Middle Schools in Fresno Unified

Fresno Unified serves middle school students through 14 schools, primarily covering grades 7-8, in a large Central Valley district where most schools face significant economic challenges, with free and reduced lunch rates often exceeding 85%.

The district's standout school is Edison Computech, which achieves exceptional state test scores and has very low chronic absenteeism, making it the top performer. Baird Middle is another strong school with the district's lowest chronic absenteeism rate. In contrast, schools like Rutherford B. Gaston Senior Middle and Fort Miller Middle are facing severe academic challenges, with proficiency rates far below state averages and some of the highest chronic absenteeism in the district.

Overall, Fresno Unified middle schools trail state averages in all core subjects, with science proficiency being a particular area of concern. There is a clear link between high chronic absenteeism and lower academic performance across the district. Interestingly, some of the highest-funded schools, such as Tehipite Middle, are among the lowest performers, while top schools like Edison Computech operate with more average spending, suggesting that how resources are used is as important as the amount.