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Marin Academy

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Coordinates: 37°58′34″N 122°32′05″W / 37.9762°N 122.5347°W / 37.9762; -122.5347
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Marin Academy
Address
Map
1600 Mission Avenue

San Rafael
,
California

United States
Information
TypePrivate, Coeducational
Motto"Think, question, create."
Established1971
Head of SchoolAnne Travis Brownley
Faculty118[1]
Enrollment449[1]
Average class size15 students[2]
Campus typeSuburban
Color(s)Red and black    
Athletics35 teams
MascotWildcat
Websitehttp://www.ma.org/

Marin Academy (familiarly known as MA) is a private college preparatory high school in San Rafael, California. Located on the campus that for decades housed the San Rafael Military Academy prior to its closure,[3] Marin Academy was founded in 1971 with 118 faculty members and a student body of 449.[4] Marin Academy is one of the most competitive private high schools in the Bay Area. In the 2015–2016 school year, Marin Academy accepted only one in four students who applied.[5]

Curriculum

Foster Hall and 'the Circle' are at the center of Marin Academy's San Rafael campus
The Library building (right) and Bodie Brizendine Leadership Center or 'BBLC' (left), which contains administrative spaces, the school café, and classrooms
A plaque dating from the days of the San Rafael Military Academy

MA requires students to take two years of one of its performing or visual arts programs, four years of English, three years of History, three years of Mathematics, three years of Science (Biology, Chemistry, and one Physics course are required), and two semesters of Human Development, a health and social awareness class.[1] In addition to classroom instruction, Marin Academy students undertake a number of non-traditional learning experiences such as minicourse,[6] the Outings program,[7] end-of-year projects (EOY), wilderness quest, and mandatory senior speeches or senior arts performances. Another unique program is the Marin Academy Research Collaborative (MARC), where students conduct independent research during their junior and senior years. [8] The student body sustains many socially conscious student organizations[9] and has been active in politics in Marin.[10][11] The school conducts annual conferences and workshops on equality and social justice, called the Conference on Democracy[12][13][14] and has a tradition of seniors delivering speeches to school assemblies.[15]

Academics

Marin Academy is an academically focused school,[clarification needed] with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9:1 and an average class size of 15. More than two-thirds of the faculty hold advanced degrees.[2] More than 99% of Marin Academy graduates go on to attend a four-year college or university.[16]

Travis Brownley, an educator who was the dean of the Groton School, was appointed the Head of School in 2008 following the departure of the previous head of school, Bodie Brizendine, who had led the school for 12 years, and Dick Drew, who served as interim head of school.[17] The Bodie Brizendine Leadership Center (BBLC), a centrally located building on campus, houses faculty offices, math classrooms, and the school cafeteria.

Athletics

Marin Academy has developed a strong athletics program, highlighted by successes in boys' and girls' soccer, cross country, boys' lacrosse, boys' water polo, and girls' volleyball. The school competes in The Bay Counties League (BCL) within the North Coast Section (NCS). During the COVID era, the swimming and water polo teams were members of The Marin County Athletic League (MCAL).

Marin Academy has won 11 North Coast Section championships in boys' soccer - 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022 - and is a regular contender for regional championships. Girls' varsity soccer won the BCL and placed second in the North Coast Section Championship, losing to the Branson High School 4–2, in 2002. In 2006, the boys' soccer team won their third NCS championship in a match against University High School. Tied 1-1 through overtime, the NCS championship game was decided by penalty kicks, in which MA won 5–4.[18] MA also defeated University in the BCL finals that year. In 2007, MA and University again matched up in the BCL and NCS championships, with UHS winning BCL and MA winning NCS 2–0. In 2008 MA and University were matched up once again in the BCL final and the Wildcats defeated the Devils 2–0.[19] The two schools are rivals.[20]

The girls' soccer team has won the last 6 BCL titles from 2016 to 2022 (undefeated against league opponents in the last 4 seasons) as well as ones in 2002 and 2010.[citation needed] In 2019 and in 2020 they advanced to NCS finals against Cardinal Newman and to CIF finals against Branson, coming up a goal short in 3 of the games and a penalty kick in the other. In 2022 MA girls soccer won their first NCS title and in 2023, they won their first Norcal Championship.

The girls' volleyball team won the state and NCS division V championships in 2004, after losing to University High School in both the NCS and Northern California championship games the year before.[21] In the 2022 fall season the team won the NCS title.[22]

In the 2012 spring season, the Girls' Varsity Swim Team set the first North Coast Section record in Marin Academy history, with a time of 1:34.82 in the 200 yard freestyle relay.[citation needed] The girls placed fifth overall at NCS, first out of Marin County teams, and first out of schools with fewer than one thousand students.

The Marin Academy boys' water polo team placed first in NCS DII in 2017 after defeating Alameda High School 13–8.[23] In both 2021 and 2022 the team placed second in NCS DII.[24]

The Marin Academy Cross Country team placed first in NCS DII in 2015 and placed second in the California State Championships D V in both 2013 and 2015.

Current athletics offered include (but are not limited to):[25]

Notable alumni

The following people attended Marin Academy (the year shown is their year of graduation or, for non-graduates, the year that their class graduated)

Controversy

Marin Academy was involved in the 2019 college cheating scandal dubbed "varsity blues"[33] where parents cheated their children into colleges. Between one and three students from Marin Academy had parents who were involved: one presumably including Todd and Diane Blake of Ross who pleaded guilty to the charges.[34]

References

  1. ^ a b c Marin Academy School Profile 2016-2017
  2. ^ a b Marin Academy Welcome
  3. ^ "Marin Historical Society gets $3,000 donation". Marin Independent Journal. 2008-08-31. Archived from the original on 2012-02-23. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  4. ^ Brenner, Keri (2018-10-31). "Marin Academy Launches Free Tuition Program". Marin Independent Journal. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  5. ^ Ramirez, Eddy (2007-09-02). "Finding a Good Grade School, for a Fee". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  6. ^ "Student Life: Minicourse". Marin Academy. Archived from the original on 24 December 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  7. ^ "Student Life: Outings". Marin Academy. Archived from the original on 24 December 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  8. ^ Marin Academy Research Collaborative
  9. ^ "Student Life: Activities". Marin Academy. Archived from the original on 24 December 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  10. ^ Upshaw, Jennifer (2007-05-01). "Marin march protests immigration raids". Marin Independent Journal. Archived from the original on 2012-02-23. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  11. ^ "Marin Academy group to register voters". Marin Independent Journal. 2008-10-17. Archived from the original on 2012-02-23. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  12. ^ "Marin Academy Conference on Democracy". Marin Academy. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  13. ^ "Marin Academy hosts talk on equity, justice". Marin Independent Journal. 2008-03-11. Archived from the original on 2012-02-23. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  14. ^ Whitaker, Tad (2006-10-14). "Angela Davis gives anti-violence speech to Marin students". Marin Independent Journal. Archived from the original on 2012-02-23. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  15. ^ "Marin Academy Student Handbook" (PDF). 2007–2008. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  16. ^ "Marin Academy: College Placement". Marin Academy. Archived from the original on 2008-07-03. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  17. ^ Whitaker, Tad (2008-01-10). "New leader tapped for Marin Academy". Marin Independent Journal. Archived from the original on 2009-02-21. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  18. ^ Ross, Ian (2006-11-11). "Prep soccer: Marin Academy wins NCS pennant". Marin Independent Journal. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  19. ^ Ross, Ian (2008-11-15). "Prep boys soccer: Marin Academy pounds Head-Royce to claim third consecutive NCS crown". Marin Independent Journal. Archived from the original on 2012-02-23. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  20. ^ "Is Branson vs. MC the Best Rivalry in Marin?". Prep Sports Blog, Marin Independent Journal. 2008-01-09. Archived from the original on 29 December 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2008.
  21. ^ John, Tawa. "2004 CIF State Volleyball Championships Recaps". PrepVolleyball.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2008.
  22. ^ Woolard, Holly (6 November 2022). "Marin Academy wins title in five-set thriller". www.marinij.com/. Marin Independent Journal. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  23. ^ "NCS water polo: Marin Academy boys beat Alameda to claim D-II crown". 12 November 2017.
  24. ^ "Boys water polo: Terra Linda powers up for NCS title win over Marin Academy". 13 November 2022.
  25. ^ "Marin Academy Athletics". Archived from the original on 2016-12-26. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
  26. ^ Marin Academy Golf - Varsity Girls
  27. ^ "Stroke 9 to Play Tunes from New Album in Redwood City". San Jose Mercury News. 2004-12-22. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  28. ^ "San Francisco Ballet Announces Dancer Promotions and New Company Members for 2007 Repertory Season". San Francisco Ballet. 2006-07-11. Archived from the original on February 18, 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2008.
  29. ^ "Fashion Toast".[permanent dead link]
  30. ^ Morgan, John (2003-02-24). "Carre Otis Models Healthy Eating". USA Today. Retrieved 20 November 2008.
  31. ^ McAuley, Tom (2006-03-07). "The Sweet Smell of Success". CFO. Archived from the original on 2006-10-25. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  32. ^ Rubin, Sylvia (2002-05-19). "Emerging designer Som inspired by Bay Area". SFGATE. Archived from the original on January 1, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  33. ^ "2019 college admissions bribery scandal", Wikipedia, 2022-06-17, retrieved 2022-07-08
  34. ^ "Marin County couple latest to plead guilty in college admissions scandal". The Mercury News. 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2022-07-08.

37°58′34″N 122°32′05″W / 37.9762°N 122.5347°W / 37.9762; -122.5347

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