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Van Nuys Middle

Q: Is Van Nuys Middle a good school?

Van Nuys Middle ranks 1583 rd of 2761 California middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

1583^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,761 California Middle Schools

Better than 43% of California middle schools

Summary

Van Nuys Middle is a public middle school serving grades 6-8 in the Los Angeles Unified School District, with 803 students. Despite its large district, Van Nuys Middle has consistently ranked in the bottom half of California middle schools over the past decade, with a ranking between 1,775 and 2,384 out of around 2,500 schools.

Van Nuys Middle faces significant challenges, including low academic achievement, high chronic absenteeism, and a high-poverty student population. The school's test scores consistently underperform the district and state averages, with only 40.34% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts/Literacy and just 24.57% proficient in math. Additionally, Van Nuys Middle has very high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 20.4% to 30.8% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the district and state averages. The school also has an extremely high percentage of students (over 90%) who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high-poverty student population.

While Van Nuys Middle benefits from a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 17:1, the school's academic outcomes remain poor, suggesting that the district may not be effectively allocating resources to address the unique needs of this high-poverty, underperforming school. Nearby schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District, such as William Mulholland Middle and Vista Middle, have similar performance profiles, while the charter schools in the area, like Louis Armstrong Middle and High Technical LA Middle, tend to outperform the traditional public schools.

726

Students ?

17.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$23,522

Per pupil spending ?

92.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5435 Vesper Ave.
Van Nuys, CA 91411-3738

(818) 267-5900

District: Los Angeles Unified

Students who attend Van Nuys Middle usually attend:

High:

Van Nuys Senior High

Feeder schools for Van Nuys Middle:

Elementary:	Chandler Elementary
	Kester Avenue Elementary
	Sherman Oaks Elementary Charter
	Sylvan Park Elementary
	More...
	Van Nuys Elementary

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

85.4%

White:

7.0%

African American:

3.0%

See top rated California middle schools

Compare Van Nuys Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 25th percentile in 2013 → 43rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 18 percentile points since 2013

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (31% vs 41% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (29% vs 19% California)

!Mathematics scores 13 pts below the California average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school31%

District avg39%

California avg41%

1,583^rd of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Bottom 43%▲ up 23 pts since 2015

From bottom 20% (2015) to bottom 43% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

37^th of 83Middle Schools in the Los Angeles Unified

791^st of 1,543Los Angeles Unified among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	37.0	1583 of 2761	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.1	1663 of 2783	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	27.7	1912 of 2781	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	22.4	2111 of 2740	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	15.0	2384 of 2715	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.1	2072 of 2480	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	16.7	2159 of 2508	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	21.1	1982 of 2497	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	20.9	1989 of 2477	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	27.8	1775 of 2379	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	31.2	1600 of 2259	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	39.2	1381 of 2236	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	44.8	1175 of 2179	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	34.9	1334 of 2063	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2008	29.3	1460 of 2005	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	25.8	1503 of 1999	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	21.5	1448 of 1804	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	19.7	1464 of 1777	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	22.2	1396 of 1769	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2018	79.3	92 of 600	84.7%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	24.8	1268 of 1531	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.2	1028 of 1491	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.4	689 of 1369	49.7%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	34.3	994 of 1478	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	24.7	1487 of 1521	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	26.2	1431 of 1540	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	25.1	1373 of 1442	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	27.4	1136 of 1364	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	35.1	1520 of 2533	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.1	1540 of 2551	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	28.4	1719 of 2531	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	23.5	1905 of 2509	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	12.6	2184 of 2380	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	14.3	2027 of 2262	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	42.6	1263 of 2395	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.8	1312 of 2388	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.4	1579 of 2374	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	27.2	1734 of 2359	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	13.7	2053 of 2213	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	17.4	1823 of 2072	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	46.4	1195 of 2542	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	42.1	1298 of 2579	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.1	1524 of 2531	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.2	1689 of 2458	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	18.9	2064 of 2369	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.8	1845 of 2230	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	38.1	1434 of 2534	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.5	1540 of 2552	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	27.0	1776 of 2538	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	21.9	1979 of 2527	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.2	2088 of 2407	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.7	1790 of 2273	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	54.1	489 of 1566	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.1	553 of 1552	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	33.6	961 of 1531	37.2%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	72.4	381 of 1520	74.9%	★★★★☆
2024	50.0	744 of 1537	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	34.0	1016 of 1543	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	24.5	1190 of 1555	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.1	1106 of 1602	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	32.9	1031 of 1496	31.1%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

African American (2018)85th percentile+68 vs school

White (2025)75th percentile+32 vs school

Special Education (2025)69th percentile+26 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)53rd percentile+10 vs school

Hispanic (2025)47th percentile+5 vs school

Male (2025)43rd percentile~ school

Female (2025)40th percentile-3 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)33rd percentile-7 vs school

Disabled (2022)17th percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy40%-8 vs state

Science25%-8 vs state

Mathematics25%-13 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, November 20, 2024

A parent on a FB group just asked me why we were so happy at VNMS. Here was my response.
I can't speak to the two other programs at VNMS, but here is what we like about the Steam magnet:
-Small class size
-Project based learning (learning about VEX coding by building/programing robots.
-Kid's wear uniforms so there's no bullying around what clothes students are wearing
-Caring teachers - have had no problems reaching any staff or administration
-Amazing field trips: Point Fermin camping trip, Disney Engineering program at California Adventure Park, Roundhouse Aquarium, USC game, Dodger's game, UCLA science fair, UCLA/Cal State Northridge/LA Valley college tours, Getty Villa, Hamilton, Aladdin and Wicked is upcoming. I'm probably forgetting a few.
-Magnet points that will go towards getting into the Magnet high school of our choice.
-Kids do community service hours-teaching kids to be civic minded
-The various lunch clubs
-Honors program
Most importantly, my son is eager to go to school each day and thriving there. IMHO, It really is a small, hidden gem of a program. Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, January 15, 2019

This is the saddest school. Beginning from orientation in 6th grade till now, second semester of 8th grade. Unorganized unorganized and unorganized !! The staff is nice the education is subpar and I'm talking about the magnet I can only imagine the general population of the school. My son's love for learning has died Close Quote

Schools Near Van Nuys Middle

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)		Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)				Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Van Nuys Middle	Public	6-8	5435 Vesper Ave.	Van Nuys	91411	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 267-5900	726	41	17.9	92.8%	51 (7.0%)	22 (3.0%)	620 (85.4%)	13 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	19 (2.6%)	37	1583^rd of 2761 public middle schools	42.7%		34.1	1663^rd of 2783 public middle schools	40.2%	80	24.9	24.9	42.4	35.3	43.6	40.3	28.1	16.1	30.0	24.6	$23,522	$5,131	$18,391
Ivy Bound Academy of Math Sci and Technical Charter Mid	Public, Charter	5-8	15355 Morrison St.	Sherman Oaks	91403	Los Angeles County	Ivy Bound Academy of Math Sci and Technical Charter Mid Dis	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 808-0158	85	7	12.1	64.7%	49 (57.6%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (34.1%)	1 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (7.1%)	28.9	1866^th of 2761 public middle schools	32.4%		16.4	2423^rd of 2783 public middle schools	12.9%	557	24.2	23.7	15.0	38.5	33.3	29.8	20.0	11.5	30.3	21.4	$21,963	$1,111	$20,852
High Technical LA Middle	Public, Charter	6-8	5041 Sunnyslope Ave.	Sherman Oaks	91423	Los Angeles County	High Technical LA Middle District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 583-6229	250	11	22.6	77.2%	215 (86.0%)	4 (1.6%)	22 (8.8%)	4 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.0%)	36.2	1608^th of 2761 public middle schools	41.8%		32.1	1727^th of 2783 public middle schools	37.9%	119	27.1	27.1	33.3	33.7	52.9	39.0	25.3	23.3	25.7	24.7	$12,912	$673	$12,239
Louis Armstrong Middle	Public, Charter	6-8	5041 Sunnyslope Ave.	Sherman Oaks	91423	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 528-1600	1,174	54	21.7	62.5%	488 (41.6%)	83 (7.1%)	478 (40.7%)	50 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	75 (6.4%)	65.4	776^th of 2761 public middle schools	71.9%		68.3	717^th of 2783 public middle schools	74.2%	59	40.8	40.8	51.8	56.1	55.8	54.6	40.1	40.7	37.9	39.5	$17,850	$2,711	$15,139
Valley Charter Middle	Public, Charter	6-8	14646 Sherman Way	Van Nuys	91405	Los Angeles County	Valley Charter Middle District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 988-9128	264	14	19.3	83.3%	25 (9.5%)	5 (1.9%)	225 (85.2%)	6 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.8%)	25	2006^th of 2761 public middle schools	27.3%		22.9	2133^rd of 2783 public middle schools	23.4%	127	18.1	18.1	34.1	36.7	31.3	34.1	16.5	11.1	24.1	17.1	$19,492	$4,166	$15,326
Girls Athletic Leadership School Los Angeles	Public, Charter	6-8	14200 Runnymede St.	Van Nuys	91405	Los Angeles County	Girls Athletic Leadership School Los Angeles District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 389-1184	161	11	14.5	71.4%	10 (6.2%)	10 (6.2%)	134 (83.2%)	6 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	42.4	1410^th of 2761 public middle schools	48.9%		49.2	1192^nd of 2783 public middle schools	57.2%	218	23.8	23.8	46.8	40.3	55.6	47.6	19.4	27.4	27.0	24.6	$32,433	$4,555	$27,878
James Madison Middle	Public	6-8	13000 Hart St.	North Hollywood	91605	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 255-5200	1,148	61	18.8	95.9%	362 (31.5%)	21 (1.8%)	694 (60.5%)	46 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	23 (2.0%)	28.7	1874^th of 2761 public middle schools	32.1%		24	2087^th of 2783 public middle schools	25.0%	213	19.5	19.5	32.3	26.4	37.9	32.4	22.9	19.3	27.3	23.3	$23,378	$4,235	$19,143
Roy Romer Middle	Public	6-8	6501 Laurel Canyon Blvd.	North Hollywood	91606	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 505-2200	707	38	18.8	94.1%	37 (5.2%)	11 (1.6%)	637 (90.1%)	13 (1.8%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	7 (1.0%)	27.8	1904^th of 2761 public middle schools	31.0%		25.3	2020^th of 2783 public middle schools	27.4%	116	11.8	11.8	35.1	35.4	36.2	35.6	24.6	21.0	22.0	22.4	$22,554	$3,985	$18,569
William Mulholland Middle	Public	6-8	17120 Vanowen St.	Lake Balboa	91406	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 609-2500	1,098	57	19.3	93.5%	80 (7.3%)	24 (2.2%)	939 (85.5%)	39 (3.6%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	14 (1.3%)	37.5	1558^th of 2761 public middle schools	43.6%		38.5	1519^th of 2783 public middle schools	45.4%	39	20.5	20.5	39.8	43.9	35.1	39.7	23.7	31.6	28.9	27.8	$23,355	$4,529	$18,826
Vista Middle	Public	6-8	15040 Roscoe Blvd.	Panorama City	91402	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 901-2727	1,080	60	18.0	96.8%	27 (2.5%)	11 (1.0%)	982 (90.9%)	48 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.3%)	9 (0.8%)	25.8	1969^th of 2761 public middle schools	28.7%		21.3	2205^th of 2783 public middle schools	20.8%	236	14.4	14.4	24.9	35.8	42.5	35.0	16.1	22.2	16.9	18.4	$21,737	$3,867	$17,870

Frequently Asked Questions about Van Nuys Middle

What high school do graduates of Van Nuys Middle attend?

Students who attend Van Nuys Middle usually go on to attend Van Nuys Senior High

What is the racial makeup of Van Nuys Middle?

Students at Van Nuys Middle are 85% Hispanic, 7% White, 3% African American, 3% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

Is Van Nuys Middle a good school?

Van Nuys Middle ranks 1583^rd of 2761 California middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Van Nuys Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 726 students attended Van Nuys Middle.

What district is Van Nuys Middle in?

Los Angeles Unified

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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.