Our Graduates

At Marin Horizon, our high school placement process is intentionally student-centered and process-oriented. Rather than approaching the transition from middle school to high school as an endpoint, we view it as an opportunity for continued skill development, emotional growth, and student empowerment. Importantly, we want students and families to feel supported throughout their high school transition experience. While the majority of our students elect to apply to and attend independent schools, we feel strongly that students electing to attend public school are celebrated along with their peers. Above all, we want our students to derive benefits from the process of choosing high school, rather than tying success to a particular outcome.

For families that apply to independent schools, we begin the process by focusing on finding the right “fit” for each student. When students emphasize identifying the right school, rather than the “best” school, they are able to present themselves with confidence and authenticity, which typically yields better outcomes for applicants. Students are encouraged to take the lead throughout their application process. They practice essential skills including researching, self-advocacy, resume building, interviewing, personal essay writing, and, ultimately, succeeding with grace and coping with disappointment. In the end, students are able to reflect on their achievements during their application process and recognize their own successes, regardless of outcome. At Marin Horizon, we are proud to say that our emphasis on the process yields excellent results year after year. Our students are consistently accepted at premier high schools throughout the Bay Area, with nearly every applicant finding a home at their first or second choice school. 

Jesse Pearson
8th Grade English Teacher & Advisor, High School Placement Counselor, and Director of Experiential Ed