Summary:
Temecula has five middle schools serving grades 6–8, and their 2025–2026 results are above California’s state results on average in English language arts (ELA), math and science. The five-school averages were 59% in ELA, 49% in math and 52% in science, compared with state results of 49%, 38% and 36%. But the schools’ results vary, especially in math: four schools scored above the state, while Margarita Middle was 2 points below. The main takeaway is that the group performs above state levels overall, but families will find meaningful differences from school to school.
Temecula Middle stands out in ELA and math, leading the all-grade results at 65% and 62%; its math score was 10 points above the runner-up. Erle Stanley Gardner Middle led science at 61%, narrowly ahead of Temecula, and had the group’s highest grade 8 ELA result, 74%. At the other end, Margarita had the lowest all-grade score in each subject: 53% in ELA, 37% in math and 43% in science. Its math result was 13 points below the five-school average, though its ELA and science scores were above the state results. Grade-level leaders also differ: Vail Ranch Middle led grade 7 ELA, while Temecula led math in every grade.
Recent changes are mixed: the five-school average fell 2 points in ELA from 2024–2025 to 2025–2026, while it rose 1 point in math and 4 in science. James L. Day Middle declined in all three subjects; Margarita improved by 7 points in ELA, 6 in math and 7 in science. SchoolDigger ranks provide another perspective: Temecula ranked 313 of 2,703 schools and had 4 stars, while Margarita ranked 926 and had 3 stars; its rank improved from 1,167 the prior year. Income figures are context, not an explanation: in 2024–2025, 26% of Temecula students and 27% of Vail Ranch students were free/reduced lunch eligible, yet Temecula scored higher by 9 points in ELA, 12 in math and 13 in science.
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