Summary:
ZIP code 94070, in San Carlos, has two middle schools—Tierra Linda Middle and Central Middle—both serving grades 6–8, with enrollments of 451 and 443. The key takeaway is that their 2025–2026 schoolwide results are nearly tied, and both schools are far above California proficiency rates in ELA, math, and science: even the lower school score in each subject exceeds the state result by 36 points in ELA, 40 in math, and 44 in science.
Neither school leads across every subject or grade. Tierra Linda narrowly leads schoolwide ELA and math—both schools are at about 86% in ELA, while math is about 79% at Tierra Linda and 78% at Central. Central leads schoolwide science, at about 81% versus 80%. Grade-level results show more meaningful differences: Tierra Linda leads grade 6 ELA by 11 percentage points and math by 9; Central leads grade 7 ELA by 6 points, grade 8 ELA by 5, and grade 7 math by 9. SchoolDigger ranks Tierra Linda 42nd and Central 52nd among 2,703 California schools; both have five stars and are at the 98th percentile.
Both schools remain strong, though California’s results rose faster than the schools’ two-year averages in all three subjects. From 2024–2025 to 2025–2026, the schools’ average ELA score fell by 1 point as the state rose by less than 1; average math rose by less than 1 point, compared with a 1-point state increase; and average science rose by 2 points, compared with 3 statewide. Central’s science score rose 3 points, while Tierra Linda’s rose 1. Context may also help families compare: in 2024–2025, student–teacher ratios were 20.1 at Tierra Linda and 22.3 at Central; both reported free/reduced lunch eligible figures for that school year, 11% and 9%, respectively. In 2025–2026, chronic absenteeism was 7% at Tierra Linda and 4% at Central, versus 18% statewide.
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