San Lorenzo Valley Middle

Tucked into the redwood-covered hills of Felton, San Lorenzo Valley Middle sits in one of the Santa Cruz Mountains' most characterful small towns — the kind of place where kids bike to school and neighbors actually know each other. The school holds its own academically, with particular strength in science and math, which feels fitting for a community surrounded by nature and not far from the innovation hub of Silicon Valley. Families who love the outdoors, value a tight-knit school culture, and want to trade suburban sprawl for giant trees and a slower pace tend to thrive here.