Ferndale Elementary

Tucked into one of California's most charming Victorian villages, Ferndale Elementary serves a tight-knit rural community where everyone genuinely knows their neighbors — and that small-town warmth carries right into the classroom. The school punches well above its size, with math scores that rank among the very best in the state, making it a great fit for families who want rigorous academics without sacrificing the kind of close teacher-student relationships that only a smaller school can offer. If you're drawn to fog-draped coastal scenery, locally-rooted community life, and a place where kids can still ride bikes to school, Ferndale is a pretty special place to plant roots.