The Howell Mountain Elementary School has been here "almost forever," the old-timers say. Meaning since way back in 1876, when there were must have been very few elementary school children here. In fact, they weren't Edwin Angwin's children because he had just married in l876 and was still trying to raise potatoes here before he started his health resort.

1876 was 33 years before the Seventh-day Adventists discovered Edwin Angwin's resort and bought it lock, stock and barrel, and Angwin began to became a real village.

The HMES enrollment goes up and down. In 2002, enrollment was 54 students, and then in 2008, it climbed to 132. Today's count is 109.

Whatever the count, the kids still get a good education, and the school offers numerous extra-curricular activities to keep them happy.

The little school has come through some rough times. At least twice, expenses reduced the reserves to the point that the County had to come in and rescue it. But reserves today are about $850,000, making HMES one of the most financially viable for its size in the State of California.

One reason is that the school gets most of its revenue from the real estate taxes and Angwin's real estate properties are valuable. Another source is the wine auction, "Taste of Howell Mountain," sponsored each year by the Angwin wineries. Over the years, the wineries have contributed thousands of dollars to HMES.

The school has a Food Service Program that provides hot breakfasts and lunches to more than 90% of the students. (Not well-known, Principal Tom Stubbs points out, is that the program will serve other children in the community.)

The school boasts a band with students on all the wind instruments. Art instruction is a continuing process conducted by Angwin artist Melissa Baker, and a former St. Helena police chief, Robert Wedell, comes once a week to conduct special physical exercises. From time to time, students are given opportunities in music, dance, gardening, science and ceramics.

Tom Stubbs has been principal for 10 years. Most of the teachers have to commute from afar to this remote location.

The faculty includes:

Mrs. Ronayne: Grades 1 and 2

Ms. Beglin: Kindergarden

Mrs. Baswell: Grades 2 and 3

Ms Casciani: Grades 4 and 5

Ms. Schaeffer and Mrs. Moorehead: Middle School

Ms. Sweeney: Resource Teacher

Other staff members include:

Lori Price, executive secretary

Mike Kauble, technology coordinator

Sandy Crump, food service

Andrea Rahn, librarian

Carolyn Sanders: After-School Program coordinator

Jeff Kresge is president of the School Board. Other members are Wendy Battistini, Sharee Bramham, Douglas Ermshar, and Jon Hollister.

The Mission Statement of the school reads: