Old Mill Elementary

Old Mill Elementary is a top-performing K-5 public school serving 261 students in the highly-ranked Mill Valley Elementary district, consistently earning elite 5-star ratings for over a decade.

The school demonstrates remarkable academic strength, with approximately 89% of students proficient in English and 82% in Math, far exceeding state averages. It stands out for its exceptional and consistent performance across all subjects, particularly in science where it scores 80% proficiency. A key strength is its effective management of student attendance, with a chronic absenteeism rate of just 6.5%, which is less than a third of the state average and reflects a strong recovery from the post-pandemic period. Interestingly, while nearby Park Elementary shows slightly higher proficiency in math and science, Old Mill maintains a more balanced excellence across the board and achieves its results with notably lower per-student spending than several neighboring high-performing schools.

Old Mill operates within a district where all schools, including Tamalpais Valley Elementary, Strawberry Point Elementary, and Edna Maguire Elementary, rank in the state's top tier. The school's decade-long record of being in the top 2% of California elementary schools highlights its sustainable model of success. Comparisons with schools like Ross Elementary in a different district show that while resources vary, instructional effectiveness in specific subjects can differ, presenting opportunities for cross-school learning. Overall, Old Mill represents a model of consistent, cost-effective academic excellence.