In Marin County, the Novato Unified School District’s latest survey offers a hopeful look at safety and belonging across its campuses. More middle school students now say they feel safe at Novato’s San Jose, Sinaloa, and other schools, and there are some interesting trends around staff development and family engagement that stretch into nearby towns like Corte Madera, Mill Valley, and San Rafael.
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What the Numbers Show for Marin County Middle Schools
The district surveyed 6,539 people this year—a 15% increase from 2025. Of the sixth- through eighth-graders, 53% now agree or strongly agree they feel safe, up from 46% last year.
That’s 694 students saying they feel safer, compared to 562 in 2025. The increase comes as more students from Novato’s schools took part in the survey.
Across Novato’s elementary, middle, and high schools, plus the Nova independent study program, administrators say they’re making progress. They point to stronger supervision, stricter discipline, a crackdown on cellphone use, better counselors-support-students-after-fatal-crash/”>emotional support, and new steps to address hate speech.
A Closer Look at Where Change is Happening
San Jose and Sinaloa middle schools, along with Hamilton K-8, have worked to boost adult presence on campus. Officials believe this helps deter risky behavior and improves how safe students feel.
Sinaloa is still processing a May 2024 incident that led to eight students facing assault and conspiracy charges. That event got a lot of attention on social media.
Even as the safety climate gets better, district leaders say they’re staying alert. They’re keeping programs going to support students in places like San Rafael and Sausalito, where many kids rely on Novato schools for youth services.
High school results look a bit different. This year, 568 students said they have adults they can turn to when upset, down from 640 last year. Fewer high schoolers took the survey, too—330 fewer, to be exact.
Trustees and staff say older students can feel isolated. They’re counting on counselors, bilingual health staff, and a grant-funded community specialist to reach struggling learners in Fairfax, Larkspur, Corte Madera, and Novato.
Support Networks for Students and Families
The staff survey pointed out some things that need work. Only 47% of staff said they have access to meaningful professional development. Superintendent Tracy Smith called that disappointing and said she plans to look into it.
On the family side, there’s good news. This year, 1,287 families agreed or strongly agreed they feel engaged with their student’s school, compared to 709 in 2025.
Smith says this jump in family engagement is a great sign for neighborhoods from Mill Valley to San Anselmo. She wants to keep the momentum going at PTA and site council meetings across Marin.
- Middle and high school engagement: The national picture is mixed, but locally, families and students in Novato seem to notice school climate improvements compared to surrounding Marin towns.
- Reduction in survey participation at some high schools: Engagement isn’t the whole story, and Novato is working to reach out more in Larkspur and Tiburon-adjacent areas to keep everyone involved.
- Family engagement gains: Families in Corte Madera, San Rafael, and Fairfax are noticing the district’s efforts and showing support for ongoing initiatives.
What This Means for the Marin County Community
District leaders see positive momentum and want to keep up the programs that seem to be making campuses safer and family ties stronger. In Novato, Sausalito, and San Anselmo, folks can expect continued teamwork between schools, PTA groups, and local youth services to keep things moving in a good direction for students.
Looking Ahead and Next Steps
The Novato Unified School District wants to keep the momentum going. They’re focusing on a few key areas:
- They’re expanding access to professional development for staff in all Marin County schools. That includes teachers and staff in Corte Madera and San Rafael.
- At Sinaloa, San Jose, and Hamilton K-8, they’re keeping up with stronger supervision and clear disciplinary protocols. The goal? Make things consistent everywhere in the district.
- They’re putting more energy into emotional support services and multilingual outreach. High school students in Mill Valley and Tiburon-adjacent areas, who sometimes feel isolated, should see a difference.
- Family engagement matters too. They plan to keep working with PTA and site councils, hoping to keep the good vibes going in Novato and nearby communities.
Marin County schools are on an upward swing right now. Folks from San Rafael to Sausalito are watching, pitching in, and hoping these changes make schools safer and more connected for everyone. Isn’t that what every community wants for their kids?
Here is the source article for this story: Novato students feel safer at school, new survey says
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