Marin Primary And Middle School

20 Magnolia Avenue

Larkspur, CA 94939

27 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on September 14, 2024

We are so happy with this school. The kids, families, teachers and entire community are terrific. Our kids have tried several different schools and have found their home here. The teachers are terrific and many of them have been there for 10+ years - it is stable and a great place to work for teachers. They have excellent music, arts, shop and enrichment. The building is in great shape and has a beautiful playground and garden. Couldn't be happier.
Submitted by parent on November 25, 2023

This school has been our home. Our children have been seen, nurtured, challenged and celebrated every step of the way from preschool through middle school. Our graduate is flourishing in high school thanks to strong academic skills and preparation, but also due to his confidence, creative problem-solving, perseverance, strength of character, and understanding of himself as a learner. MP&MS prepares students for success in academics and life.
Submitted by student on November 21, 2023

This school is absolutely amazing. The teachers are so kind and helpful. I come home happy and telling my mom and dad what I did at school.
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2023

We had a very mixed experience here. Every teacher, except for one year, was amazing, thoughtful and kind and treated our child like their own. The teacher we struggled with no longer works there. There has been a ton of turnover and it’s not surprising why. Beloved teachers left in droves and left a lot of holes and changed the whole culture of the school. The administration did not support our requests for help, accommodations weren’t even acknowledged when the school was presented with information around help our child needed, and it appeared that they would rather listen to parents complain vs. do anything constructive. “Community” really only means that some parents will communicate with you if you live for your child’s school. If you’re a working parent and can only volunteer a few times a year, good luck to you. There are great aspects of this school, none of which sit with the administration, which is very unfortunate.
Submitted by parent on August 29, 2022

Marin Primary is close knit community for our family. Joining the school during covid it was an adjustment to us all but the warm attitudes from the leadership and teachers helped us feel welcome. My young children are thriving here and are exposed to wonderful enrichment classes like Projects lab (woodworking), STEM, Garden and Music on a weekly basis! Now that social functions are happening again we are very happy to be a part of the family filled picnics, carnivals, and auctions that the new year unfolds.
Submitted by parent on August 29, 2022

Marin Primary and Middle School is a magical school located near the very cute downtown of Larkspur. Educators are experienced, passionate and life long learners. The curriculum is play-based in preschool and scaffolded nicely to prepare students for the top private and public high schools - the school is notorious for students attending their first choices after 8th grade graduation. MPMS grows respectful and compassionate humans who can advocate for themselves and are encouraged to take risks. MPMS is known for its strong Learning Resource Program for kids looking for a deeper challenge and also to help them overcome and work with learning challenges. The new head of school, Phil Gutierrez, is a fantastic listener, has an incredible vision for MPMS, attracts incredible talent is also a life long learner. The way MPMS handled Covid is one example of the strong community at the school. Parents feel supported by the staff and faculty as well as one another. The school hosts fun, all-school events, as well as cultivating strong class bonds amongst families.
Submitted by parent on August 26, 2022

MPMS is a hidden gem in Larkspur! Outstanding, caring and committed faculty who truly care about children. The parent community is grounded and down-to-earth unlike many private schools in Marin. It takes a village to raise kids and I could not imagine doing it with out the MPMS village.
Submitted by parent on February 04, 2022

Such a hidden gem! - Marin Primary and Middle School has incredible teachers, a robust curriculum and my children feel seen and heard. They are taught to be respectful and compassionate humans that can advocate for themselves. MPMS has an incredible community and of loving teachers and faculty that see the kids for who they are and will encourage them to take safe risks that give them confidence. MPMS is a school that is known for having a strong Learning Resource Program for learning challenges but that same program also helps kids take a deeper dive when kids/families want a challenge. Meeting children where they are at in their academic career is great, but meeting them where they are at emotionally and and cognitively is ideal. The faculty and staff really seem to understand children and pride themselves on creating those "a-ha" moments. The new head of school, Phil Gutierrez, is an ideal leader. He is a fantastic listener, has an incredible vision for MPMS and he is also a life long learner. Phil is loved by not only the parents & kids but also by the faculty and staff. MPMS is a school that not only feeds into all the top private and public high schools but turns our children who are known for their love of learning and knowing what they need to be successful. MPMS has handled the many Covid pivots incredibly well. They understand how important it is to keep the kids at school, safely. If you want a school that develops strong character and delivers a strong curriculum - this is it!
Submitted by parent on December 08, 2021

If you want a school that feels like a community, where teachers and staff really care about each child and *know* them as individuals, and where parents are friendly and warm, MPMS is a great choice. I look forward to many more exceptional years here. Preschool was an incredible experience for my 2 kids, even during Covid, and Kindergarten has continued to be as well.
Submitted by parent on August 12, 2021

Mixed bag review here. MP&MS has sweet traditions such as International Day and Harvest Festival. It also has some well loved longtime teachers, although many have left in the past few years. It's a great place if your child has learning differences as the curriculum is not very challenging and children that need support are given it. That said, the school isn't a great fit if academics are a top priority in your family. In addition, the school lacks a formal SEL program and there is a lot of questionable behavior on campus (last year alone two of my child's teachers walked out of the classroom because the students were so poorly behaved). The administration seems to lack control over the parent body as well and it seems like most if not all decisions are made by a few select parents. There are plenty of other options in Marin.
Submitted by parent on December 03, 2019

I can't say enough about MP&MS. They have a low teacher to student ratio, super nice kids, and a community that is kind, supported and most of all connected. Connected to one and other as well as to their broader community. It is wonderful place and I can't imagine my kids being anywhere else.
Submitted by parent on July 01, 2019

MPMS is a lovely school. They have nice kids, a loving and inclusive community, and a low teacher to student ratio. I would say that as a whole we have been happy there, and our children perhaps happier than we are. If I were to state some shortcomings, I would say first of all that there is quite a lack of diversity (maybe this is because it's Marin county, but it is striking). Secondly, I think the academics are quite lackluster. This may be fine in second grade, but as the grades progress, I'm uncertain how prepared our kids will be for high school. Thirdly, certain programs are limited, like the music program (band and orchestra, which I do not believe exist), language programs (only spanish is offered), and sports teams. This is likely because of the size of the school, which is understandable, but children in public schools in Marin do have these things offered in their curriculum. The bottom line is the children seem happy. I think the social emotional piece is really important, and that's probably the main strength of the school.
Submitted by parent on January 09, 2019

Exceptional. We have both our children here and they are thriving. Can't imagine going anywhere else.
Submitted by parent on December 27, 2018

We have had an exceptional experience at MPMS. Throughout the preschool, primary and now middle school we consistently see the commitment to developing connections with our children, teaching critical thinking and problem-solving, and fostering creativity and resilience.
Submitted by parent on May 30, 2018

Our family moved from public school to MP&MS two years ago because of the quality of the teachers and the low student-teacher ratio - and it has been well worth the investment. MP&MS is providing an education that will not only prepare our daughter for success in school, but also in life. In our experience, MP&MS students are intellectually curious, empathetic and empowered; they're simultaneously seen for their individual strengths and encouraged to be respectful and engaged members of the school community. It’s a wonderful school!
Submitted by parent on May 30, 2018

Extremely positive experience! We have been at the school for 11 years. We love the two (full time) teacher model, project based learning, leadership, campus, and all of the specialists. Outstanding experience.
Submitted by parent on May 17, 2018

MP&MS is a fantastic community! I've been a MP&MS parent for 10 years now and I continue to be amazed by the caliber of teachers. The parent community is very welcoming. Alumni regularly come back to share what they loved about MP&MS. (Who remembers their own middle school experience that fondly? Not me.) I only wish I attended a school like MP&MS when I was a child!
Submitted by student on May 03, 2018

Okay. The school is good at somethings and very bad at others. I would recomend those who have learning difficulties to come to this school but those who don't should not.
Submitted by parent on September 26, 2017

MP&MS is a fantastic school. Our daughter transferred in and could not have been more welcomed into and embraced by this wonderful community of teachers, administrators and families. MP&MS offers an empowering and inspiring environment to learn, wonder and grow. The teachers at MP&MS are truly the most passionate and compassionate educators who care about their students as much as their diverse fields of expertise. The modern, open campus foster a safe, progressive, energetic environment for kids to grow - in and out of the classroom. Most importantly, we found MP&MS to be a joyful place and our daughter's smile at the beginning and end of every day said it all...
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2017

We have been at MP&MS since both our daughters were in preschool. One is now a junior in high school and the other is in 8th grade. We are proud of the people that MP&MS has helped them become.