Can I use Marin County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Marin County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Marin County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Marin County?

Start with the 74 listed public schools and 20 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Marin County Schools & Education

Name: Marin County, California Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Marin County, California

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

63/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

87.4%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

87.4%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 87.5%

Per-Pupil Spending

$10,425

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,762

School Score

63/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#14

of 58 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Marin County

Measured School Summary

Marin County performs at an average level with a school score of 63/100 and a solid graduation rate of 87.4%.

Funding Context

Marin County spends $10,425 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 15% above the California average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 19% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Marin County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

74 public schools and 20 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

63/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #14 of 58 California counties with school score data.

Completion

87.4%

0.1 pts below the state average

Funding context

$10,425

$1,663 above the state average

School coverage

20 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Marin County has 74 public schools across 20 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Marin County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Large multi-district county

Marin County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

#14

of 58 California counties with school score data. The county score is 8 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 97% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Novato Unified

Elementary to high school visible

7,157 students

Elementary 8Middle 2High 3Other 2

15 listed schools in this county slice.

Tamalpais Union High

High school only in this slice

4,813 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 5Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

San Rafael City Elementary

Elementary and middle visible

4,271 students

Elementary 7Middle 1High 0Other 1

9 listed schools in this county slice.

San Rafael City High

High school only in this slice

2,642 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 3Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Novato Unified is the largest listed district slice, with 15 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Marin County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Marin County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?

Education Overview

About Schools in Marin County, California

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Highly Rated Schools in Marin County

Marin County operates 74 public schools across 20 districts, serving a total student body of 30,304. The landscape is rich in primary education, featuring 44 elementary schools and 10 middle schools. With 16 high schools and 3 charter options, the county provides a robust academic foundation.

Novato and San Rafael Lead District Enrollment

Novato Unified is the largest district in the county, managing 15 schools and 7,157 students. San Rafael City Elementary follows with 4,271 students, while Mill Valley Elementary serves 2,364. These districts are known for their strong community support and resource-rich environments.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Marin County

Reported Enrollment

30,304

72 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

4% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary44

Middle10

High16

Other4

20 School Districts in Marin County

Novato Unified

Tamalpais Union High

San Rafael City Elementary

San Rafael City High

3 schools

2,642 students

Mill Valley Elementary

6 schools

2,364 students

Miller Creek Elementary

4 schools

1,815 students

Ross Valley Elementary

5 schools

1,714 students

Larkspur-Corte Madera

3 schools

1,260 students

Kentfield Elementary

2 schools

1,054 students

Reed Union Elementary

3 schools

1,023 students

74 Public Schools in Marin County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 8 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 20 of 74 matching schools

Public schools in Marin County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Redwood High	Profile	Tamalpais Union High	Larkspur, 94939Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,862
Tamalpais High	Profile	Tamalpais Union High	Mill Valley, 94941Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,540
Novato High	Profile	Novato Unified	Novato, 94947Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,458
San Rafael High	Profile	San Rafael City High	San Rafael, 94901City: Small	9–12	High	1,265
Archie Williams High	Profile	Tamalpais Union High	San Anselmo, 94960Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,224
Terra Linda High	Profile	San Rafael City High	San Rafael, 94903City: Small	9–12	High	1,189
San Marin High	Profile	Novato Unified	Novato, 94945Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,144
James B. Davidson Middle	Profile	San Rafael City Elementary	San Rafael, 94901City: Small	6–8	Middle	1,063
Mill Valley Middle	Record	Mill Valley Elementary	Mill Valley, 94941Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	797
Sinaloa Middle	Record	Novato Unified	Novato, 94947Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	745
Venetia Valley K-8	Record	San Rafael City Elementary	San Rafael, 94903Suburb: Large	KG–8	Primary	728
White Hill Middle	Record	Ross Valley Elementary	Fairfax, 94930Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	615
Miller Creek Middle	Record	Miller Creek Elementary	San Rafael, 94903Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	608
Bahia Vista Elementary	Record	San Rafael City Elementary	San Rafael, 94901City: Small	KG–5	Primary	570
Anthony G. Bacich Elementary	Record	Kentfield Elementary	Kentfield, 94904Suburb: Large	KG–4	Primary	541
Hamilton Meadow Park	Record	Novato Unified	Novato, 94949Suburb: Large	KG–8	Primary	531
Adaline E. Kent Middle	Record	Kentfield Elementary	Kentfield, 94904Suburb: Large	5–8	Middle	513
San Jose Intermediate	Record	Novato Unified	Novato, 94949Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	500
San Pedro Elementary	Record	San Rafael City Elementary	San Rafael, 94901City: Small	KG–5	Primary	494
Sun Valley Elementary	Record	San Rafael City Elementary	San Rafael, 94901City: Small	KG–5	Primary	473

Redwood High

Tamalpais Union High

Larkspur, 94939 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,862 students

Tamalpais High

Tamalpais Union High

Mill Valley, 94941 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,540 students

Novato High

Novato Unified

Novato, 94947 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,458 students

San Rafael High

San Rafael City High

San Rafael, 94901 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,265 students

Archie Williams High

Tamalpais Union High

San Anselmo, 94960 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,224 students

Terra Linda High

San Rafael City High

San Rafael, 94903 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,189 students

San Marin High

Novato Unified

Novato, 94945 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,144 students

James B. Davidson Middle

San Rafael City Elementary

San Rafael, 94901 / City: Small

Profile6–8Middle1,063 students

Mill Valley Middle

Mill Valley Elementary

Mill Valley, 94941 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle797 students

Sinaloa Middle

Novato Unified

Novato, 94947 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle745 students

Venetia Valley K-8

San Rafael City Elementary

San Rafael, 94903 / Suburb: Large

RecordKG–8Primary728 students

White Hill Middle

Ross Valley Elementary

Fairfax, 94930 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle615 students

Miller Creek Middle

Miller Creek Elementary

San Rafael, 94903 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle608 students

Bahia Vista Elementary

San Rafael City Elementary

San Rafael, 94901 / City: Small

RecordKG–5Primary570 students

Anthony G. Bacich Elementary

Kentfield Elementary

Kentfield, 94904 / Suburb: Large

RecordKG–4Primary541 students

Hamilton Meadow Park

Novato Unified

Novato, 94949 / Suburb: Large

RecordKG–8Primary531 students

Adaline E. Kent Middle

Kentfield Elementary

Kentfield, 94904 / Suburb: Large

Record5–8Middle513 students

San Jose Intermediate

Novato Unified

Novato, 94949 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle500 students

San Pedro Elementary

San Rafael City Elementary

San Rafael, 94901 / City: Small

RecordKG–5Primary494 students

Sun Valley Elementary

San Rafael City Elementary

San Rafael, 94901 / City: Small

RecordKG–5Primary473 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$10,425

State avg $8,762

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Marin County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which California counties have the highest graduation rates?

Sierra County (95.0%), El Dorado County (93.3%), and Colusa County (92.5%) currently lead California among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in California?

Across California counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $8,762. The highest current county values are Alpine County ($23,219), Mono County ($10,800), and Marin County ($10,425). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Marin County?

Marin County has a school score of 63/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Marin County?

The high school graduation rate in Marin County is 87.4%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Marin County spend per student?

Marin County spends $10,425 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Marin County, California — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Marin County, California?

What are the major school districts in Marin County, California?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Colusa County

California

-0 pts

63/100

School score

El Dorado County

California

-1 pts

63/100

School score

San Luis Obispo County

California

+1 pts

64/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

Explore more data for Marin County

Property Tax Cost of Living Crime Rate Income Health Disaster Risk Water Quality Weather County Score