Robert J. McGarvey Elementary

McGarvey Elementary sits in the newer, family-friendly corridors of Rancho Cordova near the Anatolia and Sunridge communities, where subdivisions are still relatively young and neighbors tend to put down roots together. It's a solid academic performer — particularly in English — and draws families who appreciate a school that punches above its weight in a district as large as Elk Grove Unified. Rancho Cordova itself has grown into a genuine community with good parks and easy freeway access to Sacramento, making it a practical and welcoming place to raise kids.