Many excellent educational choices ” both public and private ” are available in the Town of Mill Valley, California, which is one of the most sought-after towns in which to live within affluent Marin County.

Public Elementary Schools: Mill Valleys five public elementary schools include: Edna Maguire School, 80 Lomita Dr., 415-389-7733; Old Mill School, 352 Throckmorton Ave., 415 -389-7727; Park School, 360 East Blithedale Ave., 415- 389-7735; Strawberry Point School, 117 E. Strawberry Dr., 415-389-7660; and Tam Valley School, 350 Bell Lane, 415-389-7731.

Attendance at the various public elementary and middle schools is determined by where the student lives. There are also four private schools that serve pre- kindergarten or kindergarten to 5th grade students in Mill Valley. Each of them is discussed below.

Public Middle School: The only public middle school in Mill Valley is the Mill Valley Middle School, 425 Sycamore Ave., 415-389-7711. This school and the five public elementary schools above are administered by the Mill Valley School District, 415-389-7700. While there is only one public middle school, there are four private schools that serve middle school students.

Private Elementary/Middle Schools: The amazingly varied private elementary, combined with middle school offerings in Mill Valley include Mount Tamalpais School, 100 Harvard Avenue, 415-383-9434; Grades: K-8 and The Ring Mountain Day School, 70 Lomita Drive, Grades: K-8, 415-381-8183. Please note that the preschool campus of Ring Mountain Day is in Tiburon. There are also the Greenwood School, 17 Buena Vista Avenue, 415-388-0495, Grades: K-8; and the Marin Horizon School, 305 Montford Avenue, 415-388-8408, Grades: PK-8, Montessori school.

Public High School: Tamalpais High School is the only public high school in Mill Valley. It is at 700 Miller Ave., 415-388-3292. The school has been ranked in the top five percent of American high schools since 2005 by the Washington Post and received the California Distinguished School award in 1999, 2005 and 2009. There are no private high schools within the municipality of Mill Valley.

Among the numerous famous graduates of Tamalpais High are Courtney Thorne-Smith, class of 1985, actress (Melrose Place, Ally McBeal, According to Jim); Kathleen Quinlan, class of 1972, actress (American Graffiti, Apollo 13, Oliver Stone’s The Doors, Breach) and Mario Cipollina, class of 1972, musician (Copperhead, Soundhole, Huey Lewis and the News, Terry and the Pirates).

Some of the famous athletes who graduated from Tamalpais High include Joe DeMaestri 1946 ” MLB shortstop: A’s, St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox, Yankees, 1957 All Star, 1960 World Series, Art Schallock, class of 1943, MLB pitcher: Yankees (1953 World Series), Orioles; and Sam Chapman, class of 1934, (high school & college all star, California Golden Bears; Philadelphia Athletics & Cleveland Indians).

Other notable Tamalpais High graduates include Sarah Austin, class of 2004, Manhattan-based Internet personality, and founder of Pop17; Montgomery McFate, class of 1984, anthropologist, defense analyst; and Peter Shor, class of 1977, mathematician, MIT, MacArthur Fellow.

Among the honors received by Tamalpais High School in 2009, was the Mock Trial Team, which placed sixth in the nation at the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Atlanta, Georgia. Over 2,000 mock trial teams competed and 40 states had championship teams.

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