2024 Best Public Middle Schools in Sunset Park

• Los Angeles Unified, CA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.2 out of 5  65 reviews

Junior: I have been at GALA since 6th Grade (now 11th), I am always challenged academically and feel I have a very strong support system from my teachers, counselors, and friends. I have enjoyed all the STEM focused classes, along with a variety of AP or on level classes that's offered. While students come from all over LAUSD (yay to having bus transportation!), it makes going to school a lot easier for a lot of families and there is definitely a close knit community vibe here at GALA!... Read 65 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 735

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Los Angeles Unified, CA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  453 reviews

Junior: The school is predominantly filled with middle-class people and the facilities are a little dirty, however, the academics make up for it since we offer 26 AP classes and have around 70 student-run clubs which can allow you to learn about different subjects and engage. We also offer sports however we aren't really known for them.... Read 453 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,463

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Los Angeles, CA•

• Public School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  94 reviews

Senior: Larchmont is a great school that offers students with many opportunities within the STEM field. It has many clubs such as GEAR, HALO, Science Olympiad, Robotics, Vex Team, and many more.... Read 94 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,609

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, CA•

• K-8

• grade A+

• Students 333

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Los Angeles, CA•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  45 reviews

Senior: When I started at Renaissance Arts Academy in 6th grade, I had realized it was much more different and unusual than typical schools. At Renaissance Arts, our grade levels are mixed resulting in a variety of inclusive academic thoughts and conversations between grades 6th through 12th. Because our school does not have interior walls, conversations held are shared with others, drawing connections between the scholars' academic perspectives towards each subject. I have grown through becoming normalized to being surrounded by older scholars, (since 6th grade) and being able to engage in mature, complex, and diverse environments and conversations.... Read 45 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 505

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Los Angeles Unified, CA•

• 4-12

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  429 reviews

Senior: The SOCES is a mixed bag of positives and negatives. On the upside, the school boasts a dedicated faculty, with passionate teachers who go the extra mile to ensure student success. The small class sizes foster a more personalized learning experience, allowing for meaningful teacher-student interactions. The campus is well-maintained, providing a conducive environment for learning and extracurricular activities. However, on the downside, the school falls short in terms of technological infrastructure. Outdated computers and limited access to online resources hinder the integration of modern teaching methods. Additionally, the extracurricular offerings are somewhat limited, leaving students with fewer opportunities to explore diverse interests outside the classroom. Despite these drawbacks, the school's commitment to fostering a sense of community is commendable. Regular events and parent-teacher interactions contribute to a supportive and inclusive atmosphere.... Read 429 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,901

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Los Angeles Unified, CA•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  44 reviews

Senior: Since Lake Balboa College Prep is a tiny school, all students and faculty get to know each other. With a K-12 school, students can graduate with the same friends they made in Kindergarten.... Read 44 reviews

• grade A

• Students 587

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Los Angeles, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 4.74 out of 5  43 reviews

Parent: International community and staff, IB curriculum, excellent teachers and administration, beautiful garden. Yes, the classroom buildings could have been beautiful, but one can't have everything. It has all a private school could offer but is free.... Read 43 reviews

• grade A

• Students 391

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Los Angeles, CA•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  51 reviews

Senior: My experience with New West Charter school was relatively positive. The school isn't too large and the classes are much smaller compared to other schools, giving students the opportunity for a better education as the teachers could focus on them more. However, there were some issues in administration such as the inability to cater to students having a difficult time outside of school. A student I was familiar with was having mental issues and had to be taken to a treatment facility. The school knowing of their situation, did not do an adequate job in accommodating the student. That being said, I would like for New West Charter to be more accommodating to it's students with issues in the future.... Read 51 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,041

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• grade A

• Students 851

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Los Angeles, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 4.76 out of 5  17 reviews

Parent: Citizens of the World has an incredible culture of warmth, welcome and belonging. I have two students at CWC and we have been at the school for the last 6 years. When I walk onto the campus I always feel a deep connection that students have with one another, with their teachers and the staff. My kids genuinely enjoy going to school every day. They are believed in and feel safe and confident in the community. I am particularly impressed by the writing that my kids have done in each grade. It fosters such a love for writing and a creative spirit. I also love the tools my kids have learned for their social and emotional skills. One more highlight is the cultural celebrations that happen throughout the year! They are always so much fun and a great way to connect with other families. I am looking forward to the new building opening up for the upper grades and middle school as I think this will be a huge resource and offer greater space for learning and activities.... Read 17 reviews

• grade A

• Students 555

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Los Angeles, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 4.67 out of 5  12 reviews

Parent: We couldn't be happier as members of the incredible WISH community. The parent involvement is second to none; the curriculum is the perfect mix of rigorous, progressive and fun; and the teachers and staff members are enthusiastic, nurturing, and truly gifted at what they do. We feel so lucky to have found such a warm educational environment in the vast sprawl of LA, and we have no doubt that every student who enters those hallways will leave fully prepared to become a meaningful contributor to society with a real zest for lifelong learning.... Read 12 reviews

• grade A

• Students 775

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Los Angeles, CA•

• Public School•

• 5-8

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  14 reviews

Parent: I love how the school and teachers instill the love of learning and hard work on their students. I would like to see this school expanding their space since it's a little small and maybe offer a wider variety of sports and other after school activities. Another great asset to this school is that they start working with a Counselor on 7th grade to help them pick the best High School suited to their career goals if they already know what they want to become and this Conselours follow them through all the way to College.... Read 14 reviews

• grade A

• Students 514

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Los Angeles, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Parent: Ocean Charter School graduates kind, empathic students who go to high school not only fully prepared academically, but brimming with creativity and the ability and confidence to think independently.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 547

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Los Angeles, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 4.81 out of 5  16 reviews

Parent: We have a very good experience with this school and would love to continue attending in this school. I can see a great improvement to my child's social life and academic wise.... Read 16 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 798

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Carson, CA•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  49 reviews

Senior: I’ve been at MSA-3 since middle school so I’ve seen a lot change over the years especially teachers and faculty. Some were good things and some were bad. The longer you’ve been in one place the more you start to realize that you’re getting older and you start to understand things more. Something I really like at MSA-3 is the teacher and how there’s very little students in each class. It’s a great way to create bonds with everyone good relationship with the teachers. Some things I would like to see change is the way everyone and by everyone I mean faculty talk and communicates with each other. There’s not really very much communication and when something needs to be taken care of quickly it’s done without care.... Read 49 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 417

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Los Angeles, CA•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  512 reviews

Senior: Alliance gertz ressler high school is an amazing school that I would recommend to anyone! Such a great community and caring staff, teachers, admin, counselors etc. I personally had an amazing school experience being at gertz.... Read 512 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,003

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Huntington Park, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Middle school student: I first entered Comienza during my 6th-grade year. In my opinion, it was the best middle school option available to my family. Teachers were always willing to assist students and encourage them to ask questions, staff and custodians were friendly and hardworking, and admin/ops took incidents like fights and threats within the community very seriously. Academics-wise, there is a great effort to encourage independent thinking but too many accommodations like endless retakes and weeks to finish 1 test. As for the students, the majority are nice kids who have attended the school for their entire lives. Some kids are meaner, as expected per middle schoolers, but there is support in the case of bullying. Lunch is hit or miss but it's free and offered by a third-party service. Recently, there seems to be a greater effort to bring the school community together with fun activities like the quarterly crush parties, which improve each year, and themed dances with catering and live music.... Read 1 review

• grade A minus

• Students 1,048

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Chatsworth, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  3 reviews

Parent: My children have been at OCS for 7 years now and we could not feel luckier to have won the lottery for them to be there. It is truly a special place with a community feel. We love the small class sizes, incredible teachers and administration, and whole child philosophy. They utilize Responsive Classroom and it gives a cohesive approach to classroom management and building relationships. My children have been challenged to take ownership of their learning and are motivated to always do more. They love school and are sad to ever miss it. Throughout covid they have been thoughtful about their approach and have worked hard to make sure to meet the needs of the children and families in the best way possible.... Read 3 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 414

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• North Hollywood, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• grade A minus

• Students 355

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Los Angeles, CA•

• Public School•

• 4-8

• •
  Rating 3 out of 5  1 review

• grade A minus

• Students 289

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Reseda, CA•

• Public School•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 4.8 out of 5  5 reviews

Parent: I think the school is the closest you can get to a private school while being a free public charter middle school. The school’s use of the Merit/Demerit system, use of dress code, a large support staff, and strict adherence to rules and appropriate consequences when children don’t, makes it an extremely safe and enables the children to focus on studies. Their novel approach to instruction accommodates children who may struggles but also challenges those who are more advanced using a tiered structure with 4-5 levels per grade. The levels teach the same material but have more in-class assistance and move at varying paces. I really like the After School Program (ASP), since it’s not just a child-care service. It offers multiple clubs such as cooking, robotics, sports, and others. Their sports teams include soccer, flag football, and basketball with teams traveling locally by bus to compete. They provide serious homework support, and student-athletes have mandatory homework time.... Read 5 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 415

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Los Angeles, CA•

• Public School•

• 5-8

• grade B+

• Students 501

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Los Angeles, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 4.67 out of 5  3 reviews

Alum: Overall, I loved my time at Gabriella Charter School. The school has made a supportive and loving community. Teachers at school make the learning fun and know how to engage students. During my time at the school, I had several teachers I knew I could talk to about more then just school work. I also loved how the school had several ways for students to display their creativity. The school allowed me to find my love for dance and continue dancing for several years. The school also holds a variety of events for students of all ages to get to know one another and become a closer community.... Read 3 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 437

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Lake View Terrace, CA•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.25 out of 5  4 reviews

Alum: Amazing schools with emphasized on academics and growth before high school. It allowed me to be ready for high school both academically and mentally... Read 4 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 813

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1