An attractive collection of earth-toned buildings that sits on the southern edge of Elk Grove, Cosumnes Oaks High School was built for a population boom that never materialized. About 1,000 students now attend a school intended to serve twice that many, a situation the school district is trying to rectify through changes in attendance boundaries. In the meantime, Cosumnes Oaks' current students enjoy a brand-new campus including a library, auditorium and sports facilities. They can sharpen their knife skills at the on-site culinary school or learn about green building at the school's architecture and urban-planning academy.