Santa Margarita Elementary

Tucked into the quiet, rural community of Santa Margarita — a small ranching town just inland from San Luis Obispo — this little K-5 school punches well above its size, landing in the top quarter of California elementary schools with particularly strong science scores. Families who are drawn to a slower pace of life, wide open spaces, and a tight-knit community where everyone knows your kids by name will feel right at home here. It's the kind of place where the surrounding oak-studded hills feel like an extension of the classroom, and the small enrollment means kids rarely get lost in the shuffle.