Why Indian Diggings School Became Omo Ranch Elementary

By Cris Alarcon, InEDC Writer. July 31, 2026)

For nearly 170 years, the Indian Diggings Elementary School District carried a name rooted in California’s Gold Rush history. As of July 2026, however, that historic district has a new identity.

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The district is now officially known as Omo Ranch Elementary School District, while its lone campus has been renamed Omo Ranch Elementary School. The change was not prompted by declining enrollment, consolidation or a local campaign. Instead, it was required under California’s Racial Mascots Act, legislation signed into law in 2024 that prohibits most public K-12 schools from using specified Native American terms—including “Indian”—in school names, mascots and nicknames.

A tiny district with a long history

The district occupies a unique place in California education.

Founded on July 1, 1856, Indian Diggings Elementary is among the oldest continuously operating public school districts in California. Today, it consists of a single school located at 6020 Omo Ranch Road in southern El Dorado County, serving about 10 students from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade. Superintendent Grant Coffin also serves as the school’s principal and sole credentialed classroom teacher.

The campus sits in the unincorporated community of Omo Ranch, southeast of Somerset, an area known for its forests, ranches and historic Gold Rush roots.

Why the name changed

According to Coffin, the former name “Indian Diggings” originated from the historic mining settlement established during the Gold Rush era. Miners reportedly named the area after observing Native Americans mining for gold nearby.

The original town of Indian Diggings was located about three miles from the current campus before gradually disappearing during the mid-20th century. When the school relocated decades ago, it moved to what is now Omo Ranch but retained its historic district name.

Faced with California’s new legal requirements, district leaders selected “Omo Ranch” because it accurately identifies the community where the school has operated for generations.

Coffin told reporters:

“I believe it was the right decision personally… The law is the law.”

He also described Omo Ranch as “probably the least controversial” replacement because it reflects the school’s actual location rather than creating an entirely new identity.

Compliance with state law

The California Racial Mascots Act required affected schools to make the necessary changes by July 1, 2026, unless they qualified for a limited exemption through tribal approval.

Coffin said the district contacted the Ione Band of Miwok Indians, the nearest federally recognized tribe, but did not receive an exemption allowing the district to retain its existing name. As a result, the three-member school board approved the renaming during its June meeting, with the change taking effect in July.

Unlike larger districts that have spent hundreds of thousands—or even millions—replacing athletic facilities, uniforms and branding, Omo Ranch Elementary expects the transition to cost only about $3,500. Expenses primarily include replacing signage, stationery, business cards and official documents.

History remains part of the curriculum

Although the district’s official name has changed, Coffin says its history is not being erased.

Students will continue learning about the Gold Rush community once known as Indian Diggings, including how the school evolved from its 1856 beginnings to its current location in Omo Ranch.

“We have a rich history,” Coffin said. “The only thing that’s changing is the name.”

For longtime residents of southern El Dorado County, the renaming represents the end of a historic chapter while preserving the school’s mission of serving one of the county’s most rural communities.

Current California Department of Education records continue to document the district’s historic founding date, even as administrative records transition to the new Omo Ranch Elementary School District name.

Sources

• California Department of Education School Directory.
• Reporting by The Sacramento Bee.
• Reporting by PBS KVIE’s The Abridged.