Burnt Ranch Elementary

Tucked deep in the mountains of Trinity County along the Trinity River, Burnt Ranch Elementary serves a tight-knit rural community where everyone knows everyone — and that intimacy shows in how the school performs, punching well above its size with strong English and math scores that place it among the top fifth of California elementary schools. With grades K-8 all under one roof, kids grow up together in a genuinely close community, and families who are drawn to an outdoorsy, off-the-grid lifestyle in the redwoods will find a school that matches the dedication they bring to choosing that kind of life. It's a long way from the suburbs, but for families who want small-town roots and a school that delivers, Burnt Ranch is a surprising gem in a pretty remote corner of the state.