2024 Best Public Middle Schools in Arizona

• Tucson, AZ•

• Public School•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  63 reviews

Senior: BASIS Tucson North is overall an amazing school, with so many opportunities for preparation for college. However, there seems to be a disconnect between the administration and students, which can lead to issues such as a strict technology policy that makes classes such as AP research much more difficult than they should be. Also, the school is great in terms of its STEM and history classes, in which the amazing teachers keep classes engaging and help students actually learn the material. I am so lucky to have been at BASIS for the past years as my school.... Read 63 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 863

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Phoenix, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  77 reviews

Sophomore: Basis Phoenix is a school that provides challenging coursework with many resources for students to learn and advance individually. They provide a wide selection of electives for students to delve deeper into their areas of interest and offer unique extracurriculars such as an advocacy and astronomy club. This school is just the right fit for students who hope to challenge themselves. However, one thing the school could improve on is its events. For example, having more well-planned award ceremonies and school dances.... Read 77 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 730

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Scottsdale, AZ•

• Public School•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  122 reviews

Senior: My overall experience for this school is fairly positive I feel like every since I entered in fifth grade there have been changes for the better and changes for the worst. Amount of students are fairly larger at the lower grades and they begin to dwindle down as you get into higher grades and the courses become more rigorous and demanding of you. Because of this, all the students that remain are all very competitive with each other which is both good and bad, it helps foster growth and improvement but it also creates an environment that perpetually gatekept by a certain number of students that have just all the top positions and whatever they don’t have they just help their friends get it and this blatant bias is something I don’t unfortunately see going away anytime soon.... Read 122 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,057

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Mesa, AZ•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  57 reviews

Parent: As a parent of kids with different personalities, different interests, and different learning styles, I can honestly say that Basis Mesa has been the best decision we ever made for our children’s education. The teachers and administrators are committed to each child’s success. The curriculum is academically rigorous, but it is balanced by a fun learning environment. My kids were bored at public schools, weren’t being challenged, and their love of learning started to wane. They’ve thrived at Basis Mesa. However, this school is not a magic pill and will not miraculously turn uninterested students into child geniuses. If the students, with the support of their families, are willing to study and put in the hard work, they will be very successful. And, yes, they have sports, clubs, dances, etc., but it is a small school, so everything is done on a smaller scale. If you truly value a quality education for your children, this is the place to be.... Read 57 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 808

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Oro Valley, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  99 reviews

Junior: I think that if I went to any other school, I wouldn’t have the same teacher-student relationship as I do here. Due to the smaller class size, teachers are able to connect more with your students, and they are fully able to show just how much that they care. There’s also additional hours reserved for students who need extra help with assignments, and plenty of accommodations for those who are struggling to learn. My only complaint would be the lack of funding for extracurriculars and social gatherings, but I know that they plan on making a dedicated group of students to help create better events in the future.... Read 99 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 575

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Online School•

• Deer Valley Unified School District, AZ•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Senior: The Deer Valley Online Learning Program is great. The teachers are easy to contact and the staff is very helpful if there are any problems. However, I wish there was more interaction with the teachers and the students. I do not know my teachers at all as well with my classmates.... Read 1 review

• grade A+

• Students 370

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Phoenix, AZ•

• Public School•

• 4-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  44 reviews

Junior: I have been a student at Basis Ahwatukee since 2016 and I will be extremely sad to leave this school at my graduation. From elementary, all the way through middle school, and finally in highschool, this school has helped me grow and develop into the person I now am. I am proud to call myself a student at this school. The teachers get to know each and every one of their students so well, keeping up to everyone's individual needs, the curriculum is challenging and brings out the full potential of everyone in class. A sense of unity is built within the students, a sense that every student is in it together, building a strong community within the grade levels. I highly recommend this school and I believe my experience at this school could not ever be surpassed by any other.... Read 44 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 720

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Chandler, AZ•

• Public School•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  75 reviews

Parent: We have been a BASIS Chandler family for 2.5 years and we have had a great experience. The teachers and administration work so hard to give our kids the best opportunities and education, and the teachers are passionate about their field and their students. It's really fun to see how much our kids learn and grow, thanks to the support they have from this school! It's a family effort, but we love being a part of the BASIS community.... Read 75 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,154

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Peoria, AZ•

• Public School•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  86 reviews

Junior: The school itself is pretty focused on academics and rigorous courses. It has plenty of available APs you can take and most of the teachers are great. However, sometimes if you put a lot on your plate, the work-life balance can be a little rough. Also, the school itself isn't your typical high school, where it's only 9-12th grades, but it also has all of middle school as well. So with the extra people with the building itself it's kind of crowded at times, but at the same time it's also good because you get to know everyone even if you're not in the same grade. Recently, we've also started a student council, so now there's going to be a lot more student-led events and changes being made, so it should be a nice pace of change. Honestly, the thing I'd really like to be improved is the extracurriculars, there's a wonderful Speech and Debate team (ranked #1 in Arizona), but maybe more options and a larger focus on some of the other clubs and emphasis on them.... Read 86 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 943

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Tempe, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  135 reviews

Senior: I attended TPA from grades 6-12 and loved it! It prepared me for college and guided me through the application process, helping me find success. On top of this, my time at TPA built long-lasting friendships and I always felt supported by a strong community.... Read 135 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 447

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Scottsdale, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  80 reviews

Alum: My experience at Scottsdale Preparatory Academy was excellent. Both the students and teachers there are great and are always able to provide support whenever it is needed. The rigorous nature of this school's liberal arts education was, by far, the most challenging aspect of my experience at this school, yet it was instrumental in maturing my mind, body, and spirit. Additionally, this school prepares you outstandingly for university education through its difficult curriculum and overall structure. If I had to change anything, I would allow students greater opportunities to focus on athletics, extracurriculars, and professional jobs outside of school through decreasing the work load.... Read 80 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 851

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Chandler, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.26 out of 5  95 reviews

Sophomore: Chandler Prep is an amazing school that I believe offers academics and college prep you can find in Arizona. Although the curriculum is more advanced, the smaller class sizes, diverse tutoring schedules, and mixed teaching styles ensure that every student has an opportunity for success. Chandler Prep is strong academically, however, it lacks many "classic" high school aspects. By that I mean dances are small and low-budget, minimal varieties for clubs or electives and no-cut sports teams. Chandler Prep students will be academically strong and prepared for anything the future holds for them, however, they will miss out on many of the experiences that made high school so memorable.... Read 95 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 694

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Flagstaff, AZ•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  66 reviews

Senior: I have been at this school since 6th grade and I love it! It can definitely be very academically challenging, but that is one of my favorite parts about it. The teachers are always pushing students to do our best work and reach our full potential. I feel that I am being prepared for college very well in my final year of high school, and I love all of the courses that are being offered senior year. Despite our rigorous academics, our school culture is not overly competitive, and we all support each other, especially when it comes to college applications senior year. Although I wouldn't say that BASIS Flagstaff has great programs when it comes to sports and arts, I have still participated in and thoroughly enjoyed both. If you are interested in a high school with a lot of school spirit, especially surrounding sports, I would not recommend BASIS Flagstaff. We also tend to have a few issues surrounding administrative organization, but overall, I still love this school!... Read 66 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 785

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Mesa, AZ•

• Public School•

• K-7

• grade A+

• Students 252

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Gilbert, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.24 out of 5  80 reviews

Senior: I love how with this curriculum, we are able to learn more about the “why” behind things. This is present in almost every class, examples being the socratic seminars we have, or the way we go about learning math through exeter, and the labs we do in science, etc. This allows us to grasp a deeper and more meaningful understanding of various topics. And we are also able to establish a better relationship with our teachers because of it, but also due to the small class sizes and which teachers they hire. I just wish we had more opportunities to chose which classes we can take as well as a greater variety of classes to chose from.... Read 80 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 550

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Tucson, AZ•

• Public School•

• PK, K-8

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  9 reviews

Parent: Hermosa Montessori has been an incredible blessing to our family. Our children have been so happy, and have been enjoying a wonderful education, and community through their school years at Hermosa. They have learned many valuable lessons through work, friendships, and a caring community of teachers and students. The school has also more than prepared them for their highschool years after graduating from Hermosa. We love this school!... Read 9 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 196

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Scottsdale, AZ•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 4.6 out of 5  10 reviews

Parent: This school has been incredible for our children! The small class sizes allow the teachers to be able to focus on individual needs and provide an education I haven't seen elsewhere. The teachers actually care about their students and put an unbelievable amount of effort into their curriculum. We have been so impressed with everything our children have learned in this environment. The students are respectful of each other, the staff and they are very comfortable being themselves here. Love this place!... Read 10 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 145

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Tempe, AZ•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 4.75 out of 5  4 reviews

Parent: CEE has been a wonderful school for my children. Its a diverse school where the culture is inclusion and classmates are supportive and kind. They cater to all skill levels and allow a child to do accelerated work if they are needing more of a challenge than what is offered at their grade level. The teachers have been really wonderful and my kids are thriving here. We transferred from a district school where bullying was a problem and the district school would not help the situation. Now at CEE for 3 years, my children feel safe, supported, and are happy kids who love to attend school each day.... Read 4 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 312

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Phoenix, AZ•

• Public School•

• PK, K-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  9 reviews

Parent: I have a Preschooler and a Kindergartner at Valley Academy. The preschool program prepared both of my kids for kindergarten very well. They were both reading small words by the beginning on kinder and fluently by winter break. The teachers are very responsive and kept me informed with my child’s progress.... Read 9 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 685

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Phoenix, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  74 reviews

Parent: Our son is in his first year at Veritas in 9th grade and he has attended the school for a month and a half. I can say at this time with certainty that this is truly an excellent school. Great communication with teachers and the school at large. We have received helpful feedback from all of this teachers. I can attest the teachers he has are all top-notch as in early September we attended a parents night where we went through his schedule as if we were our son. We had twenty minute classes with each teacher with parents of other students in the classroom. Without exception all five of his teachers are very engaging, organized, and know what they are doing.... Read 74 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 792

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Peoria, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.39 out of 5  77 reviews

Senior: Great hearts has a student and parent culture that is felt and respected by families inside and outside of our school. We care about each other and who we want to become. Teachers create a relationships with us teaching us more than book learning but ways to be the best we can be. We get to experience great literature, the arts, core virtues, and taught the ability to think, comprehend, and share in our many seminar classes. We get to share values with our peers and work together with encouragement. I would like to say they have taught us to have great virtue in day to day circumstances.... Read 77 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 593

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Phoenix, AZ•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  80 reviews

Parent: Anthem Prep is great for many reasons....class size, leading to individual attention. The structure of the teaching including the classic model/socratic learning is refreshing in this day. They really focus on education, ..all the other distractions are kept at bay. Keeps kids focused on what they are there for...getting an education!... Read 80 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,022

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Mesa, AZ•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 4.31 out of 5  13 reviews

Parent: The academic foundation provided to SDA students is exceptional. The students are well prepared for high school and beyond. My daughter attended SDA since Kindergarten. Her transition to high school went well because of the academic foundation and organizational and study skills provided to her by SDA teachers and staff. Also, through the after school club program, she developed a love for dance. Her love of dance has continued in high school too. We have such fond memories of her time at SDA!... Read 13 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 422

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Goodyear, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  16 reviews

Parent: As a parent with children in the 6th and 9th grades at BASIS Goodyear, having experienced eight years at the school, I am overall very impressed. The academic rigor is exceptional, with skilled teachers who are deeply invested in student success. The curriculum is challenging, fostering a robust educational foundation. The school's administration is efficient and communicative, ensuring parents are well-informed and concerns are addressed promptly. However, the school could enhance its offerings by expanding the range of clubs and extracurricular activities, which would provide students with more diverse opportunities for growth and exploration. Additionally, greater family involvement would be beneficial, fostering a more inclusive community atmosphere. Despite these areas for growth, BASIS Goodyear is highly recommended for families seeking an academically challenging and enriching environment for their children.... Read 16 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 269

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Tempe, AZ•

• Online School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.58 out of 5  128 reviews

Parent: ASU Prep Digital makes learning fun through various engaging programs, quality education provided with adaptive programs, many resources, and amazing teachers, LSCs and administration. They are all extremely supportive, friendly, and encouraging. They want to help students succeed! We especially like the daily live class times with teachers and fellow classmates, the weekly sessions with our LSC, the regular check-ins from our teacher and LSC, and the positive praise and quick teacher feedback on assignments. We appreciate all personalized learning, in-person meetups, 1:1 interactions with teachers, fun projects, learning pods, and the flexibility to take brain breaks throughout the day. We also have the ability to include other educational activities to help our child thrive as needed. Our child also enjoys specials and has participated in a club each year. We love being informed in our child's education and having it all organized and planned out in each weekly Playlist.... Read 128 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 3,185

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1