Inyokern Elementary

Tucked in the high desert of Kern County, Inyokern Elementary serves a tight-knit community near the edge of the Sierra Nevada foothills, where the pace of life is slower and neighbors genuinely know each other. The school punches above its weight in science, which makes sense given the area's proximity to the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station and a local culture that tends to value hands-on, practical learning. Families who appreciate a small-school feel where kids don't get lost in the crowd — and who love wide open spaces over suburban sprawl — will find a lot to like here.