Lagunitas Elementary, CA

Original Research by School Decision on Lagunitas Elementary

Lagunitas Elementary is a small district serving kindergarten through eighth grade across two communities in Marin County's rural northern reaches. The district recently underwent a major structural change. In spring 2023, the board voted to consolidate its two longtime, philosophically distinct elementary programs—an Open Classroom model and a Montessori program—into one combined school with a community-school philosophy emphasizing wraparound services. Families can no longer choose between separate program models; the district now operates as a single TK-8 entity. This represents a fundamental shift in what the educational experience looks like for families considering the district.

The student body is small and predominantly white. The district draws from several towns and villages in the area, with housing costs substantially above state and national medians, reflecting the broader Marin County real estate market. A parcel tax (Measure A) passed in January 2026 provides more than half the district budget and funds teachers, classroom aides, libraries, and arts and music programs.

Academic performance shows a mixed picture across subjects and grades. In English language arts, results are uneven by grade. Third and fourth graders show lower proficiency, but the district sees stronger results in fifth and sixth grades, with most students in grades six and seven meeting proficiency targets. Math performance is consistently weaker across the elementary grades, particularly pronounced in fourth grade, though the district recovers somewhat in the middle school years. Science proficiency in grade five sits above the midpoint, while eighth-grade science proficiency falls to around half the students meeting standards. Testing data for earlier elementary grades is not available because California does not assess reading and math in kindergarten through second grade.

Chronic absenteeism is a significant concern. The rate reported for the district places it in the bottom quartile when compared to Marin County's other districts. This pattern warrants a conversation with school leadership about underlying causes and any steps the district is taking to address it.

The district's overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint among Marin County's districts. Per-pupil spending is in the upper half of the county's middle range, suggesting resources are present, though how they translate to classroom outcomes appears uneven.

The district maintains two school sites despite the 2023 consolidation: Lagunitas Elementary and San Geronimo Valley Elementary. A parent should clarify with the district how the merged program currently operates across these locations and what that structure means for their child's day.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

162

Grades

KG–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 15%

Black 1%

White 72%

Asian 2%

Two+ 10%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

50%

—

Gr 4

—

44%

Gr 5

—

85%

Gr 6

—

92%

Gr 7

—

79%

Gr 8

—

60%

Math

Gr ALL

47%

—

Gr 4

—

33%

Gr 5

—

62%

Gr 6

—

50%

Gr 7

—

63%

Gr 8

—

69%

Science

Gr 5

—

77%

Gr 8

—

53%

Gr HS

—

Schools in this District

2 schools are officially reported under this district.

Lagunitas Elementary

San Geronimo Valley Elementary

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

50%

Grade 3

35%

Grade 4

56%

Grade 5

56%

Grade 6

64%

Grade 7

61%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

42%

Grade 3

45%

Grade 4

80%

Grade 5

87%

Grade 6

77%

Grade 7

59%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

67%

Grade 5

53%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

52%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$1.46M

Year-over-year change+2.4%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$888K to $2.1M

vs. state typical1.88x

vs. national typical3.97x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
94941	Mill Valley	$2.1M	+4.2%	35.5%
94973	Woodacre	$1.1M	+2.5%	23.5%
94933	Lagunitas	$888K	+0.8%	20.2%
94963	Lagunitas	$1.3M	-0.4%	10.1%
94938	Bolinas	$1.1M	+2.4%	9.5%
94946	Nicasio	$2.1M	-1.5%	1.1%
94930	Fairfax	$1.2M	+2.2%	0.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$4,394/mo

Year-over-year change+7.4%

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
94941	Mill Valley	$4,394	+7.4%	35.5%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$7,379/mo

Home price / national median income17.5x

Annual rent / national median income63.0%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$2,985/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$776,233 (-1.1% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.