The top reported proficiency rate is 82% in Social studies. The lowest is 40% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Bolinas-stinson Elementary
Bolinas-Stinson Elementary serves a small, tight-knit coastal community on the Marin County coast in a school of about that enrollment size spanning kindergarten through eighth grade. The school sits near the heart of town on Olema-Bolinas Road, adjacent to the district office and library, making it part of a civic cluster rather than isolated from daily life.
The school's student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic enrollment and smaller multiracial and Native American representation. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting mixed economic circumstances within a high-cost housing area where property values are among the highest in the region. The school is a regular public school with no charter or magnet designation.
On California's standardized assessments, Bolinas-Stinson Elementary shows uneven performance across subjects and grades. In English language arts, the school reaches proficiency at the middle grades: about two-thirds of fifth graders and about seven-tenths of seventh graders meet the standard. Third-grade ELA performance stands at about the same level. Math proficiency is lower overall. About three-fifths of third graders reach proficiency, but fifth grade drops to about one-third, and seventh grade rebounds to about half. Some grade-level results are suppressed due to small cohort sizes, which is typical for a school this size and reflects the limits of testing when classes are small. Science proficiency is available only for fifth grade, at about two-fifths, and eighth-grade science data was suppressed. Across tested subjects and grades combined, the school's proficiency index sits below the midpoint among the county's other districts. Parents may want to look into the school's specific approach to math instruction and support, given that trajectory across the middle grades.
The school's enrollment is unevenly distributed across grades. Kindergarten and sixth grade are substantially larger, while other grades, particularly seventh grade, are very small. This pattern creates both a small-school advantage in terms of individual attention and relationships, and a constraint on program breadth and peer diversity within some grades.
The broader district context includes fiscal pressure that has directly affected families. In 2024, voters approved a new parcel tax to fund educational programs, which is a recurring cost for property owners. In 2025, after budget strain nearly eliminated the free preschool program, the district moved it to a sliding-scale tuition model with families paying what they can afford. Around the same time, the district laid off three positions due to rising costs and revenue constraints. These changes suggest the district is operating with tight margins and families should expect that resources may shift.
Bolinas itself is a deliberately bounded coastal town with a strong artistic and environmental identity shaped by artists, fishers, and back-to-the-landers since the 1960s. The community has resisted commercial development and tourism pressure; it is known for removing highway signs to stay hidden from outsiders. Housing is expensive, with median home prices very high, and the water utility has capped new connections to preserve the town's rural character. Life centers on a compact walkable downtown with galleries, cafes, and civic anchors like the community center, museum, and lagoon. This is a place where families are choosing small-town, independent living and tight community ties over suburban conveniences or access to larger school systems. The school fits that ethos: small, embedded in town life, and dependent on local support.
See more original research from School Decision →