Berkeley Parents Network: Marin School

Berkeley Parents Network

Marin School

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > K-12 Schools > Albany Public Schools > Marin School

Dec 2003

Marin School has outstanding test scores, but how is the environment? Are they really being taught better or are they being taught how to take tests? I would be having to fight to get into the school and would like to hear if it is worth the fight. Kristi

I have had two children at Marin school. I don't believe that Marin's scores are higher because the teachers ''teach better'', and they definitely do not (in my experience) ''teach to test''. I think there are several considerations: Of the three Albany elementary schools, Marin has the fewest ''English-learners'' (i.e., non-native English speakers), and the lowest proportion of children who get free/reduced price lunch (i.e., the average income level is higher). Both of these correlate with test scores. As an active PTA member, I also know that Marin's PTA typically raises more money than the other PTAs do, reflecting NOT less parent interest/involvement, but the ability to contribute more financially. This pays for additional enrichment activities at lunch time, for example. Overall, I have found Marin a rich, stimulating place for kids (though not perfect), but I DON'T think the other two Albany elementaries are inferior because of it. Don't look at test scores alone! Consider the benefits of having neighborhood friends, your ease of getting to and from school (and when your child is older, maybe walking to school with a friend). Also be aware, if you think your child might be one who needs extra help academically, that Marin is the only Albany elementary school that does not qualify for federal Title I money (money based on a poverty index, but used to help kids who are behind expectations). Marin parent

For the parent who would have to fight to get into Marin, I say your own school, especially if it is Cornell, is going to be just fine. For the parent who lives in the Marin district, I probably would go with Marin. One of the nice advantages in Albany is that kids do generally go to their neighborhood school. It's VERY useful to be able to consult with neighbors who have had the same teachers, etc. On our block, except for 2 families (who sent their kids to Marin), everyone else is at Cornell. I've heard that the parents are more involved at Marin, though it's hard to imagine more involvement than what I see at Cornell.

Oct 2002

Re: Kindergarten Options in Albany

Our son is in the afternoon kindergarten in Marin. So far we have been very satisfied for a number of reasons -- the learning program (which varies little from classroom to classroom) seems well-integrated, with ''science'' activities (such as raising Monarch butterflies from caterpillars and planting vegetables outside) feeding into language activities (first letter learned was ''c,'' for caterpillar, chrysallis, etc.), and so on. We like the philosophy expressed by our son's teacher -- that kindergarterners need first of all to learn self-worth, confidence, joy in learning, focus, and socialization. This philosophy seems enacted in their activities. There is a good mix of indoor and outdoor, quiet and active, creative and passive, etc. So we like the actual schooltime, and our son has brought home excitement at many things he has learned so far.

We are less thrilled with the on-site childcare situation in the afternoon. The morning (before the p.m. kindergarten) seems fine, because it is generally attended primarily by kindergarteners and there are not too many kids. The afternoon tends to be much more unstructured and potentially chaotic, with kids of all ages roaming in and out of the room and from playground to playground, lots of them, with few adults. I make every effort to pick up my son at 3pm, when he gets out of school in order to avoid the afternoon scene.

Parent involvement is very high in the Albany schools, especially at Marin, where parents are frequently in the classroom, lots of extra activities are organized (Spanish lessons, carpentry classes, singing, etc.), and the PTA plays an active fundraising role. On the other hand, it helps if you yourself become involved, so demands on your time are part of the picture.

So far we feel that the program at Marin is strong and the community ties we develop by sending our child there and being actively involved are invaluable.

an Albany kindergartener's mom

Oct 1998

My daughter goes to Marin. We had heard a lot of good things about Marin, and so far we have been very pleased. The principal Marian Rothschild, seems very involved and responsive. (Of course, my daughter's only in kindergarten, parents of older children may have different opinions).

I would like to take issue with the implication of one respondent that Cornell gets all the UC Village-ESL kids, while Marin is free to concentrate on Albany's affluent students, and gets more resources to boot. For one thing, as I understand it Cornell has a strong computer technology program, and received a large number of computers recently from a grant. For another thing, Marin is also terribly overcrowded.

Marin also gets a lot of UC Village kids. Nearly half of the students in my daughter's kindergarten class live in the Village, and several came in speaking no English at all. And yet I'm very pleased with the progress my daughter has made this year, and all the kids have become quite fluent in English. Of course language acquisition may be more difficult for older kids. But as a former Village resident I feel I must point out parents of UC-Village kids, almost by definition, are highly-educated, and perhaps more important, place a high value on education.

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