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Bolinas, CA 3422Photo: Stepheng3 · Public domain
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Schools in Bolinas · Bolinas-Stinson Union Elementary School District, Tamalpais Union High School District

Bolinas’s public schools outscore 91% of California districts

On the state math tests, 59% of Bolinas’s students scored proficient, above the California average (33%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Bolinas, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 72% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
76%
▲ 29 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
59%
▲ 26 pts vs CA 33%
2021–22
Graduate on time
97%
▲ 11 pts vs CA 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$23.7K
▲ 12% vs CA $21.2K
FY2024 · Tamalpais Union High
Students per teacher
18.3
CA 21.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
4,442 students on the public path
In brief

Bolinas’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 577 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Bolinas’s, its schools beat 99%, higher than their 91% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 76% and math 59% across both districts in spring 2022, against 47% and 33% statewide; 97% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Bolinas-Stinson Union Elementary spends $55,387 per student and Tamalpais Union High $23,705, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Bolinas’s grade

A Test scoresA− Graduation

A: better than 91% of California school districts. Test scores and graduation are both above the California average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

California school districts we grade (1,872)Better than 91%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (577)Better than 99%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 973 test results and a graduating class of 1,272 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 72% of Bolinas’s students in the tested grades sat them (948 in math, 998 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Bolinas, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–8Bolinas-Stinson ElementaryBolinas-Stinson Union Elementary School DistrictA−
9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressA

Bolinas runs its own schools through grade 8 (Bolinas-Stinson Union Elementary School District). From grade 9, students attend the Tamalpais Union High School District, shared with Belvedere, Corte Madera, Fairfax, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Ross, San Anselmo, Sausalito and Tiburon. Its high school is in Larkspur. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Bolinas

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Bolinas-Stinson Union Elementary School DistrictGrades K–8 · 1 schools · 109 students, up 30% since 2020–21 · 19.8 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$55,387CA $21,206 · FY2024
A
Tamalpais Union High School DistrictGrades 9–12 · 5 schools · 4,503 students, down 12% since 2020–21 · 18.3 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$23,705CA $21,206 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · K–8, Bolinas-Stinson Union Elementary School District74%
State average 46.7% · 54 students tested
Math · K–8, Bolinas-Stinson Union Elementary School District54%
State average 33.1% · 54 students tested
Reading · 9–12, Tamalpais Union High School District76%
State average 46.7% · 944 students tested
Math · 9–12, Tamalpais Union High School District59%
State average 33.1% · 894 students tested

Bolinas vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the California towns that share Bolinas’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BolinasABolinas-Stinson Union Elementary K–8 · Tamalpais Union High 9–12

Every school in Bolinas

4 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with California’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Bolinasby address
Bolinas-Stinson Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–8
A−
109 students20:1Rate it →
Also serving Bolinasin other towns
Redwood High
High · Grades 9–12 · Larkspur
A
1,722 students19:1Rate it →
Tamalpais High
High · Grades 9–12 · Mill Valley
A
1,470 students19:1Rate it →
Archie Williams High
High · Grades 9–12 · San Anselmo
A
1,141 students18:1Rate it →

Questions about Bolinas’s schools

Are Bolinas’s schools good?

By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools Bolinas children attend outscore 91% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 99%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Bolinas in?

Two districts: Bolinas-Stinson Union Elementary School District runs grades K–8, and Tamalpais Union High School District runs grades 9–12, shared with Belvedere, Corte Madera, Fairfax, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Ross, San Anselmo, Sausalito and Tiburon.

Where do Bolinas kids go to high school?

One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Redwood High, Tamalpais High and Archie Williams High.

What is Bolinas’s graduation rate?

97% of the class of 2023 in Tamalpais Union High School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.

How much does Bolinas spend per student?

$55,387 in Bolinas-Stinson Union Elementary School District and $23,705 in Tamalpais Union High School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Bolinas families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Bolinas → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within California. Stars are from neighbors.