The brief
The top-rated middle schools in Long Beach for 2026 are Bancroft Middle (7.5/10), Rogers Middle (7.4/10), and Intellectual Virtues Academy of Long Beach (7.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 14 middle schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Stephens Middle leads Long Beach's 14 ranked middle schools with a composite score of 8.8/10 — a full 2.8 points above the city's average of 6.0. That gap reflects real variation across the district, giving families meaningful choices depending on their priorities and location. Only three schools clear the 7.0 threshold, making that upper tier genuinely competitive. Lindbergh STEM Academy (7.6) and Stanford Middle (7.3) round out the top three, while Jefferson Leadership Academies and Marshall Academy of the Arts each hold at 6.2 — right at the city average. The table below lets you sort by score, school type, and other key metrics to find the right fit. Whether you're zoned for a specific neighborhood or weighing open-enrollment options, the data gives you a clear starting point for comparing what Long Beach middle schools actually deliver.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 17.5
- 27.4
- 37.2
- 47.2
- 57.2
- 67.1
- 77.1
- 86.9
- 96.9
- 106.7
All 14 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.All 14
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Bancroft MiddleLong Beach Unifiedstudents 817student-teacher ratio 24.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 2Rogers MiddleLong Beach Unifiedstudents 778student-teacher ratio 25.1:1grades 6th–8th
- 3Intellectual Virtues Academy of Long BeachcharterIntellectual Virtues Academy of Long Beach Districtstudents 236student-teacher ratio 19.7:1grades 6th–8th
- 4Hughes MiddleLong Beach Unifiedstudents 1,260student-teacher ratio 23.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 5Lindbergh Stem AcademyLong Beach Unifiedstudents 411student-teacher ratio 17.9:1grades 6th–8th
- 6Stephens MiddleLong Beach Unifiedstudents 692student-teacher ratio 19.2:1grades 6th–8th
- 7Helen Keller MiddleLong Beach Unifiedstudents 477student-teacher ratio 25.1:1grades 6th–8th
- 8Jefferson Leadership AcademiesLong Beach Unifiedstudents 1,005student-teacher ratio 24.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 9Marshall Academy of the ArtsLong Beach Unifiedstudents 955student-teacher ratio 23.9:1grades 6th–8th
- 10Stanford MiddleLong Beach Unifiedstudents 1,157student-teacher ratio 25.7:1grades 6th–8th
- 11Lindsey AcademyLong Beach Unifiedstudents 715student-teacher ratio 23.1:1grades 6th–8th
- 12Hamilton MiddleLong Beach Unifiedstudents 815student-teacher ratio 22.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 13Franklin Classical MiddleLong Beach Unifiedstudents 1,025student-teacher ratio 22.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 14Washington MiddleLong Beach Unifiedstudents 889student-teacher ratio 22.2:1grades 6th–8th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and California education department. Rankings are relative to all public middle schools in California. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 14 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Bancroft Middle
Long Beach Unified
817 students · 24.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 23% in California
- Academics
- 7.7
- Growth
- 8.7
- Environment
- 5.5
- 2
Rogers Middle
Long Beach Unified
778 students · 25.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 26% in California
- Academics
- 8.1
- Growth
- 8.0
- Environment
- 5.3
- 3
Intellectual Virtues Academy of Long Beach
Intellectual Virtues Academy of Long Beach District
236 students · 19.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 29% in California · charter
- Academics
- 8.1
- Growth
- 6.8
- Environment
- 6.4
- 4
Hughes Middle
Long Beach Unified
1,260 students · 23.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 30% in California
- Academics
- 7.6
- Growth
- 7.4
- Environment
- 6.4
- 5
Lindbergh Stem Academy
Long Beach Unified
411 students · 17.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 30% in California
- Academics
- 6.3
- Growth
- 7.3
- Environment
- 8.3
- 6
Stephens Middle
Long Beach Unified
692 students · 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 33% in California
- Academics
- 8.1
- Growth
- 6.5
- Environment
- 6.7
- 7
Helen Keller Middle
Long Beach Unified
477 students · 25.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 33% in California
- Academics
- 8.3
- Growth
- 6.3
- Environment
- 6.6
- 8
Jefferson Leadership Academies
Long Beach Unified
1,005 students · 24.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 38% in California
- Academics
- 7.8
- Growth
- 7.8
- Environment
- 4.4
- 9
Marshall Academy of the Arts
Long Beach Unified
955 students · 23.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 38% in California
- Academics
- 8.2
- Growth
- 6.5
- Environment
- 5.7
- 10
Stanford Middle
Long Beach Unified
1,157 students · 25.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 43% in California
- Academics
- 8.6
- Growth
- 6.0
- Environment
- 5.0
Questions
What is the best middle school in Long Beach, California?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Bancroft Middle is the top-rated middle school in Long Beach with a composite score of 7.5/10. 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 Long Beach, California?
Long Beach has 14 middle schools, including 1 charter schools. Of these, 14 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average middle school rating in Long Beach?
Among 14 Long Beach middle schools with a composite score, the average is 6.8/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in California).
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 California, 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 California, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the Long Beach middle school rankings?
Long Beach has 1 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 Long Beach2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in Long Beach2026 rankings and ratings
- All 116 schools in Long BeachElementary, middle and high
- California schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings