Step 1: Intent to Apply Form

If you are interested in applying to the STEM Marin program for the 2026-27 school year, please complete the INTENT TO APPLY form using the tabs below. Current 8th graders will have the opportunity to apply for 3 different Pathways: STEM Biotechnology, STEM Engineering or STEM Art In Science. Current 9th graders will only be able to apply for Biotechnology or Art in Science Pathways. We do not typically accept 9th grade applicants in the Engineering Pathway unless a student meets approved criteria in advance. If accepted, 9th grade students would start their STEM Pathway at the beginning of their 10th grade year.

Step 2: Written Application

The written application includes an opportunity for each student to share their interest and commitment to the STEM Marin Program. Students currently attending NUSD middle schools will have the opportunity to complete the application during school hours on their middle school campus. Students who are at private schools, charter schools, or attend school outside of NUSD will be asked to come to the San Marin Campus to complete their application in person. Use the buttons provided below to sign up for an application appointment.

The application includes 4 writing prompts for each student to respond to. These are short answer responses and will be scored based on content not conventions of writing. The questions will be designed to assess the student’s interest in STEM and how they might contribute to the program if selected. The following 4-point rubric will be utilized:

SCORE OF 3 = Answers questions with depth and examples make sense and are concise

SCORE OF 2 = Answers questions with depth, but supporting evidence is minimal

SCORE OF 1 = Brief answers without providing examples or depth

SCORE OF 0 = Didn’t answer the question at all

Step 3: Video Submission (Optional)

We understand that some students may prefer to express themselves orally rather than in writing. To accommodate this, we are offering an optional video component. Students who submit a video may earn up to 3 additional points to their overall application score.

Video Guidelines and Tips:

• Guidelines and instructions for submitting a video will be emailed to all students after they complete the written application.
• Technology access and support will be provided for students needing assistance.

Evaluation Criteria: Videos will be reviewed by a panel of STEM Marin staff and community partners. The evaluation team will consider the following:

• Personal Presentation: How well the applicant presents themselves.
• Expression of Interest: Why the applicant wants to join STEM Marin.
• Potential Contributions: What the applicant can contribute to the program.

Criteria for Acceptance

All NUSD specialized programs require that students must maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher, regular attendance, and a positive citizenship record. While all applicants must meet the minimum GPA requirement, past grades in science and math are primarily reviewed and factored into the selection process. Students should show a pattern of either consistent proficiency or consistent growth in math and science classes. Students must be earning a C or higher by the end of the 8th grade fall semester in order to be considered a viable candidate.

Members of the admission panel will assess the written and video portions of the application independently. All scores are submitted to the STEM Coordinator for entry in the spreadsheet to determine an overall score.

Inter/Intra District Transfers

If you are applying to the STEM Marin program and require an INTER-district or INTRA-district transfer, you need to submit your special program transfer application online between November 1, 2025 and early January 2026 (specific date to be determined). All transfers need to be approved by NUSD before you can be considered for the program. Please do not delay in completing these online forms. You do not need to wait for a transfer to be approved before completing the written or video portion of the STEM application.

Who Needs an Inter or Intra District Transfer?

Intra-District: You live in Novato, but San Marin is not your neighborhood school

Inter-District: You live outside of the Novato Unified School District. Here is what you will need in order to apply for an Iter-District transfer:

1. Approved inter-district transfer application from your district of residence
2. Attendance report (provided by student’s current school)
3. Discipline report (provided by your student’s current school, if no discipline records exist the school must provide you a letter on letterhead stating the student has no discipline records)
4. Transcripts
5. Copy of any special services your students receive

If you or your child are new to Novato Unified School District, you will need to enroll by creating a new student account. Follow the process at this link www.nusd.org/enroll/ to transfer or enroll.

Any questions about transfers? Please contact Karina Leoni: [email protected]

Questions?

If you have any questions about the application process, please email [email protected].