Madrone High School creates an environment where all students are valued and respected; where diversity and individual identity are honored; and where students develop intellectual curiosity, as well the necessary social and emotional skills needed to contribute successfully in their local and global communities.  Madrone students understand that they are a part of a family where everyone they come in contact with each day cares deeply about their lives and success.

Students come to Madrone because they have not been served effectively in a traditional high school setting and would benefit from a smaller school environment.  Our Fall 2024 student population of 68 students by ethnicity consists of 92.6% Hispanic/Latino, 1.5% White, 5.9% African American.  Most students who enter Madrone are behind in credits and are at risk of not graduating with their class.  Students are referred to Madrone from San Rafael High and Terra Linda High during quarterly scheduled referral programming.  Students may also enter our school if they are referred through the Student Attendance Review Board (SARB) or by other community agencies.  Students must be at least 16 years of age and have attended at least one year at a traditional high school.

The instructional program is designed to reconnect students to who they are as learners.  Most students who attend Madrone have experienced years of academic failure so our goal is to build student self-confidence by providing a scaffolded learning model that allows students to rediscover themselves as learners.  Students participate in a comprehensive educational program, which includes core and elective courses. Project Based Learning is a particular focus of Madrone's curriculum as well as cross curricular instruction and students and teachers working closely together to develop a curriculum that is interesting and useful for our students.

Madrone’s students are successful due to the personalized educational attention and planning provided by our teachers, academic/career counselor, and the mental health services counselor.  The school also works with various

WHAT IS THE LENGTH OF ENROLLMENT?

A student may enroll in Madrone at any time at the quarter or semester mark when being referred from within the district. Students arriving from out of the district may enroll any time during the school year. Our school is a participation-based program, where students earn credit for productive in-class work and meeting academic standards in their courses.

HOW DOES A STUDENT RETURN TO A COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL?

To be recommended for re-enrollment in a comprehensive high school program, the staff considers the following:

• How many credits are needed for graduation?
• What courses are remaining?
• Has there been improvement in learning habits?
• Has the student participated in the credit recovery program? 
• Strengths and weaknesses of the student.

The recommendations are provided to the school administrators and are communicated to the parents of each student.  Madrone’s principal communicates with each comprehensive high school principal regarding the students’ enrollment status and sets an appointment for the change of placement/enrollment of each student.

HOW DOES A STUDENT ENTER MADRONE?

Students enter Madrone through a referral process from our sister schools, San Rafael High School and Terra Linda High School or at the request of families after their initial enrollment in the district.