Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 95673

This analysis covers two public middle schools (grades 7-8) in the 95673 zip code of Rio Linda, California, both operating within the Twin Rivers Unified school district.

Westside Preparatory Charter stands out as the higher-performing school, consistently ranking in a higher state percentile and achieving better scores in English and Math than Rio Linda Preparatory Academy. A key factor is attendance: Westside has a much lower rate of chronic absenteeism at 15.5%, compared to 31.9% at Rio Linda Prep and a very high district average of 49.7%. Both schools serve a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students and have similar class sizes, but Rio Linda Prep spends significantly more per student.

Despite the large spending difference, Westside achieves stronger academic results, suggesting effective use of resources. Both schools outperform their district averages but show a notable weakness in science proficiency, scoring below the state average. For parents, this comparison highlights that within the same area and district, school models can produce different outcomes, with Westside demonstrating stronger academic performance and student engagement metrics.