2024 Best Public Middle Schools in Monterey County

• Carmel Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• grade A

• Students 534

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Pacific Grove Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 2.5 out of 5  4 reviews

Parent: My child goes to this school for 2 years and almost always comes home telling me how great her day was and begs me to never move out of the area. The school is a great environment to learn in and has an excellent music program. My daughter is in the school's orchestra, and choir. Before going to this school she had a passionate love for music but was frustrated on how to get started. Since she started attending this school, her music has greatly improved, as well as her math intelligence. The teachers have very greatly made an impact on my daughters life as well. She has been doing MUCH better in math and ELA, even when I test her. If I could rate this school more than 5 stars I would.... Read 4 reviews

• grade A

• Students 390

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Washington Union Elementary School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Freshman: As a 9th grader in high school, I feel like San Benancio really prepared me for this new chapter in my life. Compared to my other classmates in my grade, I noticed them struggling to keep up with new material learned in class. San Benancio did a great job at providing outstanding education, with great teachers.... Read 1 review

• grade A

• Students 263

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Salinas, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• grade A minus

• Students 94

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Monterey County Office of Education, CA•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.83 out of 5  6 reviews

Alum: MCHCS was only a great experience for me for my senior year during 2022-2023, it truly helped me out with my complicated schedule as towards of many events that happened through out the year. As well, it’s a school where you can go at your own pace but still be able to learn and capture many things needed, therefore, you arent left behind. The whole independent study program helps you focus even more and learn profoundly in the topics that are given. Also, I was able to take college classes which thankfully the one meeting s week for school was able to adjust to my college class schedule. And for it to be able to adjust to ones schedule from really early to the afternoon it helped out tremendously because time is always a non expected thing of what is going to happen. Over all, MCHCS was a great choice, I am really happy I was able to qualify for the program as well, by going st my own pace I was able to finish my senior year early which gave me more time for college classes overall!!!... Read 6 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 259

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Soledad, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• grade B

• Students 131

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Pacific Grove, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  5 reviews

Parent: I’ve had two children go through MBCS. A Waldorf inspired curriculum that is supported through art, music, movement, festivals, handwork, woodworking, blacksmithing, and gardening. Children are taught real world skills as well as traditional academics; kindergarten is play based. Children still learn, but how they are meant to, through play. There is sports, student council, model UN, and dances for middle school students.... Read 5 reviews

• grade B

• Students 453

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Seaside, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 3.5 out of 5  4 reviews

Parent: All 3 of my children attend and it is a wonderful school with amazing teachers. The curriculum is challenging and is taught organically. The children are not just stuck reading their lessons in a book inside a classroom but are out in the actual environment and taught to work together to understand each topic. The inquiry based learning helps the children to retain the information. They are exposed to working as a team, public speaking starting in K and problem solving all which are crucial 'real life' lessons. They teach Spanish starting in K and all of my children are now bi-lingual. Great school.... Read 4 reviews

• grade B

• Students 426

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Spreckels Union Elementary School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 2.67 out of 5  3 reviews

• grade B

• Students 317

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Chualar, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• grade B

• Students 281

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Monterey, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  10 reviews

Parent: I have two kids and have been with the school since kinder. Of course their are growing pains and turn over with staff but the school is excellent. Our kinder program is magical and our kinder teachers by far are some of the best. All the teachers my children have had so far have been completely loved and have been an asset to their education. Both my kids are using computers, learning to code, son is learn spanish and the education resources are outstanding. Many field trips to tie in the thematic units which makes the kids love to learn. The before and after school program is being run by the school so kids feel very much at home with familiar faces. The community with staff and families is like no other. I feel that my kids are in a great place to learn, be loved and feel safe. The head of school is doing an amazing job for the school and improving it each year.... Read 10 reviews

• grade B

• Students 482

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Salinas Union High School District, CA•

• 7-8

• •
  Rating 1 out of 5  1 review

• grade B minus

• Students 1,116

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, CA•

• 7-8

• grade B minus

• Students 313

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Lockwood, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• grade C+

• Students 122

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, CA•

• 7-8

• •
  Rating 2.6 out of 5  5 reviews

• grade C+

• Students 390

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Aromas/San Juan Unified School District, CA•

• K-8

• grade C+

• Students 359

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• North Monterey County Unified School District, CA•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Senior: What I liked about North Monterey County for independent study was they had one on one work with the teacher online. I liked that they are close with all their students by helping them when needed and showing them to success to college or the military. One thing I would like to see change is showing scholarships that can be provided to us students.... Read 2 reviews

• grade C+

• Students 270

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Salinas Union High School District, CA•

• 7-8

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  11 reviews

High School Freshman: I had really great teachers and friends those years.... Read 11 reviews

• grade C+

• Students 1,104

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Salinas Union High School District, CA•

• 7-8

• •
  Rating 3 out of 5  4 reviews

Middle School Student: La Paz middle school was so much fun. The only trouble I had was with some teachers they expected too much from us to begin with.... Read 4 reviews

• grade C+

• Students 1,156

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, CA•

• K-8

• grade C+

• Students 324

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Salinas Union High School District, CA•

• 7-8

• grade C+

• Students 1,051

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Santa Rita Union Elementary School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Alum: It is a great school. Love the teachers, they have great programs and have a good amount of students unlike other middle schools where they have to much and can’t handle them.... Read 1 review

• grade C

• Students 645

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Santa Rita Union Elementary School District, CA•

• 6-8

• grade C

• Students 617

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, CA•

• 7-8

• •
  Rating 3.44 out of 5  9 reviews

High School Senior: The teachers were very stern and straightforward in delivering their lesson, ensuring that the students are engaged and understand the lesson. Honors classes generally had more classwork such as English class with more grammar and writing practice.... Read 9 reviews

• grade C

• Students 475

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Bradley, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• grade C

• Students 58

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1