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Marin Academy

“Think, question, and create”

AKA: MASan Rafael (Marin)Independent

Students
~450
Ratio
8:1
Tuition
$68k

Base tuition as published for 2026–27.

Admissions

Applications open
Late August
Application due
Beginning of January
Decisions released
Mid-to-late March
admissions@ma.org
Visit admissions site

What makes this school special

  • An experiential, inquiry-driven program in San Rafael with no APs — classes run on 75-minute blocks built for discussion and projects, not coverage
  • The Outings Program (a signature outdoor-education tradition) and the two-year Marin Academy Research Collaborative push learning well beyond the classroom
  • "MA Promise": free tuition for admitted families earning under $100,000, and 100% of demonstrated need met for every admitted student
  • A no-cut athletics culture — about 35 teams and 82% participation in the Bay Counties League

Academics

Curriculum

No APs — experiential, inquiry-driven courses on a 75-minute block schedule

World languages

Spanish, French, Mandarin

Schedule

Block schedule (75-minute periods)

Signature programs

  • Outings Program (outdoor education)
  • Marin Academy Research Collaborative (MARC)
  • Transdisciplinary Leadership Program
  • Minicourse

College matriculation

Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, Brown, Georgetown, University of Chicago, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Tufts, NYU, Washington University in St. Louis, Boston College, Middlebury, UC Santa Barbara, University of Miami, Cal Poly SLO, Tulane

See the full list

Athletics, arts & activities

Athletics · Bay Counties League (West); CIF North Coast Section

Cross CountryField HockeyGolfTennisVolleyballWater PoloBasketballSoccerLacrosseSwimmingTrack & Field

Arts

TheaterDanceContemporary MusicCeramicsDrawing & PaintingPhotography

Clubs & activities · 50+

Mock TrialModel United NationsDECARoboticsMarin Academy Student Investment FundBlack Student UnionAsian Student OrganizationLatine Student UnionJewish Student OrganizationClimate ActionMAFIA (film)Animal WelfareDesign and EngineeringClimbing ClubSurf ClubWomen+ in STEM
See all clubs

Life there

Learning support

Learning Services department — accommodations, executive-functioning support, a Learning Lab, and peer tutoring

Notable alumni

  • Jason Rezaian (Washington Post journalist)
  • Peter Som (fashion designer)
  • Dylan Penn (actress and model)

Often on the same list

The Branson School

Independent

The Urban School of San Francisco

Independent

Lick-Wilmerding High School

Independent

The Bay School of San Francisco

Independent

Sources

  1. Marin Academy — mission, academics, schedule, languages, signature programs
  2. Affording MA — tuition, financial aid
  3. MA Promise — free tuition under $100k, full demonstrated need
  4. Admissions FAQs and Apply — test-free policy, deadline, outcomes
  5. Athletics — teams, participation, league
  6. Learning Services — learning support
  7. NCES Private School Universe Survey — enrollment and faculty; student:teacher ratio estimated from this (447 ÷ 57.6 FTE)
  8. Marin Academy | Wikipedia — founding, class size, notable alumni
  9. College Profile 2025-26 — college matriculation (Classes of 2023–2025)
  10. Philosophy & Mission — motto ("think, question, and create," the signature phrase embedded in the mission statement)

Last reviewed July 2026