Atwater Avenue Elementary

Tucked into the laid-back, creative enclave of Atwater Village — one of LA's most walkable and community-driven neighborhoods — Atwater Avenue Elementary has a genuinely local feel that's hard to find in a city this size. Families here tend to be rooted in the neighborhood, drawn to the school's solid academics and its particularly strong showing in science. It's the kind of place that appeals to parents who want a real neighborhood school experience in a part of LA that still feels like a village, with coffee shops, farmers markets, and the LA River path practically right outside the door.