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Oct 29th, 2008
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North Bay

Marin County

Driving north on the majestic Golden Gate Bridge, you’re immediately welcomed by warmer weather, picture-postcard scenery and at certain points as you look back, fantastic views of San Francisco. Surrounded by water on three sides, Marin (population 248,742) is a special place where you can explore wild and scenic California beaches, enjoy sailing and windsurfing in San Francisco Bay, or marvel at the ancient redwood forest on the slopes of legendary Mt. Tamalpais.

Marin County is conveniently located between San Francisco and the Napa and Sonoma wine country, and its warm, sunny California climate makes it possible to enjoy Marin’s incredible array of outdoor attractions all year around. Marin is a natural for outdoor recreation — mountain biking, hiking, fishing, bird watching, windsurfing, kayaking, golf and tennis. All of these amenities make it a very desirable place to live. 

Marin residents, city dwellers and visitors worldwide visit the beautiful beaches along the western coast. Point Reyes (www.nps.gov/pore/visit.htm), is one of the area’s finest with 100 square miles of beaches, forests, marshes and trails snaking along the northern coastline. Stinson (www.stinsonbeachonline.com) is a well-loved long sandy beach and adjoining 51 acre park that are often crowded, especially in the summer when lifeguards are on duty from May through October. Tomales Bay State Park (www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=470), is a 2,000-acre park with four protected, surf-free beaches. For more information about Marin County, visit
www.marin.ca.us.

Education:

Marin County children are educated in 19 school districts whose enrollments range from 12 students to 7,000 students. Fifteen of the school districts are elementary districts (K-8); two are unified districts (K-12); and two are high school districts (Grades 9-12). There are a total of 77 public schools in the county. The Marin Community College has two campuses; Kentfield and Novato. There are several private schools, including Dominican University in San Rafael.

For more information, contact:

Marin County Office of Education

1111 Las Gallinas Ave
San Rafael, CA 94903
415-472-4110
www.marinschools.org

Community Colleges

College of Marin, Kentfield

415-457-8811

Dominican College, San Rafael

415-457-4440

Largest Cities in Marin County

San Rafael

San Rafael (population 58,008 ) is located halfway between San Francisco and California's famous wine country. It is Marin's oldest and most central city and is located in the center of the county's eastern urban corridor. Famous for its favorable climate, San Rafael makes a central base for taking day trips to scenic locations such as the Napa/Sonoma wine country, the Pt. Reyes National Seashore and Muir Woods. Among local attractions is the landmark Frank Lloyd Wright Civic Center as well as Victorian architecture, a lively downtown district and historic China Camp on the Bay. For more information, visit 
www.cityofsanrafael.org and
www.sanrafaelchamber.com.

Novato

Located approximately 29 miles north of San Francisco, Novato (population 51,518 ) is the northernmost city in Marin County. Fireman's Fund Insurance Company is the city's and county's largest employer with 2,400 employees. The city is also the corporate headquarters for footwear company Birkenstock Footprint Sandals and Smith and Hawken, the garden retailer. For more information, visit www.novato.org.

Mill Valley

Beautifully situated, Mill Valley (population 13,323 ) encompasses the hillsides and canyons of the southeast flank of 2,571-foot Mount Tamalpais, 11 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. Mill Valley residents appreciate the natural beauty of the region, and many work to protect its natural resources. For more information, visit 
www.cityofmillvalley.org and
www.millvalley.org.

Corte Madera

Incorporated in 1916, Corte Madera (population 9,313 ) extends from San Francisco Bay on the east side of Highway 101 to Mt. Tamalpais on the west. Corte Madera occupies an area of four square miles of land, plus surrounding water tidelands. This small vital town of nearly 9,425 residents, located 12 miles north of San Francisco, is generally alight with sunshine that peeks through fog shrouded Mt. Tamalpais. It is within hiking, biking and driving distance of some of the most beautiful vistas in the western United States. More information is at  www.ci.corte-madera.ca.us and
www.cortemadera.org.

Sonoma County

Sonoma County is conveniently located less than 30 miles north of San Francisco. The county has a lot to offer residents and visitors alike, including more than 200 award-winning wineries and incredible restaurants. Many enjoy the great outdoors including a scenic coastline and beaches, the mystical Russian River, majestic redwoods and 21 challenging golf courses. There are also 40 spas, fascinating museums, shopping, galleries, diverse festivals and farmers markets.

A review of outdoor activities in the region includes ballooning over vineyards, birding, kayaking, fishing, bicycling, horse riding, hiking, tubing and stargazing.

The Russian River is a favorite family destination that offers four different areas to explore. First there is the resort area, including the Armstrong Redwoods and Guerneville; the spectacular coastline with Fort Ross, Goat Rock and Salt Point; the wine region including Lake Sonoma, River Rock Casino, wine tasting and Healdsburg; and the inland area that offers a combination of great dining, entertainment and shopping. For more information, visit www.sonoma-county.org

Education:

There are 200 public and charter schools in Sonoma County with a total enrollment of 77,578. Of the total 176 public schools, 101 are elementary, 22 are middle/junior high, 18 are high schools, 3 are alternative schools and 24 are charter schools.

For more information, contact:

Sonoma County Office of Education

5340 Skylane Blvd.
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
707-524-2600
www.scoe.org.

Community Colleges:

Santa Rosa Junior College,
Santa Rosa, CA 

707-527-4011

Santa Rosa Junior College,
Petaluma, CA 

707-527-4011

Largest Cities in the County

Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa (population 9,897 ) is home to the county seat and located 50 miles north of San Francisco. Civic leaders keep a close eye on development, so the community is easy on the eyes. The downtown area is picturesque and surrounded by beautifully restored historic neighborhoods. From mid-May through August the Santa Rosa Downtown Market – known as Sonoma County’s largest farmers market – is in full swing. If you’re a “Peanut’s” fan, you can visit the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research center, in honor of the cartoon strip’s creator and long-time Santa Rosa resident (www.charlesmschulzmuseum.org). For more information, visit
www.ci.santa-rosa.ca.us.

Sonoma

The city of Sonoma (population 9,128) is the commercial heart of Sonoma Valley, which is a mecca for wine lovers. On summer weekend, the area’s population explodes with tourists tasting the lastest vintages. Literature lovers can visit Jack London’s former and ranch and final resting place, which is now an 800-acre state park located in nearby Glen Ellen. For more information, visit www.sonomacity.org.

Napa County

Do the names Beringer, Beaulieu and Caymus ring any bells? They are the names of noted wineries, all based in Napa County. Wine lovers are familiar with Highway 29, the road that runs north-south through Napa County, stopping along the way at the vineyards, wineries and lovely small towns, including St. Helena, Rutherford and Yountville. For more information, visit www.co.napa.ca.us.

Education

Napa County possesses a broad, rich education system which spans kindergarten through college. There are five school districts in Napa County that serve more than 2,400 students each year in a wide range of programs.Many of the public and private schools in Napa County rival the best in the San Francisco Bay Area for academic excellence. A variety of adult education services are available including English learning programs and parenting education. Napa is also home to Napa Valley Community College and is in close proximity to some of California's finest universities.

For more information, contact:

Napa Office of Education

2121 Imola Ave.
Napa, California 94559
707-253-6810
www.ncoe.k12.ca.us

Community Colleges:

Napa Valley College, Napa, CA

707-253-3000

Upper Valley Campus, St. Helena, CA

707-967-2900

Largest Cities in Napa County

Napa

The city of Napa (population 74,966 ) serves as the center of county government. For newcomers to Napa, there is plenty to appreciate in this town, including a thriving arts scene. The Napa Valley Opera House boasts a year-round calendar of events plus a staff of 10 full-time professionals overseeing marketing, development, box office, finance and production.

With great year-around weather, there are plenty of recreational activities to choose from, including baseball, bocce, basketball, golf, football, swimming and wrestling. The city of Napa supports approximately 50 parks – from the simple turf spaces found in most every neighborhood, to the stately and historic Fuller Park, the wide-open and undeveloped space of Alston Park and the multiple uses possible in Kennedy Park along the Napa River.

Visitors can spend a fascinating afternoon at COPIA, a nonprofit discovery center whose mission is to explore, celebrate and share the many pleasures and benefits of wine, its relationship to food and its significance to our culture. It’s located in the heart of Napa Valley and a premier wine country destination. It offers visitors exceptional wine and food tasting programs, art exhibitions, organic edible gardens, films, concerts, fine and casual dining and shopping. For more information about Napa, visit
www.cityofnapa.org.

St. Helena

The city of St. Helena (population 5,904 ) is located in the center of the world-famous wine growing Napa Valley, 65 miles north of San Francisco. From its inception, it has served as a rural agricultural center and over the years, it has become an important business and banking center for the wine industry. For more information, visit www.ci.st-helena.ca.us and www.sthelena.com.

Select Private Schools -
Marin County

Brandeis Hillel
Marin Campus

180 N. San Pedro Rd.
San Rafael, CA 94903
415-472-1833
www.bhds.org

Ring Mountain Day School

70 Lomita Dr.
Mill Valley, CA 94941
Phone: 415-381-8183
www.ringmountain.org

Lycée Français La Pérouse

330 Golden Hind Passage
Corte Madera, CA 94925
415-924-1737
www.lelycee.org

Marin Montessori

5200 Paradise Dr.
Corte Madera, CA 94925
415-924-5388
www.marinmontessori.org

Marin Primary & Middle School

20 Magnolia Ave.
Larkspur, CA 94939
415-924-2608
www.mpms.org

Montessori de Terra Linda

620 Del Ganado Rd.
San Rafael, CA 94903
415-479-7373
www.mdtl.org

Saint Mark’s School

39 Trellis Dr.
San Rafael, CA 94903
415-472-8000
www.saintmarksschool.org

San Domenico

1500 Butterfield Rd.
San Anselmo, CA 94960
415-258-1900
www.sandomenico.org

Select Private Schools -
Santa Rosa

Anova Center for Education

1142 State Farm Dr.
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
707-527-7032
www.anovaeducation.org

Brush Creek Montessori  School

1569 Brush Creek Rd.
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
707-539-7980
www.bcmontessori.org

Cardinal Newman High School

50 Ursuline Rd.
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
707-546-6470
www.cardinalnewman.org

Covenant Christian Academy

1315 Pacific Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
707-542-0872
www.srchristianchurch.org

Merryhill School

4580 Bennett View Dr.
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
707-575-0910
www.merryhillschool.com

New Horizon School

827 3rd St.
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
707-579-3723
www.newhorizonschool.info

North Valley School

3164 Condo Court
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
707-523-2334
www.victor.org/santarosacampus.htm

Rincon School

429 Speers Rd.
707-539-2792
Santa Rosa, CA 95409

Rincon Valley Christian School

4585 Badger Rd.
Santa Rosa, CA 95409
707-539-1486
www.rvchristian.org

Santa Rosa Christian School

950 South Wright Rd.
Santa Rosa, CA 95407
707-542-6414
www.srchristian.org

Sonoma Academy

50 Mark West Springs Rd.
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
707-545-1770
www.sonomaacademy.org

Sonoma Country Day School

4400 Day School Place
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
707-284-3200
www.scds.org

St. Eugene Cathedral School

300 Farmers Lane
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
707-545-7252
www.steugenesch.org

St. Luke Lutheran Elementary

905 Mendocino Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
707-545-0526
http://stluke-lcms.org

St. Rose Elementary School

4300 Old Redwood Highway
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
707-545-0379
www.strosecatholicschool.org

Summerfield Waldorf School

655 Willowside Rd.
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
707-575-7194
www.summerfieldws.org

Ursuline High School

90 Ursuline Rd.
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
707-524-1130
www.ursulinehs.org

Select Private Schools -
NapA

Blue Oak School

Lower School:
1436 Polk St.
Middle School:
1272 Hayes St.
Napa, CA 94559
707-261-4500
www.blueoakschool.com

Calvary Christian Academy

2645 Laurel St.
Napa, CA 94558
707-252-2191

First Christian School

2659 First St.
Napa, CA 94558
707-253-7226
www.firstchristianschool.org

Justin-Siena High School

4026 Maher St.
Napa, CA 94558
707-255-0950
www.justin-siena.org

Kolbe Academy Day School

1600 F St.
Napa, CA 94559
707-256-4306
www.kolbe.org

Kolbe Academy Home School

2501 Oak St.
Napa, Ca 94559
707-255-6499
www.kolbe.org

Napa Christian Campus of Education

2201 Pine St.
Napa, CA 94559
707-255-5233
www.napachristian.com

New Earth Academy

627 First St. (Business Office)
Napa, CA 94559
707-258-2077

New Life Academy

2625 1st St.
Napa, CA 94559
707-255-1062

The Oxbow School

530 Third St.
Napa, CA 94559
707-255-6000
www.oxbowschool.org

St. Apollinaris Catholic School

3700 Lassen St.
Napa, CA 94558
707-224-6525
www.stapollinaris.com

St. John’s Lutheran School

3521 Linda Vista Ave.
Napa, CA 94558
707-226-7970
www.stjohnslutheran.net

St. John’s Catholic School

960 Caymus St.
Napa, CA 94559
707-226-9379
http://main.stjohnscatholic.org

Trinity Grammar and Prep

2055 Redwood Rd.
Napa, CA 94558
707-258-9030
www.trinitygp.org

Select Private Schools -
St. Helena

Foothills Elementary School

711 Sunnyside Rd.
Saint Helena, CA 94575
707-963-7651
www.foothillselementary.org

Montessori Family Center

960 Dowdell Lane
Saint Helena, CA 94574
707-963-1614

 

 
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