Marin High Schools, Town by Town
Redwood, Tam and Archie Williams: which towns feed which school, and how they rank
Last updated September 2026 · By Melissa DiVita, REALTOR®, Compass · DRE #01387955 · Marin native, in real estate since 2003
The short answer: in Marin, your address decides your public high school. Redwood High (Niche #1 in Marin) serves Belvedere, Tiburon, Corte Madera, Larkspur, Greenbrae, Kentfield and Ross. Tam High (#2) serves Mill Valley, Sausalito, Strawberry and nearby areas. Archie Williams (#3) serves San Anselmo, Fairfax and the San Geronimo Valley.
In Marin, your address decides your public high school. For many families, that’s the most important thing about a house. The Tamalpais Union High School District runs the three comprehensive high schools in southern and central Marin, and here’s how they break down. Redwood is probably the best public high school in Marin, and I see it firsthand as a Redwood parent: my son plays on the varsity tennis team, and my twin daughters will be there soon.
| High school | Niche rank in Marin (2026) | Towns and areas it serves | Feeder middle schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redwood High (Larkspur) | #1, A+ (#38 in California) | Belvedere, Tiburon, Corte Madera, Larkspur, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Ross | Del Mar, Hall, Kent, Ross |
| Tamalpais High (Mill Valley) | #2, A | Mill Valley, Sausalito, Marin City, Strawberry, Tam Valley, Muir Beach, Stinson, Bolinas | Mill Valley Middle, MLK Jr. Academy, Bolinas-Stinson |
| Archie Williams High (San Anselmo) | #3, A | San Anselmo, Fairfax, San Geronimo Valley, Woodacre | White Hill, Lagunitas |
Archie Williams was called Sir Francis Drake High School until 2021. Outside the Tam District, San Rafael High and Terra Linda High serve San Rafael, Novato High and San Marin High serve Novato, and Tomales High serves the Point Reyes area. Terra Linda High is probably the most updated high school campus in Marin. It’s really a fantastic campus, and with my daughters playing volleyball, going to games there is always a treat.
How to use this when you buy
- Confirm the attendance boundary for the exact address with the district. Don’t rely on the listing.
- Look at the K–8 district too. In Marin it’s a separate district from the high school.
- Visit the schools. Rankings measure test scores and surveys, not fit.
Private options
Marin also has well-known private high schools, including The Branson School in Ross and Marin Catholic in Kentfield, which I attended.
Quick answers
What is the best public high school in Marin? Redwood High in Larkspur is ranked #1 in Marin by Niche for 2026 (A+, #38 in California), followed by Tam High and Archie Williams.
Which towns go to Redwood High? Belvedere, Tiburon, Corte Madera, Larkspur, Greenbrae, Kentfield and Ross. Always confirm the attendance boundary for the exact address with the district.
Which high schools serve San Rafael and Novato? San Rafael High and Terra Linda High serve San Rafael. Novato High and San Marin High serve Novato. They’re outside the Tamalpais Union district.
What was Archie Williams High called before? Sir Francis Drake High School, until 2021.
Financing in Marin. Many Marin homes need jumbo financing: the 2026 conforming limit here is $1,249,125, so with 20% down, homes above about $1.56 million usually mean a jumbo loan. My husband Michael DiVita is a mortgage broker and owner of DiVita Home Finance, with access to 40+ wholesale lenders, and he’s a great resource for jumbo and bank-statement loans. Learn more at mycahomeloan.com.
Disclosure: Michael DiVita is my husband. You are free to choose any lender; using DiVita Home Finance is never required, and I receive no referral fee.
Sources
Buying for the schools?
Send me a note through my contact form. I’ll make sure the house you love is in the school boundary you want.