Downtown Elementary

Downtown Elementary sits in the heart of Bakersfield, serving families right in the urban core of one of California's largest inland cities — and it punches well above its weight, landing in the top fifth of schools statewide with particularly strong English scores. It's a solid choice for families who want a neighborhood school with real academic footing without having to venture out to the suburbs. Bakersfield itself has a tight-knit, working-class character with a surprisingly affordable cost of living, and being downtown puts kids close to local culture, community events, and the kind of city energy that a lot of elementary schools simply don't have.