Best Schools in Mill Valley, California
16 schools · 12 Elementary · 2 Middle · 1 High · 1 Other
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 7.9/10
- Median household income
- $210,217
- Median home value
- $1,990,100
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 77%
- Avg commute
- 28 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 67%
73% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Mill Valley compares
California rank
#12 of 596
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.6
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$210k
211% of California median
Schools in this city
11
About Schools in Mill Valley, California
Mill Valley's public school system is compact and consistent. Seven ranked public schools serve students from kindergarten through 12th grade — one high school, one middle school, and a cluster of elementaries. That structure gives families a clear, predictable K-12 pathway within a single city.
The performance numbers stand out. Mill Valley's seven ranked schools average 8.5 out of 10, and six of them — 86% — score 7 or higher. Strong performers are not isolated to one grade level; the city produces them across the full pipeline. That kind of distribution means families aren't navigating a patchwork of strong and weak schools depending on the year or the grade transition.
The elementary tier is the highest-scoring segment. Tamalpais Valley Elementary leads the city at 9.4 — the top score among all ranked schools in Mill Valley. Park Elementary (9.2) and Strawberry Point Elementary (9.0) sit just behind it. All three fall in the top decile of the rating scale. That clustering gives parents real choice at the elementary level, not a single option to pursue. Tamalpais High earns an 8.9, carrying strong performance into the upper grades, while Mill Valley Middle holds steady at 8.6 — a score that reflects the overall quality of the system rather than an outlier dragging the average down.
For parents weighing school quality in a relocation or enrollment decision, the defining feature here is consistency. The gap between the top school (9.4) and the fifth-ranked school (8.6) is less than one point. The middle and high school scores track closely with the elementaries, so strong early-grade performance doesn't erode at key transitions. Families zoning into Mill Valley are working from a high baseline at every level. If a specific school is the priority, Tamalpais Valley Elementary and Park Elementary represent the highest-rated options by current scores.
Elementary Schools
12 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 335 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.3 | ||
| 2 | 266 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.0 | ||
| 3 | 241 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.9 | ||
| 4 | 251 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.8 | ||
| 5 | 428 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.4 | ||
| Private Schools 7 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | TERRA MARIN SCHOOL
Private
112 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | MARIN HORIZON SCHOOL
Private
185 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | MOUNT TAMALPAIS SCHOOL
Private
250 students · T1–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | North Bridge Academy
Private
95 students · 2nd–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | Terra Marin School
Private
6 students · Kindergarten–3rd | Not Rated | ||
| 6 | Marin Horizon School
Private
169 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 7 | Mount Tamalpais School
Private
259 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 757 students · 6th–8th | 8.6 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | NORTH BRIDGE ACADEMY
Private
68 students · 2nd–8th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,544 students · 9th–12th | 8.8 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE HELIX SCHOOL
Private
25 students · UG–UG | Not Rated |
Schools in Mill Valley
Mill Valley, California · 16 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$210,217
Median Home Value
$1,990,100
Median Rent
$2,949/mo
Population
32,349
College Educated
77%
Homeownership
67%
Avg Commute
28 min
Poverty Rate
5.4%
Community Profile
Mill Valley has a median household income of $210,217. It is a well-educated community where 77% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,990,100, with a median rent of $2,949/month. The local poverty rate of 5.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Quick Facts
- State
- California
- Total Schools
- 16
- Elementary
- 12
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 1
- Districts
- 2
- Avg Rating
- 7.9/10
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in California
Top metros statewide by school count.
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Mill Valley, California
How many schools are in Mill Valley, California?
Mill Valley has 16 schools, including 7 public and 9 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Mill Valley, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Mill Valley is 7.9 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.
What is the top-ranked school in Mill Valley, California?
The top-ranked school in Mill Valley on MySchoolScout is Tamalpais Valley Elementary with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Mill Valley, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Mill Valley on MySchoolScout is Tamalpais Valley Elementary with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Mill Valley, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Mill Valley on MySchoolScout is Mill Valley Middle with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best high school in Mill Valley, California?
The top-ranked high school in Mill Valley on MySchoolScout is Tamalpais High with a composite score of 8.8/10.
How many school districts serve Mill Valley, California?
Mill Valley is served by 2 school districts: Mill Valley Elementary, Tamalpais Union High.
What is the education level in Mill Valley, California?
According to Census data, 77% of adults in Mill Valley have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Mill Valley, California?
The median household income in Mill Valley is approximately $210,217 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Mill Valley, California?
Yes, Mill Valley has 9 private schools alongside 7 public schools. The top-rated private school is Terra Marin School with a score of 7.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Mill Valley, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Mill Valley is 11.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Mill Valley, California?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.
Related reading
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.