The brief
The top-rated middle schools in Arlington are Young J H (8.2/10), Gunn J H (7.8/10), and Boles J H (7.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 16 middle public schools meeting this ranking's coverage rules. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Arlington, Texas has 16 middle school directory listings spanning 9 school districts. Of 16 middle schools in Arlington, 16 are public schools with a comparable public-model composite score. This ranking includes 16 middle public schools meeting this ranking's coverage rules. 31% of public schools included in this ranking are 7.0 or above on our 10-point scale. The city also has 2 charter middle schools alongside its traditional public schools. Among 16 middle public schools included in this ranking and a reported student-teacher ratio, the average is 13.5:1. Our rankings identify Young J H as the top-rated middle school in Arlington, followed by Gunn J H and Boles J H. Schools with enough data are scored on student growth, poverty-adjusted academics, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — using data from the NCES and state education sources.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 18.2
- 27.8
- 37.6
- 47.4
- 57.3
- 66.9
- 76.8
- 86.3
- 96.2
- 106.1
All 16 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.All 16
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Young J HArlington ISDstudents 756student-teacher ratio 13.7:1grades 7th–8th
- 2Gunn J HArlington ISDstudents 874student-teacher ratio 13.7:1grades 6th–8th
- 3Boles J HArlington ISDstudents 538student-teacher ratio 12.5:1grades 7th–8th
- 4Ousley J HArlington ISDstudents 865student-teacher ratio 14.0:1grades 7th–8th
- 5James Coble MiddleMansfield ISDstudents 775student-teacher ratio 14.6:1grades 7th–8th
- 6Barnett J HArlington ISDstudents 570student-teacher ratio 12.1:1grades 7th–8th
- 7Shackelford J HArlington ISDstudents 558student-teacher ratio 13.6:1grades 7th–8th
- 8Bailey J HArlington ISDstudents 764student-teacher ratio 13.4:1grades 7th–8th
- 9Nichols J HArlington ISDstudents 588student-teacher ratio 11.1:1grades 7th–8th
- 10Arlington Classics Academy - MiddlecharterArlington Classics Academystudents 494student-teacher ratio 15.9:1grades 6th–8th
- 11T a Howard MiddleMansfield ISDstudents 594student-teacher ratio 12.6:1grades 7th–8th
- 12Workman J HArlington ISDstudents 1,255student-teacher ratio 14.1:1grades 7th–8th
- 13Carter J HArlington ISDstudents 798student-teacher ratio 13.3:1grades 7th–8th
- 14Iltexas Arlington MiddlecharterInternational Leadership of Texas (iltexas)students 398student-teacher ratio 16.6:1grades 6th–8th
- 15Della Icenhower IntMansfield ISDstudents 705student-teacher ratio 14.4:1grades 5th–6th
- 16Cross Timbers IntMansfield ISDstudents 602student-teacher ratio 10.8:1grades 5th–6th
This list shows 16 of the 16 middle public schools meeting this ranking's coverage rules in Arlington. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 16 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
- Academics
- 8.3
- Growth
- 8.5
- Environment
- 7.4
- 2
- Academics
- 7.5
- Growth
- 8.3
- Environment
- 7.6
- 3
- Academics
- 6.9
- Growth
- 7.8
- Environment
- 8.1
- 4
- Academics
- 8.3
- Growth
- 6.6
- Environment
- 7.3
- 5
James Coble Middle
Mansfield ISD
775 students · 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 7th–8th
Top 30% in Texas
- Academics
- 7.8
- Growth
- 7.8
- Environment
- 5.9
- 6
Barnett J H
Arlington ISD
570 students · 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 7th–8th
Top 38% in Texas
- Academics
- 5.6
- Growth
- 7.5
- Environment
- 7.6
- 7
Shackelford J H
Arlington ISD
558 students · 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 7th–8th
Top 41% in Texas
- Academics
- 6.6
- Growth
- 8.0
- Environment
- 5.1
- 8
- Academics
- 6.0
- Growth
- 6.2
- Environment
- 6.7
- 9
Nichols J H
Arlington ISD
588 students · 11.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 7th–8th
Top 55% in Texas
- Academics
- 4.5
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 3.6
- 10
Arlington Classics Academy - Middle
Arlington Classics Academy
494 students · 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 57% in Texas · charter
- Academics
- 7.9
- Growth
- 4.9
- Environment
- 5.6
Questions
What is the best middle school in Arlington, Texas?
In the current MySchoolScout comparison, Young J H is the top-rated middle school in Arlington with a composite score of 8.2/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
How many middle schools are in Arlington, Texas?
Arlington has 16 middle schools, including 2 charter schools. 16 public schools have a comparable public-model composite score.
What is the average middle school rating in Arlington?
Among 16 Arlington middle public schools included in this ranking, the average is 6.4/10.
How does MySchoolScout rate middle schools?
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within Texas, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in Texas, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the Arlington middle school rankings?
Arlington has 2 charter middle schools in its directory. Charter schools that meet this ranking's data requirements are included alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.
How should I use this ranking?
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Explore more
- Best elementary schools in ArlingtonCurrent comparisons
- Best high schools in ArlingtonCurrent comparisons
- All 120 schools in ArlingtonElementary, middle and high
- Texas schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings