Blue Lake Union Elementary

Tucked into the small, tight-knit town of Blue Lake along the Mad River in Humboldt County, this little K-8 school serves a close community where everybody knows everybody — the kind of place where teachers know each family by name. Science scores show some relative strength, which fits well in a region surrounded by redwood forests and outdoor learning opportunities that most kids elsewhere only read about in textbooks. Families drawn to rural Northern California life, with its slower pace and deep connection to nature, will find this school reflects the character of the community around it.