Fairmead Elementary

Fairmead Elementary serves fifth and sixth graders in the small agricultural community of Chowchilla, tucked into California's Central Valley between Fresno and Merced. The school faces real academic challenges, scoring in the lower percentiles statewide, so families who prioritize strong test performance may want to look closely at how the school supports student growth from year to year. That said, Chowchilla is a tight-knit, working-class town where community ties run deep, and for families already rooted here, Fairmead can be a familiar stepping stone into middle school.