Marin’s Distinguished Schools
Each year, the California Department of Education selects the highest achieving public schools in the state as Distinguished Schools. Schools may apply for this award only every four years. Here are the Marin schools on the list for the last four years:
Elementary and Middle Schools
City |
Schools |
| Fairfax/San Anselmo | White Hill Middle |
| Kentfield | Anthony G. Bacich Elementary |
| Larkspur-Corte Madera | Henry C. Hall Middle |
| Mill Valley | Old Mill Elementary |
| Novato | Lu Sutton Elementary Rancho Elementary Sinaloa Middle |
| Ross | Ross Elementary |
| San Rafael (Dixie School District) | Miller Creek Middle |
| Sausalito* | Willow Creek Academy Bayside Elementary |
| Tiburon | Bel Aire Elementary Reed Elementary Del Mar Middle |
| West Marin | West Marin-Inverness Elementary |
* Note that Sausalito appears here with the best. For many years, Sausalito had the reputaion for weak public schools.
High Schools
All of the Distinguished high Schools are in the Tamalpais Union High School District. Go to this link to see which towns are served by each school.
| High Schools |
| Sir Francis Drake High |
| Tamalpais High |
| Tamiscal High* |
| Redwood High |
* Independent study/ alternative education
The selections are based on API (Academic Performance Index) scores, No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) scores, and Closing the Achievement Gap for disadvantaged subgroups, where applicable. For more information about these criteria, see the California Department of Education web site.
Marin Has Plenty of Water
The unusual springtime rains filled the Marin reservoirs to overflowing by April 3, 2010.
The Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) reported: “Rainfall for April 2010 (through April 29) was an unusual 9.71 inches. Average for the month is 3.61 inches. April’s abundant rainfall brought our year-to-date numbers to well above the total annual average. Rainfall to date is 55.77 inches; average for this date is 50.38; annual (July 1-June 30) average is 52 inches.”
We will not have drought conditions this year. And with many Marin residents and business becoming aware of water conservation, water use has decreased by about 10% in the last year. Unless we have a severe shortage of rain over the next few years, our water supply should be adequate.
Great Water Quality, Too
When I moved to Marin in the 1970’s the local water tasted like water from fresh mountain streams! Since then, the state has required more water treatment to assure public health, but our water is still very good. For the details, see the annual report from MMWD on water quality.
