San Domenico School

San Domenico School, founded in the 19th century, is one of California's oldest independent schools. It is located in San Anselmo, Marin County, north of San Francisco, a town known for its beautiful environment and convenient transportation. The school has evolved from its origins as an all-girls school into a modern K-12 private boarding and day school, offering a complete educational system from kindergarten through high school. Its educational philosophy emphasizes inquiry, reflection, and community & service. The school offers a relatively large number of honors courses and AP courses. Music and art are distinctive features of the school. However, the school's sports programs and California's high cost of living might not be considered advantages.

My child has entered 10th grade, and I can now share my feelings. I remember the anxious days from the year before last, which I believe parents currently applying or facing choices must also encounter. Although this school is very large, 90% of it is probably wilderness, so those seeking a large campus might be disappointed. The school's academic atmosphere, course selection, etc., are not ideal. Additionally, there are a particularly large number of Chinese students; in the 2023-2024 cohort, there are 20, meaning at least half of the entire high school department are Chinese nationals, which is quite disappointing, but there's nothing that can be done. The school cafeteria was not very friendly to Chinese students, though it improved after parent complaints. Since the beginning of the school year, I have tried writing to teachers and school administrators to understand the school situation and establish parent-teacher communication. Slightly more than 50% received a reply; some teachers didn't reply at all. I don't know if this is normal, but the school encourages parent-teacher communication. I've said all this in bits and pieces: most agencies don't truly consider the students; they are only in it for profit. The school also always presents its best side to you initially. There's still a huge gap between ideal and reality, though there's a normal adaptation process here. I suggest visiting the school and listening more to the opinions of Chinese children. In summary, SD has too many Chinese students, and the academic atmosphere is very mediocre.

Data for San Domenico School: student enrollment 15, student-teacher ratio 1:9, international students 24%, boarding rate 62%, teachers with advanced degrees 65%. San Domenico School is located in Marin County, 20 miles north of San Francisco. Founded in 1850, it was once an independent Catholic girls' school offering college preparatory courses, and also the oldest girls' school in California. It has now become co-educational. The school nurtures students of different faiths and backgrounds to become future leaders. Its educational system is unique in the San Francisco Bay Area. The school not only upholds tradition but also provides an educational model that keeps pace with the times, offering students distinctive learning opportunities that enhance them in all aspects and pave the way for their future development. The school boasts an excellent location, only a 35-minute drive from San Francisco, making it the closest comprehensive boarding school to San Francisco. In 2014, it was recognized as a 'Green Ribbon School' by the U.S. Department of Education and ranked among Niche's Top 10 California Boarding Schools in 2020. Students can freely choose AP and advanced courses that interest them within the curriculum. Student campus life is rich and varied, with various art performances, cultural festivals, and numerous awards, including the school's robotics team winning four out of six matches in the 2019 FTC Rover Ruckus; students being finalists in the 2019 National Youth Arts Competition; a student winning first place in the 2019 Marin Theatre Company Young Playwrights Contest; and a student receiving the Gold Award at the 2019 Newport Film Festival.

Data for San Domenico School: 680 students, student-teacher ratio 1:10, international students 24.7%, boarding rate 62%, 65% of teachers hold advanced degrees. San Domenico School is located in Marin County, California, approximately 15 miles from San Francisco. Founded in 1850, it is California's first independent school. Originally an all-girls school, it is now a private, co-educational institution offering college preparatory programs for eligible boys and girls. The school offers 16 sports and 25 varsity teams, with facilities including a fitness center, six tennis courts, an equestrian center, and more. Mark, the Director of Aquatics, is the head coach of 25 Marin Swim League Championship teams. The school also organizes concussion testing for athletes annually. The world-renowned Virtuoso Program for Strings: San Domenico is the only high school in the United States to offer a comprehensive and intensive music curriculum, integrated with college preparatory courses, preparing students for music careers. The school's orchestra, Da Camera, was awarded the Grand Festival Champion and First Place String Ensemble at every ASTA National Orchestra Festival it participated in, specifically in 2010, 2008, and 2005.

I am a male junior currently studying at this school. Personal opinion: The school food is quite average, and the daily dishes are quite similar. The school mainly considers academic qualifications when hiring teachers, and the quality of teachers varies. For AP courses, teachers often assign students to do their own work in class. The school environment is not bad, but the location is not very bustling. There's no signal in the surrounding area, and it's surrounded by mountains. Plus, tuition fees increase every year.

The location is not close to a major city, similar to a Chinese fourth-tier city.

San Domenico School is located in Marin County, California, about 15 miles from San Francisco. Founded in 1850, it is California's first independent school, originally an all-girls school, and is now a private co-educational school offering college preparatory courses to eligible male and female students.
Marin County is one of California's original 27 counties, located north of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. The county boasts stunning beaches, protected redwood forests, extensive hiking and biking trails, and restaurants to suit all food lovers' tastes. It is known for its diverse natural environment, offering visitors a unique and unforgettable experience. Marin County is one of the healthiest counties in California.
The campus of San Domenico School is situated in the town of San Anselmo, where locals are very friendly, and there are bookstores, clothing stores, shopping centers, medical centers, etc., making life convenient. San Domenico School's campus recently ranked 8th among the most beautiful private school campuses in the United States. The school has 24-hour security and closes its gates every night.

【Location】Located in the California Bay Area, approximately a 40-minute drive from San Francisco.
【Curriculum】Rich curriculum with over 120 courses, including 24 AP and Honors courses.
【School Facilities】Beautiful campus environment, first-class school facilities, with comprehensive sports and art facilities.
【School Honors】The STEAM program ranks in the top 5% in the US; ranks in the top 4% among all college preparatory schools in the US, a Green Ribbon School, and an Apple Distinguished School.
【Music Program】Excellent. The school has its own band and symphony orchestra. Team members can also apply for scholarships, and there are over 150 performances annually.
【College Admissions】The school's college counseling office has 2 full-time advisors. 50% of graduates are admitted to US Top 50 universities and liberal arts colleges.
【Signature Programs】LEAF (Leadership Environmental Advocacy Focus), STEAM, Music Master Class (cultivating string instrument talent), Robotics, Model United Nations, Equestrian, and ROSE Project (The Real Opportunities for Service In Education Project).

San Domenico is located in Marin County, San Francisco, California. Previously an all-girls school, it began admitting 9th-grade boys in 2015. The school not only encourages students to learn but also helps them understand why they are learning. The combination of education in school values and guidance from excellent teachers ultimately helps students become great individuals. The school's hardware facilities are good, but the proportion of international students is slightly high.

School Features:

1) The school offers 16 sports and 25 school teams. Facilities include a fitness center, six tennis courts, an equestrian center, etc.

2) Mark, the Director of Aquatics, is the head coach of the 25-time Marin Swim League champions. The school also organizes concussion testing for athletes annually.

3) World-renowned String Virtuoso Program: San Domenico is the only high school in the United States that offers a comprehensive and intensive music program. Combined with college preparatory courses, it prepares students for careers in music. The school's orchestra, Da Camera, was awarded the Grand Champion and First Place String Orchestra at every ASTA National Orchestra Festival it participated in, specifically in 2010, 2008, and 2005.

San Domenico School's facilities are very modern. In 2018, 19 major campus renovation projects were initiated, primarily including dormitory renovations, the addition of new science laboratories, landscaping, library expansion, and resurfacing of six tennis courts, among others.
The school offers 16 AP courses. Each year, students participate in a week-long experiential learning program called the Spring Discovery Journey, which involves field trips or volunteer activities. The school has a robotics club, guided by industry professionals from MIT, NASA, and other engineering institutions. The school hosts numerous public art performances annually, providing students with opportunities to challenge themselves and offering private instrument instruction.

Seriously, don't come here. It's genuinely not a good school, and the teachers couldn't care less!!

I am a female, and I've just finished interviewing with all the schools. My impression of St. Domenico was extremely poor. Firstly, the amount of paperwork was shockingly high, not to mention the school's incredibly rude treatment of students! The night before my scheduled school visit, the school suddenly sent an email saying we couldn't visit, without clearly stating the reason—they just mentioned "health concern." I suspect it was due to the Wuhan epidemic, but isn't it excessive to simply cancel a visit outright like that? Another school, Proctor, was much better; they first emailed to ask about my family's and my travel history to Wuhan and any related symptoms before making a decision, which clearly demonstrates St. Domenico's approach. Furthermore, my Skype interview was scheduled for 10 AM, but after I called three times with no answer, they finally called me back at 10:20 AM. This shows a complete lack of respect for students. Everyone, please, absolutely do not go to such a school.