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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Public Middle Schools in California (2026)

The top-ranked public middle schools in California are Whitney (Gretchen) High School, Science Academy Stem Magnet and Oxford Academy. The cities and towns with the highest concentration of top-ranked public middle schools are Cupertino, Granite Bay and La Canada Flintridge.
A school's overall testing rank is based on a it's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking. The average percentage of students achieving math proficiency in California is 34%. The percentage of students achieving reading proficiency is 47%.

Top-Ranked Public Middle Schools in California (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Student Proficiency
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
Whitney (Gretchen) High School
(Math: 98% | Reading: ≥99%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 98% (Top 1%)
Reading: ≥99% (Top 1%)
Grades: 7-12
16800 Shoemaker Ave.
Cerritos, CA 90703
(562) 229-7745
Rank: #22.
Science Academy Stem Magnet
Alternative School
Magnet School
(Math: 95% | Reading: 96%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 95% (Top 1%)
Reading: 96% (Top 1%)
Grades: 6-12
5525 Vineland Ave.
North Hollywood, CA 91601
(818) 753-4470
Rank: #33.
Oxford Academy
(Math: 94% | Reading: 98%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 94% (Top 1%)
Reading: 98% (Top 1%)
Grades: 7-12
5172 Orange Ave.
Cypress, CA 90630
(714) 220-3055
Rank: #44.
North Star Academy
(Math: 95% | Reading: 95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 95% (Top 1%)
Reading: 95% (Top 1%)
Grades: 3-8
400 Duane St.
Redwood City, CA 94062
(650) 482-2411
Rank: #55.
Petaluma Accelerated Charter
Charter School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥95% (Top 1%)
Reading: 90-94% (Top 1%)
Grades: 7-8
110 Ellis St.
Petaluma, CA 94952
(707) 778-4750
Rank: #66.
Bullis Charter
Charter School
(Math: 94% | Reading: 93%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 94% (Top 1%)
Reading: 93% (Top 1%)
Grades: K-8
102 West Portola Ave.
Los Altos, CA 94022
(650) 947-4100
Rank: #77.
Elkhorn
(Math: 89% | Reading: 98%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 89% (Top 1%)
Reading: 98% (Top 1%)
Grades: 4-8
10505 North Davis Rd.
Stockton, CA 95209
(209) 953-8312
Rank: #88.
Yu Ming Charter
Charter School
(Math: 92% | Reading: 90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 92% (Top 1%)
Reading: 90% (Top 1%)
Grades: K-8
2501 Chestnut St.
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 452-2063
Rank: #99.
William Hopkins Middle School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 91%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 89% (Top 1%)
Reading: 91% (Top 1%)
Grades: 6-8
600 Driscoll Rd.
Fremont, CA 94539
(510) 656-3500
Rank: #1010.
John F. Kennedy Middle School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 91% (Top 1%)
Reading: 90% (Top 1%)
Grades: 6-8
821 Bubb Rd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 253-1525
Rank: #1111.
Joaquin Miller Middle School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 89% (Top 1%)
Reading: 89% (Top 1%)
Grades: 6-8
6151 Rainbow Dr.
San Jose, CA 95129
(408) 252-3755
Rank: #1212.
Sam H. Lawson Middle School
(Math: 87% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 87% (Top 1%)
Reading: 88% (Top 1%)
Grades: 6-8
10401 Vista Dr.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 255-7500
Rank: #1313.
Cottonwood Creek
(Math: 85% | Reading: 91%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 85% (Top 5%)
Reading: 91% (Top 1%)
Grades: K-8
2400 Central Pkwy.
Dublin, CA 94568
(925) 833-3333
Rank: #1414.
Georgina P. Blach Junior High School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 86% (Top 1%)
Reading: 89% (Top 1%)
Grades: 7-8
1120 Covington Rd.
Los Altos, CA 94024
(650) 934-3800
Rank: #1515.
Creekside Charter
Charter School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 85-89% (Top 1%)
Reading: 85-89% (Top 5%)
Grades: K-8
1916 Chamonix Pl.
Olympic Valley, CA 96146
(530) 581-1036
Rank: #1616.
La Canada High School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 85% (Top 5%)
Reading: 89% (Top 1%)
Grades: 7-12
4463 Oak Grove Dr.
La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011
(818) 952-4205
Rank: #1717.
Redwood Middle School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 86% (Top 1%)
Reading: 87% (Top 5%)
Grades: 6-8
13925 Fruitvale Ave.
Saratoga, CA 95070
(408) 867-3042
Rank: #1818.
Huntington Middle School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 85% (Top 5%)
Reading: 87% (Top 5%)
Grades: 6-8
1700 Huntington Dr.
San Marino, CA 91108
(626) 299-7060
Rank: #1919.
Buckeye Union Mandarin Immersion Charter
Charter School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: ≥90% (Top 1%)
Reading: 80-89% (Top 5%)
Grades: K-12
7701 Silva Valley Pkwy.
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
(916) 933-9746
Rank: #2020.
Pacific Trails Middle School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 85% (Top 5%)
Reading: 86% (Top 5%)
Grades: 7-8
5975 Village Center Loop Rd.
Encinitas, CA 92024
(858) 350-0253
Rank: #2121.
R. Roger Rowe Middle School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 91%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 80% (Top 5%)
Reading: 91% (Top 1%)
Grades: 6-8
5927 La Granada
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
(858) 756-1141
Rank: #2222.
Robert C. Fisler Elementary School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 83% (Top 5%)
Reading: 86% (Top 5%)
Grades: K-8
1350 Starbuck St.
Fullerton, CA 92833
(714) 447-2890
Rank: #23 - 2523. - 25.
Ralston Intermediate
(Math: 81% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 81% (Top 5%)
Reading: 87% (Top 5%)
Grades: 6-8
2675 Ralston Ave.
Belmont, CA 94002
(650) 637-4880
Rank: #23 - 2523. - 25.
Riverside Stem Academy
(Math: 81% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 81% (Top 5%)
Reading: 87% (Top 5%)
Grades: 5-12
4466 Mt.vernon Ave.
Riverside, CA 92507
(951) 788-7308
Rank: #23 - 2523. - 25.
Windemere Ranch Middle School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 81% (Top 5%)
Reading: 87% (Top 5%)
Grades: 6-8
11611 East Branch Pkwy.
San Ramon, CA 94582
(925) 479-7400
Rank: #2626.
La Entrada Middle School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 82% (Top 5%)
Reading: 86% (Top 5%)
Grades: 4-8
2200 Sharon Rd.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 854-3962
Rank: #2727.
Ellen Fletcher Middle School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 79% (Top 5%)
Reading: 88% (Top 1%)
Grades: 6-8
655 Arastradero Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-9810
Rank: #2828.
Vista Verde
(Math: 82% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 82% (Top 5%)
Reading: 85% (Top 5%)
Grades: K-8
6 Federation Way
Irvine, CA 92603
(949) 936-6350
Rank: #2929.
Corte Madera
(Math: 86% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 86% (Top 1%)
Reading: 83% (Top 5%)
Grades: 4-8
4575 Alpine Rd.
Portola Valley, CA 94028
(650) 851-1777
Rank: #3030.
Orinda Intermediate
(Math: 77% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 77% (Top 5%)
Reading: 89% (Top 1%)
Grades: 6-8
80 Ivy Dr.
Orinda, CA 94563
(925) 258-3090
Rank: #3131.
Ross Elementary School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 81% (Top 5%)
Reading: 85% (Top 5%)
Grades: K-8
9 Lagunitas Rd.
Ross, CA 94957
(415) 457-2705
Rank: #3232.
Piedmont Middle School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 77% (Top 5%)
Reading: 88% (Top 1%)
Grades: 6-8
740 Magnolia Ave.
Oakland, CA 94611
(510) 594-2668
Rank: #3333.
Mt. Everest Academy
Alternative School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 75-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: 85-89% (Top 5%)
Grades: K-12
4350 Mt. Everest Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92117
(619) 605-8700
Rank: #3434.
Crocker Middle School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 83% (Top 5%)
Reading: 82% (Top 5%)
Grades: 6-8
2600 Ralston Ave.
Burlingame, CA 94010
(650) 342-6331
Rank: #3535.
Ardis G. Egan Junior High School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 78% (Top 5%)
Reading: 86% (Top 5%)
Grades: 7-8
100 West Portola Ave.
Los Altos, CA 94022
(650) 917-2200
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