Schools are an integral part of every community. They bring together not only families but all residents through employment, sports, activities, and overall school spirit. During the home-buying process, you may want to review the boundary maps from the Marin county office of education to better help you choose a home in your desired school district. To best serve the educational needs of children growing up in Marin, the school boundaries are not always strictly tied to city limits. Some districts may just cover a portion of a town, while others cover a larger geographic area and serve multiple communities. Marin County has a wide range of residential areas, including larger cities like San Rafael and Novato and smaller enclaves such as Fairfax and Ross as well as more rural locales in San Geronimo valley and along the coast.