Diamond Valley Elementary

Diamond Valley Elementary sits in Markleeville, one of California's most remote and rural communities tucked into the Sierra Nevada near the Nevada border — a place where the population hovers around a few hundred and the nearest big-box store is a long drive away. The school serves a very small, tight-knit student body, and families here tend to be deeply rooted in the land and the quiet rhythms of mountain life rather than drawn by academic rankings. That said, the academic scores are well below state averages, particularly in math and science, so families prioritizing strong measured outcomes may want to factor that into their decision alongside the undeniable appeal of raising kids in such a strikingly beautiful, close-to-nature setting.