Valley Parks and Recreation-sponsored after school programs are offered daily. On site childcare is available before and after school.
School website: www.oldmillschool.org
Jane McDonough, Principal
Old Mill School
352 Throckmorton Avenue
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 389-7727
Park School – Grades: Kindergarten – 5
330 students
School hours:
8:30 to 1:30 (Kindergarten)
8:30 to 2:50 (Grades 1 – 5)
Library hours:
M: 9:30 to 2:30
T/W/Th: 8:30 to 2:30
Park School is the second oldest school building in the Mill Valley School District. It is located in the geographic center of Mill Valley across from Boyle Park and the municipal tennis courts. The school has 16 classrooms, a large auditorium, a media lab, an art room and our “Children’s Garden,” which serves as an outdoor learning lab.
The students at Park School are provided with a rich and engaging curriculum that combines academic, socio-emotional and artistic learning. The entire community celebrates student learning through annual events such as the Fall Potluck and Carnival, Oceans Week, Earth Day Celebration, Variety Show and the Art Show. Park is also an “Eco-literacy” school where the principles of ecology are interwoven throughout the curriculum. Several teachers work with Bay Area environmental groups where students become involved with local watershed restoration efforts. Students are also in charge of our lunchtime recycling and compost program. Part-time instructional assistants work with classroom teachers and students to assist in the implementation of the educational program. After school care is provided on campus.
School website: www.parkschool.mv.org
Peg Katz, Principal
Park School
360 E. Blithedale Avenue
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 389-7735
Tamalpais Valley School – Grades: Kindergarten – 5
390 students
School hours:
8:30 to 1:30 (Kindergarten)
8:30 to 2:50 (Grades 1 – 5)
Library hours:
M/Th/F: 8:15 to 3:00
Tu: 1:00 to 3:00
W: 8:15 to 2:00
Tamalpais Valley School is at the southernmost boundary of Mill Valley on eight acres. Located at the edge of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, its beautiful natural setting provides vast opportunities for environmental studies.
School facilities include a large turf field, rooms for teaching art and music, a computer lab, a large multi-purpose room, two teaching gardens and a wellequipped library.
Tam Valley’s Learning Center offers an innovative approach to meeting the needs of special education students.
Average class size is 20 students in grades K-3 and 27 students in grades 4- 5. Parents are encouraged to participate in their children’s education through a variety of volunteer opportunities. After school enrichment classes are sponsored by the Mill Valley Park and Recreation Department daily.
Before and after school childcare is provided on site.
School website: www.mvschools.org/tv/
Gail van Adelsberg, Principal
Tamalpais Valley School
350 Bell Lane
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 389-7731
Mill Valley Middle School – Grades: 6 – 8
700 students
School hours: 8:40 to 3:00
Library hours:
M/T/Th: 8:40 to 4:00
W: 8:15 to 3:00
F: 8:40 to 3:30
Mill Valley Middle School is adjacent to the Bay Front Park and the Mill Valley Community Center. Each grade level is housed in a separate wing of the building.
The large library serves as the school’s central core.
Mill Valley Middle School offers an academic program that includes English, mathematics, social studies and science.
Credentialed teachers teach art, technology and physical education classes.
Additionally, orchestra, band and choral music are offered to all students.
Foreign language is offered to all 7th and 8th grade students. Wheel is offered to 6th graders instead of foreign language.
Wheel is a trimester-based elective program where each student takes a trimester of technology, art exploration and character education.
Counseling service is available full-time at Mill Valley Middle School. An extensive orientation for parents and students prepares them for the transition from primary to middle school and from 8th grade to high school. After school enrichment classes are available through Parks and Recreation.
School website: www.ms.mvschools.org
Matt Huxley, Principal
Mill Valley Middle School
425 Sycamore Avenue
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 389-7711
Strawberry Point School – Grades: Kindergarten – 5
323 students
School hours:
8:45 to 1:55 (Kindergarten)
8:45 to 3:05 (Grades 1-5)
Library hours:
M/F: 8:45 to 3:15
T/Th: 8:45 to 3:15
W: 8:45 to 2:00
Strawberry Point School re-opened in August 2000 after having been closed for ten years. The school has been completely renovated and expanded to accommodate future growth in our district. We now have a thoroughly modern school facility that incorporates a state-of-the-art data/communications network with access points in all instructional and administrative areas.
Strawberry Point School provides students a well balanced academic program. The school is situated on Richardson Bay and includes a play field, seasonal and tidal wetlands, and a garden, all adjacent to bay access. Our instructional programs utilize our on site naturalist to meaningfully integrate environmental awareness and education into the core curriculum.
Computers and other technologies are integrated throughout the curriculum. Visual and performing arts programs are provided at all grade levels.
Special education and other support services are available to students at all grade levels. Part-time instructional assistants work with teachers to support student learning.
On site childcare is available before and after school. A variety of enrichment classes are offered through Mill Valley Parks and Recreation.
School website: www.mvschools.org/sp/
Leslie Thornton, Principal
Strawberry Point School
117 East Strawberry Drive
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 380-2490