The brief
The top-rated middle schools in Denver for 2026 are Denver Green School Northfield (9.3/10), Girls Athletic Leadership School Middle School (9.1/10), and Dsst: Cedar Middle School (9.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 33 middle schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Denver's 33 ranked middle schools span a wide range of performance, with composite scores running from well below average up to Denver Green School Northfield's leading 8.9 out of 10. That spread matters: 13 schools — about 39% of the ranked pool — clear the 7-out-of-10 mark, while the metro average sits at 6.4, meaning strong options exist but require some digging. The top of the list shows real variety. Girls Athletic Leadership School Middle School earns an 8.7, Morey Middle School follows at 8.4, and Merrill and Skinner round out the top five above 8.0. Whether you're prioritizing academics, environment, or fit for a specific learner, the table below lets you sort by the metrics that matter most to your family. Use the scores as a starting point, then dig into individual school profiles before making a final call.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 19.3
- 29.1
- 39.0
- 48.8
- 58.7
- 68.5
- 78.2
- 88.0
- 97.9
- 107.6
All 33 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 33
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Denver Green School NorthfieldSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 540student-teacher ratio 18.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 2Girls Athletic Leadership School Middle SchoolcharterSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 203student-teacher ratio 13.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 3Dsst: Cedar Middle SchoolcharterSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 479student-teacher ratio 13.3:1grades 6th–8th
- 4Mcauliffe International SchoolSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 1,371student-teacher ratio 19.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 5Merrill Middle SchoolSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 604student-teacher ratio 17.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 6Morey Middle SchoolSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 481student-teacher ratio 20.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 7Skinner Middle SchoolSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 656student-teacher ratio 19.3:1grades 6th–8th
- 8Kipp Northeast Denver Middle SchoolcharterSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 471student-teacher ratio 11.8:1grades 5th–8th
- 9Dsst: Green Valley Ranch Middle SchoolcharterSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 480student-teacher ratio 15.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 10Dsst: Conservatory Green Middle SchoolcharterSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 463student-teacher ratio 14.9:1grades 6th–8th
- 11Bear Valley International SchoolSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 374student-teacher ratio 11.7:1grades 6th–8th
- 12Grant Beacon Middle SchoolSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 335student-teacher ratio 16.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 13Dsst: College View Middle SchoolcharterSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 460student-teacher ratio 13.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 14Colorado Skies AcademycharterCherry Creek School District No. 5 In the County of Arapahstudents 119student-teacher ratio 19.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 15Kepner Beacon Middle SchoolSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 462student-teacher ratio 15.4:1grades 6th–8th
- 16Lake Middle SchoolSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 603student-teacher ratio 15.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 17Mcauliffe Manual Middle SchoolSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 235student-teacher ratio 12.4:1grades 6th–8th
- 18Rocky Mountain Prep Green Valley RanchcharterSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 361student-teacher ratio 13.4:1grades 6th–8th
- 19Dsst: Montview Middle SchoolcharterSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 459student-teacher ratio 14.3:1grades 6th–8th
- 20Compass AcademycharterSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 200student-teacher ratio 10.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 21Hill Campus of Arts and SciencesSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 612student-teacher ratio 17.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 22Global Intermediate AcademyMapleton School District No. 1 In the County of Adams & Ststudents 354student-teacher ratio 20.8:1grades 4th–8th
- 23West Middle SchoolSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 225student-teacher ratio 17.3:1grades 6th–8th
- 24Fort Logan NorthgateSheridan School District No. 2students 378student-teacher ratio 17.2:1grades 3rd–8th
- 25Rocky Mountain Prep SunnysidecharterSchool District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of Cstudents 168student-teacher ratio 12.0:1grades 6th–8th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Colorado education department. Rankings are relative to all public middle schools in Colorado. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Denver Green School Northfield
School District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of C
540 students · 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 1% in Colorado
- Academics
- 9.8
- Growth
- 10.0
- Environment
- 7.5
- 2
Girls Athletic Leadership School Middle School
School District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of C
203 students · 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 2% in Colorado · charter
- Academics
- 8.8
- Growth
- 9.0
- Environment
- 9.6
- 3
Dsst: Cedar Middle School
School District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of C
479 students · 13.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 3% in Colorado · charter
- Academics
- 9.5
- Growth
- 8.4
- Environment
- 9.4
- 4
Mcauliffe International School
School District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of C
1,371 students · 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 5% in Colorado
- Academics
- 9.8
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 6.3
- 5
Merrill Middle School
School District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of C
604 students · 17.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 6% in Colorado
- Academics
- 9.2
- Growth
- 9.7
- Environment
- 6.2
- 6
Morey Middle School
School District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of C
481 students · 20.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 9% in Colorado
- Academics
- 9.9
- Growth
- 9.5
- Environment
- 5.1
- 7
Skinner Middle School
School District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of C
656 students · 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 14% in Colorado
- Academics
- 9.1
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 4.9
- 8
Kipp Northeast Denver Middle School
School District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of C
471 students · 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 5th–8th
Top 16% in Colorado · charter
- Academics
- 6.4
- Growth
- 8.9
- Environment
- 8.6
- 9
Dsst: Green Valley Ranch Middle School
School District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of C
480 students · 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 18% in Colorado · charter
- Academics
- 7.1
- Growth
- 8.2
- Environment
- 8.7
- 10
Dsst: Conservatory Green Middle School
School District No. 1 In the County of Denver and State of C
463 students · 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 25% in Colorado · charter
- Academics
- 6.4
- Growth
- 8.6
- Environment
- 7.6
Questions
What is the best middle school in Denver, Colorado?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Denver Green School Northfield is the top-rated middle school in Denver with a composite score of 9.3/10. 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 Denver, Colorado?
Denver has 34 middle schools, including 17 charter schools. Of these, 33 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average middle school rating in Denver?
Among 33 Denver middle schools with a composite score, the average is 6.6/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Colorado).
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 Colorado, 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 Colorado, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the Denver middle school rankings?
Denver has 17 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 Denver2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in Denver2026 rankings and ratings
- All 277 schools in DenverElementary, middle and high
- Colorado schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings