James B. Davidson Middle School

280 Woodland Avenue

School District

San Rafael City Elementary
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
Type

public

School Map for San Rafael City Elementary School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on January 31, 2025

Our family has had a positive experience at Davidson. I have a current 7th grader as well as a 10th grader who is a Davidson alum. The teachers are incredibly special at this school. My children have been challenged academically with advanced classes and the option to test into a higher level course in high school. They have also enjoyed the variety of elective classes that are offered. The teachers are dedicated and make the school the special place that it is. Both of my kids have appreciated having diversity and a large groups of friends. Several friends have returned to Davidson after starting out in private school and really enjoyed the opportunity to expand their community.
Submitted by parent on January 30, 2025

Our family has had a wonderful experience with Davidson Middle School. The teachers have been excellent in classroom management, delivering the curriculum (to high standards), and keeping tabs on student progress. The administration and teachers have programs and policies in place to support a diverse student body both academically and social-emotionally. To top it off, the list of electives stretches for days. These students are lucky to learn in such a fulfilling and enriching environment.
Submitted by parent on January 28, 2025

I have 3 kids that attend/attended Davidson Middle school (DMS) and all are thriving academically and socially. The principal and staff at Davidson are top notch and really care about the students and community. There are plenty of opportunities for parents to be engaged, and I would encourage anyone considering this school to spend some time on campus and with the students/staff. My high schooler was more than prepared leaving DMS. Yes, there are things that happen in middle school, at ALL middle schools, but as a family we consider these moments really great opportunities to develop compassion, empathy and growth.
Submitted by parent on January 28, 2025

It has been a positive experience for us 2 years in. I think the exposure to different kids from different backgrounds is very good for young people's development.
Submitted by parent on January 27, 2025

We've had a very positive experience at DMS with both kids (2 girls, 3 years apart). The teachers are top notch and the staff are deeply caring and engaged. My oldest was well prepared for high school.
Submitted by parent on January 27, 2025

Coming from a small public school, I was unsure of how things would go once my son arrived there for 6th grade. We had only heard positive feedback from other parents and we expected he would do well, but you never know--middle school can be weird no matter what. Fast forward to 7th grade, and he actually looks forward to coming back to class after long school breaks! The teachers, and the school administrators and principal, are all committed to the kids having a positive experience and there is a lot of support should problems/challenges arise. Davidson is all around a GREAT school!
Submitted by parent on January 26, 2025

Davidson is a great school with many opportunities for learning and extracurricular activities. The staff takes great care to ensure individuals are able to work to their full potential.
Submitted by parent on January 26, 2025

Our boys are thriving at this school, they are exposed to a number of different elective courses, clubs and athletic programs. They went from a small elementary school of 300 kids to the larger DMS student body and have made a lot of new friends. They feel safe and well supported by the amazing staff at DMS
Submitted by parent on January 16, 2025

As a parent that has had children in private, parochial and public schools, I can say Davidson is top notch. The administration truly cares about kids and staff. Quality of teachers far surpasses other schools we’ve attended. Incredible choice of electives with better selection than most high schools. Highly recommend!
Submitted by parent on January 16, 2025

I have a current 7th Grader at Davidson, and 2 Davidson alumi. My oldest daughter who went to Davidson and SRHS just gratuated with a Physics degree from Cal Poly SLO. Davidson offers an outstanding education with a wide range of opportunities for students to thrive. The academic programs are impressive, including a dedicated Mathletes team that recently placed 3rd in a Marin County competition! The music program is equally remarkable, with unique offerings like steel drums and an award-winning advanced band. And does any other school in Marin County offer Marine Sciences as a class elective? Davidson does!But, what truly sets Davidson apart is its commitment to fostering a culturally diverse environment where students learn to collaborate and succeed alongside peers from all backgrounds. This school has been an incredible place for my kids to grow academically, artistically, and socially. Thank you to all of the Davidson teachers and staff!
Submitted by other on September 15, 2024

Bullies, Fights, Kids Vape, swear and tell your kid that they don't like white kids, but only kids of their color. Racist at its finest.No accoutability.No Love..No Care..Too big a school to even Notice..Teachers don't look over the kids work.Horrible!!
Submitted by parent on May 26, 2022

This school is very good I like the fights that break out.
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2019

Disgusted. Period. There are no words to describe our experience at Davidson.
Submitted by parent on August 10, 2018

Puberty is generally not anyone's favorite time of life and middle schools have the extra burden of educating pre and young teens during these awkward years. Thus, most adults groan when recalling middle or junior high school and describe the years as "something you have to get through". Thankfully, most of us have didn't have to experience a school as bad as Davidson Middle School. The school is run by the students - who individually are good kids but when they come together under minimal supervision and an administration that they do not respect, they create total mayhem and everyone suffers. Sure, there are kids who go on to top tier Universities, but that has little to do with the education they experienced at Davidson and more to do with their own abilities and motivation. The school desperately needs to be split into two schools and undergo a total overhaul. It is simply too big to be able to be effectively governed or to be safe for young students to learn and grow. Right now, Davidson is not a place that I would feel comfortable sending any student to.
Submitted by parent on October 25, 2017

This school is such a wonderful school i had two children who went there and they said that the school challenged them. The teachers there are amazing. My oldest girl just graduated form Stanford. The youngest is still there and says that this school is amazing and she loves that the school is so diverse and that her old school was so small and that she loves a big school and could not be happier then where she is now.
Submitted by parent on February 01, 2017

This school was a disappointment. My child enjoyed the first few months in 6th grade, but then she realized that the school was horrible. She tells me that almost every day at lunch, fights will break out. Definitely not the school that I want my child to grow up in.
Submitted by other on September 23, 2016

I should have convinced my parents to let me go to another middle school (even move districts) or get homeschooled, this was awful. yes, bullying in middle school is a common occurrence. yet this presents "bullying" in a whole new light. kids locking each other in locker rooms, throwing things at outcast kids, kids degrade/insult/mimic other kids RIGHT in class and the teachers do nothing about it only a handful do. teachers/admin's etc. choose to just "turn the other cheek" and pretend like nothing is happeningyes I attended here in early 2000's and I've heard that they've made significant changes which is great--please keep this up. my memories from this place still stay with me until this day honestly, in a bad way
Submitted by parent on September 18, 2014

I have a son in the 8th grade. The work he brings home is a joke and highly insulting. No wonder he is bored. How about something more challenging? I have tried to contact a teacher about keeping up with my son and of course, I've had no response. Nice communication skills you have there. My son has had his clothes stolen on a few occasions and some thrown in the dumpster yet I'm told that wouldn't happen here." There are so many kids that there aren't even enough lockers yet they want to send home a reminder on how to load your backpack. Don't let the no bullying policy fool you either. I'm finding another alternative so my son will actually get the education he needs. What a joke!
Submitted by parent on September 15, 2014

Excellent teachers. New great leadership with Mr. Marcucci. Amazing music program with a marching band; the only one in Marin! Davidson is a school outside the bubble, diverse as the real world is, with excellent educators and great kids attending. In our 3rd year at Davidson, we couldn't have chosen a better school for our family! Our kids are both honor roll students and they love to go to school every day. They also have great friends! Thank you Davidson Community!
Submitted by other on September 11, 2014

I'm a 7th grader and I go to this school, it's awful, everyone swears and uses disrespectful language.In P.e. they treat us as if we're in the army and they only give us about 3 minutes to change in a crowded locker room!( I guerrentee that in P.E. you will at least 7 times be banged into the lockers by others who are impatient).the homework is also dreadful, I had to stay up until 11pm to finish my once.And the extracurricular activities?they have a gigantic musical instrument major that they all get hyped up about; then they push art, woodshop, and other classes off to the side.They don't even have an acting class Or ANY languages taught! This is a disappointment to every student who ISNT into band.And lunch time is the only break of the day, we only get 30 minutes and if you ever want help from a teacher? THEN YOU'LL STARVE. Want to join a fun extra credit class? STARVE. Detention for breaking a crayon in science class?(I'm not kidding this happened to me last year) STARVE! Not to mention the seagull infestation, I'm pretty sure everyone at the school has at least gotten pooped on by one once. Don't come to this school, as you can see it's pretty awful.