Welcome to Ross
From its tree covered hills and winding creeks down to its perfectly manicured lawns and meticulously landscaped streets, Ross is a community that takes pride in its small town character and air of tranquility. A peaceful city comprised mainly of the most beautiful residential neighborhoods in the region, Ross’ residents prefer to spend their time focusing on community improvement and enjoying their view of Mount Tamalpais.
Lay of the Land
Ross is a small unincorporated community located in Central Marin County. Approximately 18 miles north of the city of San Francisco, Ross sits among several larger communities. These include Kentfield and Greenbrae to the east, the small community of Larkspur to the south, and San Anselmo to the north. Taking up just over 1.6 square miles, the city has a relatively modest population of 2,401. The average home in Ross is valued at well over $1,000,000 with some of the larger properties being valued well into the 20 million dollar range.
Transportation
U.S. Route 101 is easily accessible from Ross via Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. The 101 provides access to the northern section of Marin County and Sonoma County as well as to the San Francisco Bay Area to the south. Additionally, Sir Francis Drake Boulevard meanders through the scenic countryside and smaller communities in the western section of the county. Public transit is limited to the West Marin Stagecoach and Golden Gate Transit. Golden Gate Transit provides bus services to the nearby communities as well as to numerous locations within the central and eastern sections of the county. The West Marin Stagecoach provides shuttle transportation which serve as the primary means of accessing the rural western sections of the county.
Local Highlights
Despite its modest size, Ross does feature a small commercial sector, located in the Ross Commons. The vast majority of the businesses located in the Commons are dedicated to meeting the commercial and service needs of the local community. Unlike the shopping centers in nearby Larkspur and Kentfield, the retail locations in Ross are not focused on being a regional destination.
The exception to this general rule is the Marche Aux Fleurs, a local restaurant that specializes in providing authentic French cuisine using fresh seasonal ingredients. It provides award winning service and menu items that draw visitors from around the county.
The primary focus of the town of Ross is community enrichment. The town features numerous organizations and committees designed to organize events and provide guidance for the town council. The Ross Recreation Department began as a small organization in the 1970’s focused on providing a select number of educational classes to the citizens of Ross. However, now it offers over 100 classes which are utilized by the residents of Ross as well as the residents of several nearby communities. The Marin Art and Garden Center, located in the heart of Ross, is a county wide organization that has been supporting the arts and conservation initiatives for over 70 years. Finally, the Jose Moya Del Pino Library and Ross Historical Society work to preserve the written history of the community and to provide classes devoted to the preservation of the arts and the local history of the town.
School District
The Ross School District is a locally operated district that provides K-8 educational services for the community of Ross. Students in Ross attending public High School do so at Sir Francis Drake High School, which is a part of the Mount Tamalpais Union High School District. Both the Ross School District and the Mount Tamalpais Union High School District are among the highest achieving districts in the state. Both districts consistently score in the top ten percent of schools on the California Academic Performance Index in addition to earning various state designations for distinguished performance.
Ross is also home to the Branson School, an exclusive private high school. Branson offers students a rigorous curriculum designed for college preparation. This includes traditional academic programs, a fine and performing arts program, and one of the most extensive technology programs in the state. Enrollment at Branson remains at a consistent 320 students, as attempts to raise individual class size beyond 80 has been met with fierce resistance by the town of Ross. This makes the admission process daunting, as the school receives an average of 400 applicants per school year. However, the exclusivity has resulted in a school which consistently ranks as one of the top high schools in the nation across a wide range of metrics.
