Marin Academy

Marin Academy
"Think, question, create."
Location
1600 Mission Avenue San Rafael, California, United States
Information
Type	Private, Coeducational
Religious affiliation(s)	None
Established	1971
Head of School	Anne Travis Brownley
Faculty	56[1]
Enrollment	400[1]
Average class size	15 students[1]
Campus	Suburban
Color(s)	Red and black
Athletics	25 teams
Mascot	Wildcat
Website	http://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,^[2] MA was founded in 1971 with 16 faculty and a student body of 59.^[3]

Marin Academy is one of the most competitive private high schools in the Bay Area to gain acceptance to. In the 2007–2008 school year, Marin Academy accepted only one in five students who applied.^[4]

The cost of attendance at Marin Academy for the 2010–2011 school year is $33,360.^[5]

Foster Hall and 'the Circle' are at the center of Marin Academy's San Rafael campus

The new Library (right) and a renovated Administration building

A plaque dating from the days of the San Rafael Military Academy

Curriculum

MA requires students to take two years of the fine arts program.^[6] In addition to classroom instruction, Marin Academy students undertake a number of non-traditional learning experiences such as minicourse,^[7] the Outings program^[8] and Vision Quest.^[9] The student body sustains many socially-conscious student organizations^[10] and has been active in politics in Marin.^[11][12] The school has conducted conferences and workshops on equality and social justice,^[13][14][15] and has a tradition of seniors delivering speeches to school assemblies.^[16]

Academics

Marin Academy has phased out all Advanced Placement classes with the exception of AP Environmental Science. Instead, a plethora of honors and advances courses are offered, which are said to contend with the rigor of traditional Advanced Placement classes.

Marin Academy is an academically focused school, with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9:1 and an average class size of 15. More than 67% of the faculty hold advanced degrees.^[1] More than 99% of Marin Academy graduates go on to attend a four-year college or university.^[17] Members of the graduating class of 2011 will be attending some of the most prestigious colleges in the United States such as Harvard University, Princeton University, Brown University, Stanford University, Columbia University, and MIT.

Travis Brownley, an educator who was the dean of several prestigious institutions such as 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.^[18]

Athletics

Marin Academy has developed a strong athletics program, highlighted by recent successes in boys' soccer and girls' volleyball. The school competes in The Bay Counties League (BCL) within the North Coast Section (NCS).

Marin Academy won back-to-back North Coast Section championships in boys' soccer in 2000 and 2001, 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.^[19] 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.^[20] These 5 final matches have fueled a fierce rivalry between the two schools^[21] and have been known to attract the entire student body from both schools to matches specifically in the past at Kezar Stadium. Marin Academy's varsity soccer teams, of which the boys' was ranked as high as fourth in the country among schools of all sizes,^[22] are coached by Josh Kalkstein.

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.^[23]

Current athletics offered include:^[24]

Fall Sports Cross Country Boys Soccer Girls Volleyball Boys and Girls Waterpolo Girls Tennis

Winter Sports Boys and Girls Basketball

Spring Sports Boys Baseball Boys and Girls Swimming Boys Lacrosse Girls Soccer Boys and Girls Track and Field Golf Mens Tennis

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):

• Ruth Parasol ('84) – co-founder PartyGaming^[25]
• Nancy Juvonen ('85) – co-founder Flower Films^{[26][citation needed]}
• Carré Otis ('87) – actress and model^[27]
• Michael Ferris Gibson ('89) - Producer, Director, Writer
• Dr. Danielle Kaplan ('89) – Entrepreneur, Inventor, Technologist, Cognitive Scientist, Professor, Researcher, Entertainer, Designer
• Peter Som ('89) – fashion designer^{[28][citation needed]}
• Luke Esterkyn ('90), Greg Gueldner ('90), John McDermott ('90) – members of the band Stroke 9^[29]
• Peter Sinn Nachtrieb ('92) - Playwright and Actor.
• Christopher Ford ('99) – co-founder Waverly Films^[30]
• Alexandra McCullagh ('05) – Member of the San Francisco Ballet^[31]

Coordinates: 37°58′34″N 122°32′07″W / 37.97611°N 122.53528°W / 37.97611; -122.53528^[32]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Marin Academy (CA) Embraces Sustainability". National Association of Independent Schools. http://www.nais.org/resources/isprogram.cfm?ItemNumber=150891. Retrieved 19 November 2008. 
2. ^ "Marin Historical Society gets $3,000 donation". Marin Independent Journal. 2008-08-31. http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_10353578. Retrieved 1 December 2008. 
3. ^ Keon, Pam (2008). "Marin Academy Tribute to Jim Thatcher". Marin Academy. http://www.ma.org/news/detail.aspx?pageaction=ViewSinglePublic&LinkID=1558&ModuleID=39. Retrieved 19 November 2008. 
4. ^ Ramirez, Eddy (2007-09-02). "Finding a Good Grade School, for a Fee". U.S. News & World Report. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/articles/070902/10consult.htm. Retrieved 19 November 2008. 
5. ^ "Marin Academy: Admissions » Financing". Marin Academy. http://www.ma.org/admissions/financing.aspx. Retrieved 2 December 2008. 
6. ^ "Marin Academy: Academics » Requirements". Marin Academy. http://www.ma.org/academics/requirements.aspx. Retrieved 19 November 2008. 
7. ^ "Student Life: Minicourse". Marin Academy. http://www.ma.org/studentlife/minicourse.aspx. Retrieved 1 December 2008. 
8. ^ "Student Life: Outings". Marin Academy. http://www.ma.org/studentlife/outings.aspx. Retrieved 1 December 2008. 
9. ^ "Vision Quests Remove Spirit-Work Distractions". A Path That Fits. April 11, 2009. http://www.apaththatfits.com/visionquests.php. Retrieved 3 December 2010. 
10. ^ "Student Life: Activities". Marin Academy. http://www.ma.org/studentlife/activities.aspx. Retrieved 1 December 2008. 
11. ^ Upshaw, Jennifer (2007-05-01). "Marin march protests immigration raids". Marin Independent Journal. http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_5797877. Retrieved 1 December 2008. 
12. ^ "Marin Academy group to register voters". Marin Independent Journal. 2008-10-17. http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_10752438. Retrieved 1 December 2008. 
13. ^ "Marin Academy Conference on Democracy". Marin Academy. http://courses.ma.org/Conference/Democracy_Conference.html. Retrieved 1 December 2008. 
14. ^ "Marin Academy hosts talk on equity, justice". Marin Independent Journal. 2008-03-11. http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_8540403. Retrieved 1 December 2008. 
15. ^ Whitaker, Tad (2006-10-14). "Angela Davis gives anti-violence speech to Marin students". Marin Independent Journal. http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_4494073. Retrieved 1 December 2008. 
16. ^ "Marin Academy Student Handbook" (PDF). 2007–2008. pp. 10. http://www.ma.org/documents/handbook_0708.pdf. Retrieved 1 December 2008. ^{[dead link]}
17. ^ "Marin Academy: College Placement". Marin Academy. http://www.ma.org/aboutma/sch_collegeplace.aspx. Retrieved 1 December 2008. 
18. ^ Whitaker, Tad (2008-01-10). "New leader tapped for Marin Academy". Marin Independent Journal. http://www.marinij.com/ci_7939575. Retrieved 19 November 2008. 
19. ^ Ross, Ian (2006-11-11). "Prep soccer: Marin Academy wins NCS pennant". Marin Independent Journal. http://www.marinij.com/prepsports/ci_4645019. Retrieved 19 November 2008. 
20. ^ Ross, Ian (2008-11-15). "Prep boys soccer: Marin Academy pounds Head-Royce to claim third consecutive NCS crown". Marin Independent Journal. http://www.marinij.com/ci_10994700?source=most_emailed. Retrieved 19 November 2008. 
21. ^ "Is Branson vs. MC the Best Rivalry in Marin?". Prep Sports Blog, Marin Independent Journal. 2008-01-09. http://blogs.marinij.com/prepsports/2008/01/is_branson_vs_mc_the_best_riva.html. Retrieved 20 November 2008. 
22. ^ "NSCAA/adidas National Rankings". National Soccer Coaches Association of America. 2006-10-10. http://nscaa.com/hsRes.php?it=937. Retrieved 19 November 2008. 
23. ^ John, Tawa. "2004 CIF State Volleyball Championships Recaps". PrepVolleyball.com. http://cifstate.org/sports/state/volleyball/04%20vb%20recap.htm. Retrieved 20 November 2008. 
24. ^ "Marin Academy Athletics: Team List". Marin Academy. http://www.ma.org/athletics/teamlist.aspx. Retrieved 20 November 2008. 
25. ^ McAuley, Tom (2006-03-07). "The Sweet Smell of Success". CFO (Magazine). http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/5518719?f=related. Retrieved 19 November 2008. 
26. ^ Kit, Borys (2006-04-06). "Flower Grows into Warner Bros. Pact". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000866691. Retrieved 20 November 2008. ^{[dead link]}
27. ^ Morgan, John (2003-02-24). "Carre Otis Models Healthy Eating". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlighthealth/2003-02-24-carre-otis-_x.htm. Retrieved 20 November 2008. 
28. ^ "Peter Som Fashion Designer". New York Magazine. http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionshows/designers/bios/petersom/. Retrieved 19 November 2008. 
29. ^ "Stroke 9 to Play Tunes from New Album in Redwood City". San Jose Mercury News. 2004-12-22. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SJ&s_site=mercurynews&p_multi=SJ&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1072A40469567937&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved 19 November 2008. 
30. ^ "Weird Childhood Doodles Inspire Webby Winner". Marin Independent Journal. http://www.marinij.com/lifestyles/ci_12323388. Retrieved 9 May 2009. 
31. ^ "San Francisco Ballet Announces Dancer Promotions and New Company Members for 2007 Repertory Season". San Francisco Ballet. 2006-07-11. http://www.sfballet.org/newsfeatures/newspress/pressreleases/view.asp?id=10193056. Retrieved 20 November 2008. ^{[dead link]}
32. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Marin Academy

External links

• Marin Academy website
• Archive of Academic Courses
• Homepage for Marin Academy's Conference on Democracy
• Marin Academy Voice - Student Newspaper