Montara Elementary

Barstow sits at the crossroads of the Mojave Desert, a tight-knit high desert community where military families from Fort Irwin and longtime locals alike put down roots. Montara Elementary serves that mix, but families should know that the school faces some real academic headwinds — with English scores in the 4th percentile and math in the 16th, it's a school where staying closely involved in your child's learning at home will matter a lot. That said, smaller desert towns like Barstow often foster strong school-community bonds, and families who are engaged and connected with teachers tend to find ways to make it work.