Mill Valley: School Programs & Placement

Mill Valley School District operates five elementary schools and one middle school, while Tamalpais High School is part of Tamalpais Union High School District. Elementary placement within Mill Valley School District is handled district-wide rather than through fixed neighborhood boundaries, so buyers should confirm current placement procedures directly with the district.

📝 Introduction

Mill Valley offers public elementary and middle school programs through Mill Valley School District, while high school education is provided through Tamalpais Union High School District. When researching local real estate, buyers can review grade levels, academic programs, enrollment procedures, campus locations, transportation, and other property-specific information. Because elementary placement within Mill Valley School District is not based solely on neighborhood boundaries or proximity to a campus, current district information should be confirmed for each property under consideration.

🏫 Tamalpais High School

Grades: 9 through 12

• Achievements: Tamalpais High School provides Honors and Advanced Placement coursework along with Career Technical Education, arts programs, athletics, student activities, and additional academic opportunities.
• Fun Fact: When the school opened, the Northwestern Pacific Railroad added a special stop directly in front of the campus to serve students and the school community.
• Brief History: Local voters approved the creation of Tamalpais High School in 1906, and the school opened in August 1908 with 64 students, three teachers, and its first principal.
• 📍 Address: 700 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941
• 📞 Phone: 415-380 -3500
• 🌐 Website: tamalpais.tamdistrict.org
• Real Estate Insight: Tamalpais Union High School District requires registration through a student's school of residence and verifies residency as part of enrollment. Buyers should confirm the current high school assignment for the exact property address directly with the district.

🏫 Mill Valley Middle School

Grades: 6 through 8

• Achievements: Mill Valley Middle School provides academic coursework along with athletics, robotics, Mathletes, student council, community service, Cabaret, yearbook, library resources, and after-school homework support.
• Fun Fact: Students can participate in activities ranging from robotics and Mathletes to performing arts and community service programs.
• Brief History: Mill Valley Middle School is the district's middle school serving grades 6 through 8. It operates separately from the district's five elementary campuses.
• 📍 Address: 425 Sycamore Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941
• 📞 Phone: 415-389-7711
• 🌐 Website: mvschools.org
• Real Estate Insight: Mill Valley Middle School serves the district's middle school grades, so buyers researching the full public-school pathway should review elementary placement separately from middle school enrollment.

🏫 Old Mill Elementary School

Grades: Kindergarten through Grade 5

• Achievements: Old Mill offers music, art, library, physical education, dance, and additional enrichment activities alongside classroom instruction. Current programming also includes Spanish instruction in selected early grades.
• Fun Fact: Helen Keller, through her teacher Anne Sullivan, addressed an audience of approximately 200 people at Old Mill School in 1925.
• Brief History: Old Mill School opened in November 1921. Its original structure is identified by the school as the oldest existing public elementary school building in Mill Valley.
• 📍 Address: 352 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941
• 📞 Phone: 415-389-7727
• 🌐 Website: om.mvschools.org
• Real Estate Insight: Living near Old Mill does not guarantee placement there. Mill Valley School District asks applicants to rank elementary school preferences, but placement also depends on capacity, class size, proximity, and other district criteria.

🏫 Park Elementary School

Grades: Transitional Kindergarten through Grade 5

• Achievements: Park Elementary provides academic instruction along with library and counseling resources. After-school care is also available through a separate program serving students on the Park campus.
• Fun Fact: When Park School originally opened, construction of the first school building cost $14,589.
• Brief History: Park School opened in 1909 as Tamalpais Park School. The campus has changed substantially over time, including construction of its Art Deco-inspired main building in 1939.
• 📍 Address: 360 East Blithedale Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941
• 📞 Phone: 415-389-7735
• 🌐 Website: pk.mvschools.org
• Real Estate Insight: Buyers should not assume that a property near Park Elementary will automatically receive placement there. Elementary placement is district-wide and depends on current enrollment conditions and district criteria.

🏫 Strawberry Point Elementary School

Grades: Transitional Kindergarten through Grade 5

• Achievements: Strawberry Point offers library, garden, and counseling resources. District-supported enrichment also includes programs in areas such as drama, art, music, poetry, and STEM.
• Fun Fact: In 1970, teacher Rita Abrams wrote the song “Mill Valley” for her students to perform. The recording with her class later reached the Billboard charts.
• Brief History: Strawberry Point opened in 1952, closed in 1990 following enrollment changes, and reopened in 2000 after renovation and modernization.
• 📍 Address: 117 East Strawberry Drive, Mill Valley, CA 94941
• 📞 Phone: 415-389-7660
• 🌐 Website: sp.mvschools.org
• Real Estate Insight: Strawberry Point is one of five elementary schools considered through Mill Valley School District's placement process. Proximity may be considered, but it does not guarantee placement at the campus.

📊 School Placement and Property Research

Mill Valley's elementary placement process is an important distinction for real estate research. The district does not use fixed neighborhood-school boundaries for elementary placement. For the 2026–2027 school year, applicants rank preferences among the district's five elementary schools, while placement considers factors such as available space, class size, siblings, proximity, and program needs. A property located close to a particular elementary school therefore does not guarantee placement there.

High school enrollment is administered separately by Tamalpais Union High School District, which uses schools of residence and requires residency documentation.

✅ What Can You Do?

For Buyers

• Confirm that the property is within Mill Valley School District before reviewing elementary placement options.
• Do not assume the closest elementary school will be the assigned campus.
• Review all five elementary choices because the district asks applicants to rank school preferences.
• Check Tamalpais Union High School District separately when researching high school enrollment.
• Review current placement and residency procedures directly with the applicable district before relying on school information.
  

For Sellers

• Avoid advertising an elementary school as the property's guaranteed assigned campus.
• If mentioning proximity to Old Mill, Park, Strawberry Point, or another elementary school, clarify that Mill Valley uses district-wide placement procedures.
• Verify the property's school district before including educational information in marketing.
• Present programs, campus locations, and grade levels factually without linking a particular school to higher property values or stronger buyer demand.

❓ FAQ

Q: Does buying a home near a Mill Valley elementary school guarantee placement there?

A: No. Mill Valley School District states that elementary registration is not based on fixed neighborhood-school boundaries. Proximity is one placement consideration, but available capacity, class size, siblings, and other factors are also considered.

Q: Why does Mill Valley ask applicants to rank five elementary schools?

A: For the 2026–2027 school year, the district asks applicants to rank each of its five elementary schools. Those preferences are considered together with available space and other placement criteria when assignments are made.

Q: Is Tamalpais High School enrollment handled by Mill Valley School District?

A: No. Tamalpais High School is part of Tamalpais Union High School District, a separate district from Mill Valley School District. High school registration follows TUHSD residency and school-of-residence procedures.

🔚 Conclusion

School information can be one part of researching Mill Valley real estate, but the district's placement system makes current enrollment information especially important. Buyers can review elementary preferences, middle school progression, high school residency requirements, campus programs, transportation, property features, and nearby services when evaluating an address. Because proximity to a Mill Valley elementary school does not guarantee placement, current information should be confirmed directly with Mill Valley School District and Tamalpais Union High School District before making real estate decisions based on school enrollment.

This blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, investment, or professional advice. Always consult with qualified professionals before making any decisions based on this content. School information including addresses, phone numbers, and emails was accurate as of the blog’s published date but may change without notice. Please verify directly with the school or institution. This content is provided “as is,” without warranties of any kind. If you are currently under an exclusive agreement with another real estate broker, this blog is not intended as a solicitation.