2023 Best Public Middle Schools in the Los Angeles Area

• Riverside Unified School District, CA•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 4.28 out of 5  54 reviews

Sophomore: My experience with Riverside STEM Academy has been very rigorous and inspiring so far. Attending since 5th grade, the teachers are very supportive, ensuring your success through very thorough explanations whenever you ask a question. Additionally, though the work is very demanding and rigorous, there is always the feeling of self-satisfaction in getting a project done. As we are partnered with UCR, research and extracurricular activities, especially during the summer are plentiful and recommended. A close-knit community, Riverside STEM Academy is a place for those wishing to pursue a better future for themselves and their family. It is a place that unless you are willing to put 100%, you will not enjoy it.... Read 54 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 655

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Los Angeles Unified School District, CA•

• 6-11

• •
  Rating 4.53 out of 5  15 reviews

Senior: The Science Academy STEM Magnet is a perfect school for students interested in STEM. With a rigorous curriculum filled with college, AP, and honors level classes, attending this school will give students one of the best STEM-focused educations they could possibly receive. Unfortunately, the school lacks in the arts and humanities department, with little opportunity for electives and a lack of freedom in choosing courses. As someone who has realized they don’t want to go into a STEM field, and instead want to pursue film, this makes me wonder if attending this school was the right decision. Especially, because the social life is nothing like “the typical high school experience” that incoming students have seen in films and may desire to have. There is also not much school spirit or participation in sports, though I’ve been working to reverse that this year holding the new position of Commissioner of Athletics. With state-of-the-art technology and facilities, STEM kids will love it here... Read 15 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 386

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Granada Hills, CA•

• Public School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  1,469 reviews

Freshman: Granada Hills Charter has been a rather pleasant experience. I feel very safe, and the school culture is very friendly. Some teachers are pretty alright, but some aren't good at teaching or too strict. There's a lot of different clubs that you can join, and the school sports teams are really good. The school food is probably one of the best, and the school programs are quality as well. The CP and Honors classes aren't difficult, and there's a broad selection of AP classes! There's a lot of webinars and parental involvement in this school. There's a lot of bathrooms since it's such a big campus, but most of them are closed due to vaping.... Read 1,469 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 5,462

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Los Angeles Unified School District, CA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  442 reviews

Freshman: Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies is an extremely resourceful and student-friendly school. The system is set up to allow for the highest success rate for students. All A-G requirements for all colleges are met as standard classes at LACES. The school has an extremely kind and caring mental health expert who listens to students' issues on a daily basis. She has helped students deal with their problems. Furthermore, each grade level is assigned a counselor who regularly meets with the students to discuss their well-thought-out plan for college. I have personally found the school to be extremely helpful for students of all types. Additionally, the teachers are outstanding. They are kind and use creative methods of teaching to help engage with the students. Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies is a resourceful and student-friendly school that offers support in every area.... Read 442 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,635

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Irvine Unified School District, CA•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  5 reviews

Middle School Student: GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB!... Read 5 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 462

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Los Angeles Unified School District, CA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  46 reviews

Sophomore: I love GALA because of its rigorous academics, close-knit community, and its dedication to college prep. Although I know this school is STEM focused, I'd love to see more arts implemented in the future. I also love the amount of AP classes they offer, even for freshmen!... Read 46 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 635

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• San Marino Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 4.13 out of 5  16 reviews

Parent: My kids have thrived at Huntington Middle School. Most importantly, the caliber of their peers and classmates have positively contributed to my children' attitude and enthusiasm for learning. The community's collective focus is aligned to excellence. The people and schools in SMUSD are true gems in California!... Read 16 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 656

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Hemet Unified School District, CA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.57 out of 5  54 reviews

Senior: Western Center Academy is a comfortable, curiosity fueled charter school that truly shows what it is to be a teacher. As a student, I have always felt listened to completely by my teachers. They've done a fantastic job at teaching us how to be college ready; telling us where we can look for help, given us free opportunities to take expensive exams, and keep us interested in our learning environment. I've had the opportunity to take both woodshop classes and advanced physics, on a campus full of dedicated educators and delightful students. Though it has no sports programs on campus, any parent looking for a charter in south CA, this is your school!... Read 54 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 728

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• South Pasadena Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  4 reviews

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 4 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,176

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Arcadia Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 3.45 out of 5  11 reviews

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 11 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 686

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Irvine Unified School District, CA•

• 7-8

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  3 reviews

Parent: The school has lots of unique electives and great academic activities. The school offers really good physical education .... Read 3 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 464

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Los Angeles, CA•

• Public School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.13 out of 5  91 reviews

Parent: Our child has been at Larchmont since kinder and has thrived. He went to the elementary Fairfax campus, a smaller campus with spacious classrooms, and he has loved the bigger Selma campus too. The leadership works hard to create an accessible and friendly atmosphere for the students and parents so there is a strong sense of community. The admin is collaborative and value parent input. The teachers are nurturing and attentive and know when to give students more help or more of a challenge. There are many enrichment classes (art, music, gardening, sports teams, band), a social-emotional curriculum and clubs. Most kids eat the (optional) lunch prepared in the Fairfax kitchen and is SO good. At Selma, our child has delved deeper into academics and developed new interests like government and digital media in clubs. We have seen his intellectual curiosity and independence grow and we look forward to the La Fayette Campus!... Read 91 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,581

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Irvine Unified School District, CA•

• 7-8

• •
  Rating 4.63 out of 5  8 reviews

Alum: Jeffrey Trail Middle School offered many opportunities for those pursuing a higher level, rigorous school in areas like science and technology. They had many events and teams such as Science Olympiad, robotics team, and those corresponding competitions, as well as events in other fields such as speech and debate. It was an overall amazing experience to transition into a high school environment n the years to follow.... Read 8 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 608

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Los Angeles, CA•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  48 reviews

Junior: As I prepare for the upcoming school year and reflect on my sophomore year experiences, my heart can't help but feel overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. After completing my first year of high school in Honduras, thoughts regarding how welcoming the new environment I would encounter clouded my mind. As a first-generation student entering a traditional US high school, my hopes were that teachers and staff would aim to support me despite obvious academic differences between me and my classmates, the students whom I had difficulty connecting with at first. Nonetheless, my original expectations were completely surpassed once I began having meaningful interactions with the teachers and staff. Not only did they help me realize having a different background is an advantage when it comes to acquiring a unique perspective, but they also helped me embrace and show pride in it. New west has encouraged me to build a strong and empowering character, one where my differences stand out proudly.... Read 48 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,043

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Irvine Unified School District, CA•

• 7-8

• •
  Rating 2 out of 5  1 review

• grade A+

• Students 395

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 3 out of 5  3 reviews

Parent: It is a very cool school but I don’t know if I should send my second child there but overall a nice school... Read 3 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 768

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Irvine Unified School District, CA•

• 7-8

• •
  Rating 4.67 out of 5  3 reviews

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

• grade A+

• Students 452

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• grade A+

• Students 1,054

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Lake Forest, CA•

• Public School•

• PK, K-8

• •
  Rating 4.7 out of 5  20 reviews

Parent: Since we began school in the middle of a pandemic, the staff and administration have been super communicative helpful and supportive! They are organized, and when something is not working, they make adjustments. It is a learning curve for everyone, and they have been great.... Read 20 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 646

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Arcadia Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Middle School Student: Dana was amazing! The teachers there help me grow a lot and they are excellent. It’s very clean and safe there. It’s full of amazing people, though they could change a few teachers.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 668

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Arcadia Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  3 reviews

Middle School Student: I honestly loved First Ave even though I only went there for 3 weeks. The teachers and students are really nice and outgoing. Some things I absolutely LOVE is the Snack Shack! IT'S AMAZING!!! That shack is was the best block of building in the entire school. One thing that I would change is NOTHING!! IT'S AWESOME!!... Read 3 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 756

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Redondo Beach Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  6 reviews

Parent: Middle school years are a hard transition. Adams Middle school has supported my children, they have amazing teacher, diversity and culture. They prepare kids for the transition to high school and keep them college minded. We feel so fortunate to be at Adams and in the RBUSD.... Read 6 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,054

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  3 reviews

Parent: I thought I'd update a review since the last one was many years ago. Ridgecrest still deserves 4.5 - 5 stars in my opinion. Both my kids went there - good teachers for the most part, rigorous curriculum...the only thing we experienced with one of our kids is too much homework, so it depends on which teachers you get, I guess. Its middle school so before you know it, they've graduated!... Read 3 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 873

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Mission Viejo, CA•

• Public School•

• PK, K-8

• •
  Rating 4.5 out of 5  18 reviews

Parent: I had two boys attend school at OPA-SOC and I wholeheartedly recommend this school! The educational philosophy they adhere to, Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences, is top notch. My boys were exposed to and developed strengths in multiple learning and teaching methods, which has sent them off to their next schools extremely well prepared. They were challenged academically and supported emotionally by their teachers, the support staff, and their peers. I am grateful for the time my boys got to spend at OPA-SOC and I feel that they are better from having been there.... Read 18 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 827

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Irvine Unified School District, CA•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 4.11 out of 5  9 reviews

Parent: The school is so big, I think the school has a great PE coach, but the food, not so much. This is one thing they should improve.... Read 9 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 479

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1