Beta You're viewing our redesigned school list. Prefer the classic layout?

Best Middle Schools in Los Angeles, CA


At a glance
77
Schools
42,660
Students
39
Districts
1
5-star school
Top rankedPaul Revere Charter Middle239th of 2,761 California middle schools
Biggest riser
Katherine Johnson STEM Academy up 680 spots statewide this year
Smallest classes
Audubon Middle 13.1 students per teacher
SchoolDigger ratings
4★
3★
2★
1★
Summary:

This analysis examines 77 middle schools serving grades 6-8 within the city of Los Angeles Unified and various independent charter districts, revealing a diverse educational landscape with significant variation in performance and resources.

Parents will find a wide range of school options, with standout performers including Paul Revere Charter Middle (ranking in the 91st percentile statewide) and high-achieving schools serving high-need communities like ICEF Vista Middle Academy. Schools with specialized magnet programs, such as the Thomas Starr King Middle School Film and Media Magnet, also show strong results. In contrast, schools like TEACH Academy of Technologies and Bret Harte Preparatory Middle face considerable challenges, with very low test proficiency and high chronic absenteeism rates.

Key insights show that higher per-student spending does not guarantee better outcomes, and chronic absenteeism is a strong predictor of academic performance. The average middle school in Los Angeles has a high percentage of students eligible for free/reduced lunch (86.4%), and most schools perform below state averages in English, math, and science. The data suggests that effective school models, whether charter or traditional, can achieve success across different community contexts, with factors like consistent attendance and specialized programming playing crucial roles.

Ranking:
Map legend
E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private





Cities Near Los Angeles

See the top CA California cities

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





Diagnostics