2019 Best Public Middle Schools in the Los Angeles AreaAbout this List

Riverside STEM Academy

• Riverside Unified School District, CA
• 5-12
• 21

Senior: This school is highly science, technology, engineering, and mathematics focused, as you can tell by the name. Regardless, students at RSA still find ways to express themselves through art and culture. This school is also known for being smaller than the average high school, which makes it easy to make friends and for students to express themselves freely. Overall, this is an excellent school for people who are looking for more than just the typical high school experience.
Read 21 Reviews

• A+

• 577 Students
• 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Huntington Middle School

• San Marino Unified School District, CA
• 6-8
• 12

Middle School Student: Huntington is a great school. The there are amazing academic opportunities if you can access them by working hard. Most students are nice, driven and competitive, however semi-bullying and inappropriateness does occur frequently. Some of the teachers have completely changed my life (for the better) though there are some rare and glaring exceptions that do not know what they are doing and are unreasonably mean, making students terrified of walking into class every day. There are many cliques going on in the student body, but there will hopefully be one that the student will fit into, or else they would be lonely and picked on. It's not a school for everyone, but it's a pretty nice school nonetheless. As a student, I can tell you that cafeteria food is absolutely horrific. BUT, if you are willing to look past the negatives, Huntington can be a good school for you to shine academically, through sports, and many competitive academic teams.
Read 12 Reviews

• A+

• 780 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Foothills Middle School

• Arcadia Unified School District, CA
• 6-8
• 9

Middle School Student: Too good, no bullying, everything is good( the lunch line is always toooooooooo long!) Teachers are nice!
There is only one teacher for the whole music program(Band and orchestra)
Read 9 Reviews

• A+

• 770 Students
• 24:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Rancho San Joaquin Middle School

• Irvine Unified School District, CA
• 7-8
• 3

Junior: Rancho Middle School had an amazing learning environment with teacher who really cared about their students and helped make classes fun and engaging. Although, like every middle school, there was a lot of drama and complaining, the teachers and staff really made sure that students learned important life lessons and gave ample opportunity for students to express themselves through music, art, and academics.
Read 3 Reviews

• A+

• 863 Students
• 28:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Vista Verde

• Irvine Unified School District, CA
• K-8
• 1

Alum: I spent 8 years at this school and my experience was very interesting. Elementary school was amazing, I loved to read and all the teachers I had supported my family and I throughout every year. However, middle school was a different story. Teachers became aggressive and extremely pushy, assigning so much homework that as a sixth grader I found myself doing homework for four hours each night. Entering freshman year in high school showed me that my middle school was more difficult than high school! I haven't felt the pressure VV gave me since my graduation, until now, junior year in high school. I'm getting better grades in a harder setting, high school, then I ever did in middle school, and I'm taking AP classes!!
Read 1 Review

• A+

• 947 Students
• 28:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Lakeside Middle School

• Irvine Unified School District, CA
• 7-8
• 1

• A+

• 656 Students
• 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Richard Henry Dana Middle School

• Arcadia Unified School District, CA
• 6-8
• 1

Alum: Supportive teachers helped me nurture the school newspaper program and create a weekly broadcast program; most teachers I had really did love their subjects, I could tell! I also really loved the Psycho Runner challenge in PE each year; it gave me a goal for a mile time.
The only thing I would change about my experience at this school would be the fact that Dana had the stereotypical middle school social hierarchy when I attended a few years ago, but that's on the kids, not the school itself.
Read 1 Review

• A+

• 743 Students
• 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Jeffrey Trail Middle School

• Irvine Unified School District, CA
• 7-8
• 4

Alum: Jeffery Trail was an amazing school! It gave me so many opportunities and really prepared me for high school. However the control over student-student conflict could be improved.
Read 4 Reviews

• A+

• 999 Students
• 28:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Venado Middle School

• Irvine Unified School District, CA
• 7-8
• 1

• A+

• 642 Students
• 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

First Avenue Middle School

• Arcadia Unified School District, CA
• 6-8
• 2

Middle School Student: I really enjoy First Avenue Middle School because of the amazing teachers and the quality of instruction; without them, school wouldn't be all it's cracked up to be. Each teacher has their own unique teaching style, which makes each class engaging in its own way. And instead of one elective like other middle schools in the school district, we can choose two (we have a lot more options, too).
Read 2 Reviews

• A+

• 754 Students
• 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Sierra Vista Middle School

• Irvine Unified School District, CA
• 7-8
• 3

Freshman: I had the best time at Sierra Vista Middle School. I was not from one of the feeder schools into this middle school but I felt so included and I made so many close friends and before I knew it, it was like Sierra Vista was my home. I have so many fond memories with friends and I remember my teachers and how well they taught me. My eighth grade math teacher was one of them. Even though math wasn't my favorite subject, she was one of my favorite teachers and I will always remember her. In the GATE program at Sierra Vista, we were required to do NHD in our history classes. We learned so much about a topic we had to choose and relate back to the theme of that year. It really has helped me become a better student. When I went to Sierra Vista, SciOly was a club but right now it is a class. When i tried out for SciOly as a eighth grade I had no idea what was in store for me. It was so much fun! I feel like because of Sierra Vista, I am a more confident student and overall person.
Read 3 Reviews

• A+

• 853 Students
• 28:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

South Lake Middle School

• Irvine Unified School District, CA
• 7-8

• A+

• 706 Students
• 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Ridgecrest Intermediate

• Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, CA
• 6-8

• A+

• 926 Students
• 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Palos Verdes Intermediate

• Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, CA
• 6-8
• 1

• A+

• 889 Students
• 24:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

South Pointe Middle School

• Walnut Valley Unified School District, CA
• 6-8
• 1

Alum: The teacher were great and some taught really well. I hope the teacher would improve their teaching skills each year
Read 1 Review

• A

• 917 Students
• 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Manhattan Beach Middle School

• Manhattan Beach Unified School District, CA
• 6-8
• 18

Parent: The academics at MBMS are first rate. The 6th grade students are transitioning into the school from grammar school, so the workload is lighter, and there is an emphasis on their social as well as academic performances at school. In 7th grade, the students are transferring 7 classes - by then they have learned how to be organized, and their comfort levels are much greater. 8th grade is very rigorous and challenging. Teachers are preparing their students for the next step- high school. Many classes have cumulative final exams at the end of the school year. These kids have to work (hard) for good grades. For those students that are at a higher academic level - there are classes available to them to challenge them. For instance, MBMS has a geometry class, which is unique. The ipad program introduces many students to technology - which is our future.
Read 18 Reviews

• A

• 1,549 Students
• 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Plaza Vista

• Irvine Unified School District, CA
• K-8
• 6

Parent: Fantastic school with wonderful teachers and an amazing Principal and Vice Principal. An excellent education for my two children!
Read 6 Reviews

• A

• 940 Students
• 28:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Sharon Christa McAuliffe Middle School

• Los Alamitos Unified School District, CA
• 6-8
• 5

Works Here: I have worked here for over 11 years and we are Family connected Always to each other and Evolving together - Namaste
Read 5 Reviews

• A

• 1,243 Students
• 27:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Miraleste Intermediate

• Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, CA
• 6-8
• 1

High School Freshman: At Miraleste Intermediate School there are some wonderful aspects and others are not so wonderful. We have a very supportive staff and student body, however our teachers lack the passion in their profession. I believe that if a teacher loves to teach, a student would love to learn. Unfortunately, most teachers at Miraleste lack interest in their subject, therefore creating a negative learning environment. Our school, on the other hand, also has many clubs and ways to get involved, which I believe is very important. Overall our school could use some improvement, but it does have many pluses as well.
Read 1 Review

• A

• 848 Students
• 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Oak Middle School

• Los Alamitos Unified School District, CA
• 6-8
• 6

Alum: Oak did a wonderful job preparing me for high school. The teacher do a great job of not only preparing you for high school level curriculum, but going above the expectation. The only downside is that all of the students have grown up together attending the same elentary schools in the district, so it may be hard for transfer students to jump in right away. I enjoyed my time here and I am grateful for the efforts that the teachers and staff have devoted into us as students!
Read 6 Reviews

• A

• 1,130 Students
• 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

South Pasadena Middle School

• South Pasadena Unified School District, CA
• 6-8
• 2

Middle School Student: It is a very diverse and warm environment. Everyone always seems happy. The teachers do a great job teaching and everyone seems to know each other.
Read 2 Reviews

• A

• 1,098 Students
• 23:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Chaparral Middle School

• Walnut Valley Unified School District, CA
• 6-8

• A

• 1,212 Students
• 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Larchmont Charter School

• Los Angeles Unified School District, CA
• K-12
• 59

Junior: I have attended Larchmont since second grade and I can say that I am glad that I chose to stay. Of course, like every other school, Larchmont has its up and downs but this school has provided me with so much more that i could ever imagine. It has helped me build my confidence and social skills as well as find comfort and almost a home-y feel within. As a low income student, the school also makes opportunities very accessible. The teachers are also a delight and incredibly intelligent. Yes, favoritism is prominent but the reason as to why you might attend a smaller school is to be able to interact and befriend your teachers in order to gain all the knowledge you can. If you much rather want to learn through lectures from aloof teachers, go someplace else. Nevertheless, Larchmont still lacks of many things as it is still developing but faculty has recently been taking action especially things regarding the recent horrifying events within our nation and I very much appreciate that.
Read 59 Reviews

• A

• 1,424 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Suzanne Middle School

• Walnut Valley Unified School District, CA
• 6-8

• A

• 1,307 Students
• 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Thurston Middle School

• Laguna Beach Unified School District, CA
• 6-8
• 6

Niche User: As far as middle schools go, Thurston is pretty great! It's made the transition from Elementary School to High School very easy.
Read 6 Reviews

• A

• 721 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio