It has always held true in real estate that the most desirable neighborhoods have the best public schools and consequently, buyers pay a premium to live there. The San Francisco Chronicle featured the good school/premium price relationship in today’s Cover Story. You can read it here.

My own experience as a father and a realtor living and working in Mill Valley has been profound. Back in 1992 when our son started public school (first grade) we made a decision to move to Mill Valley for all of the fabulous lifestyle reasons (recreational activities, weather, proximity to San Francisco and so many others). However, the primary reason we moved to Mill Valley was the quality of the public school system. We were not disappointed. Our son embraced the whole larger public school scene including Tam Valley Elementary, Mill Valley Middle and Tam High. He excelled in school which says a lot about him, but he believes (as do his mom and dad) that the school system was conducive to his success. Billy graduated in 2004 and had several great choices for college including one Ivy League school. He chose UCLA and that decision was based partly on the larger public school environment he grew up in. Billy excelled at UCLA where he graduated in 2008 and is now working in a challenging but rewarding position that he thoroughly enjoys.

As a realtor for over 20 years in Marin/Mill Valley my experience has been equally positive. I have worked with many corporate transferees and their families relocating to the bay area for other parts of the country (and the world). I have also counseled countless families moving from San Francisco to Marin. 75% to 80% of my clients gravitate to Mill Valley, Tiburon-Belvedere, Corte Madera-Larkspur and Kentfield-Ross for many positive lifestyle reasons. In surveys, we found out that once again, schools are the number one factor in their decision making process. In the end, buyers will compromise on the size, age and amenities of the house to live in the best neighborhood with the BEST schools. That old real estate adage will never change!

Click here to get detailed neighborhood and school information for Marin County.

Posted by:Andy Gellepis

One of the reasons people want to move to Marin is for the good public education. Families move here from San Francisco and corporate relocation clients also chose Marin for the public schools. After all, with our price of real estate, why pay for private education if you don’t have to.

The schools in Marin are consistently achieving good high scores. The reputation for our schools is known nationally. For additional information on the schools and their scores, log on to www.greatschools.org. Stay tuned for follow up info on specific school districts in Marin.

Visit my website for more information on Marin.

School is in session. Drive safely.

Posted by:Judy LeMarr

Just north of San Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge, lies Marin County, one of the most beautiful spots in California. Tourists may recognize the names Sausalito, Tiburon, Mill Valley, Muir Woods, Mt. Tamalpais, Stinson Beach… we are proud to claim them all.

If proximity to San Francisco or Oakland is important to you, Marin is definitely an area to consider. The sheer beauty of the coast line; the rolling hills; the miles of open space; and the endless views will take your breath away. If that alone is not enough to convince you that Marin is a great place to live, perhaps the cold, hard facts will.

Population Density Of all eight Bay Area Counties, only Napa (to the north) is less populated than Marin. The Marin population has risen only 0.3% from 2000 to 2007. Marin residents have historically been passionate about preserving large areas from development. Approximately 84% of Marin’s land is designated as public parkland, agriculture, open space, or protected watershed! It’s no wonder demand for housing far outweighs supply.

Recreational Facilities Due to the vast areas of open space, and its natural beauty, Marin is famous for it’s recreational facilities. The selection is endless! On weekends, you will find San Franciscans pouring over the bridge to take advantage of the better weather and the wide assortment of recreation available. Biking, hiking, horseback riding, sailing, surfing, windsurfing, kayaking—they are all at your fingertips.

Crime Marin County has the lowest crime rate of all the Bay area counties. San Francisco County has 10 times the violent crime rate, 4 times the property crime rate, and 5 times the larceny-theft rate of Marin (figures based on 100,000 population.)

Professions There are more managers, professionals, and self-employed citizens as a percentage of the total work force than any other Bay Area county.

Income Marin citizens hold the highest per capita and household income in the state of California, let alone the Bay Area counties.

Education Perhaps the most important reasons to live in Marin is the excellence of the schools, both public and private. Education is held in very high esteem by Marin residents and the quality of the schools reflects that attitude.

The public schools are excellent, and there is a tremendous amount of parent participation both in and out of the classroom. The vast majority of Marin communities have passed school tax initiatives to provide additional funds directly to the community schools, thereby assuring continuing quality education and small class sizes. Passage of these tax initiatives is no small feat considering a 2/3 voter approval is needed to win.

As importantly, most school districts have formed foundations, an avenue to solicit additional donations, funneled directly into the school district’s coffers. Even those residents without school age children acknowledge the importance of good school districts. Not only are they good for home resale values, but they provide a continual influx of young families so necessary to carry on the tradition of community service.

If private schooling is your choice, Marin has an overabundance of fine institutions, both at the elementary and secondary level. Marin private schools attract day students from as far away as San Francisco and the East Bay.

Conclusion If you’re making a move to the Bay Area, for work or for pleasure, it’s time to take a look at Marin. Home prices may be higher, but as mentioned above, there are several good reasons why…

Statistics taken for the U.S. Census Data, Marin Economic Commission (November 2007,) and the Criminal Justice Statistics Center (May 2007.)

Posted By: Jean Cromwell