Yucca Valley High

Yucca Valley High sits in the heart of the high desert, where Joshua trees outnumber traffic lights and the pace of life is decidedly laid-back. The school serves a tight-knit community of families who've chosen the desert lifestyle — whether for the wide-open space, the proximity to Joshua Tree National Park, or simply the affordability compared to coastal California — and it carries that close community feel into its hallways. Academics here are a work in progress, landing in the lower quarter statewide, so families with strong academic priorities may want to supplement with outside resources, but for students who thrive with smaller-town connections and a strong sense of place, Yucca Valley can still feel like home.