The brief
The top-rated middle schools in Los Angeles for 2026 are Icef Vista Middle Academy (9.6/10), Washington Irving Mid Sch Math Music and Engr Magnet (9.4/10), and Magnolia Science Academy 6 (8.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 79 middle schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Los Angeles spans one of the most competitive middle school landscapes in the country, with 79 ranked schools ranging widely in academics, programs, and structure. At the top, ICEF Vista Middle Academy and Washington Irving Mid Sch Math Music and Engr Magnet each earn a 9.2/10 — the highest scores in the metro. Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle, John Adams Middle, and John Burroughs Middle follow close behind, all scoring 8.9 or above. The metro average sits at 6.7/10, but the picture above that line is encouraging: 40 schools — more than half of those ranked — score 7 or higher. That spread means families across Los Angeles have real options worth considering, not just a handful of standouts. Use the table below to sort by score, location, or school type and find the middle schools that fit what you're looking for.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 19.6
- 29.4
- 38.9
- 48.9
- 58.8
- 68.8
- 78.7
- 88.6
- 98.6
- 108.5
All 79 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 79
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Icef Vista Middle AcademycharterIcef Vista Middle Academy Districtstudents 204student-teacher ratio 18.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 2Washington Irving Mid Sch Math Music and Engr MagnetLos Angeles Unifiedstudents 815student-teacher ratio 16.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 3Magnolia Science Academy 6charterMagnolia Science Academy 6 Districtstudents 111student-teacher ratio 15.9:1grades 6th–8th
- 4Katherine Johnson Stem AcademyLos Angeles Unifiedstudents 131student-teacher ratio 14.6:1grades 6th–8th
- 5Rise Kohyang MiddlecharterRise Kohyang Middle Districtstudents 303student-teacher ratio 16.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 6Mark Twain MiddleLos Angeles Unifiedstudents 955student-teacher ratio 20.3:1grades 6th–8th
- 7Florence Nightingale MiddleLos Angeles Unifiedstudents 759student-teacher ratio 17.2:1grades 6th–8th
- 8Hubert Howe Bancroft MiddleLos Angeles Unifiedstudents 471student-teacher ratio 16.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 9Emerson Community ChartercharterLos Angeles Unifiedstudents 516student-teacher ratio 21.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 10Luther Burbank MiddleLos Angeles Unifiedstudents 866student-teacher ratio 16.7:1grades 6th–8th
- 11Virgil MiddleLos Angeles Unifiedstudents 1,044student-teacher ratio 17.7:1grades 6th–8th
- 12Sal Castro MiddleLos Angeles Unifiedstudents 311student-teacher ratio 16.4:1grades 6th–8th
- 13Belvedere MiddleLos Angeles Unifiedstudents 727student-teacher ratio 17.7:1grades 6th–8th
- 14EL Sereno MiddleLos Angeles Unifiedstudents 813student-teacher ratio 16.3:1grades 6th–8th
- 15Daniel Webster MiddleLos Angeles Unifiedstudents 471student-teacher ratio 18.1:1grades 6th–8th
- 16Alliance College-Ready Middle Academy 8charterAlliance College-Ready Middle Academy 8 Districtstudents 392student-teacher ratio 19.6:1grades 6th–8th
- 17Alliance Kory Hunter MiddlecharterAlliance Kory Hunter Middle Districtstudents 469student-teacher ratio 23.4:1grades 6th–8th
- 18Hollenbeck MiddleLos Angeles Unifiedstudents 1,022student-teacher ratio 18.6:1grades 6th–8th
- 19Crown Preparatory AcademycharterCrown Preparatory Academy Districtstudents 452student-teacher ratio 16.1:1grades 5th–8th
- 20Alliance College-Ready Middle Academy 12charterAlliance College-Ready Middle Academy 12 Districtstudents 495student-teacher ratio 23.6:1grades 6th–8th
- 21John Burroughs MiddleLos Angeles Unifiedstudents 1,359student-teacher ratio 22.3:1grades 6th–8th
- 22Synergy Kinetic AcademycharterSynergy Kinetic Academy Districtstudents 464student-teacher ratio 22.1:1grades 6th–8th
- 23John Adams MiddleLos Angeles Unifiedstudents 686student-teacher ratio 16.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 24Griffith MiddleLos Angeles Unifiedstudents 1,079student-teacher ratio 17.1:1grades 6th–8th
- 25George Washington Carver MiddleLos Angeles Unifiedstudents 703student-teacher ratio 19.5:1grades 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 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Icef Vista Middle Academy
Icef Vista Middle Academy District
204 students · 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 1% in California · charter
- Academics
- 9.3
- Growth
- 9.7
- Environment
- 9.7
- 2
Washington Irving Mid Sch Math Music and Engr Magnet
Los Angeles Unified
815 students · 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 1% in California
- Academics
- 9.0
- Growth
- 9.5
- Environment
- 9.7
- 3
Magnolia Science Academy 6
Magnolia Science Academy 6 District
111 students · 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 2% in California · charter
- Academics
- 8.6
- Growth
- 8.5
- Environment
- 9.8
- 4
Katherine Johnson Stem Academy
Los Angeles Unified
131 students · 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 3% in California
- Academics
- 7.1
- Growth
- 9.9
- Environment
- 9.8
- 5
Rise Kohyang Middle
Rise Kohyang Middle District
303 students · 16.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 3% in California · charter
- Academics
- 8.0
- Growth
- 9.3
- Environment
- 9.3
- 6
Mark Twain Middle
Los Angeles Unified
955 students · 20.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 3% in California
- Academics
- 8.2
- Growth
- 9.2
- Environment
- 9.2
- 7
Florence Nightingale Middle
Los Angeles Unified
759 students · 17.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 4% in California
- Academics
- 7.7
- Growth
- 9.0
- Environment
- 9.6
- 8
Hubert Howe Bancroft Middle
Los Angeles Unified
471 students · 16.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 5% in California
- Academics
- 6.6
- Growth
- 9.7
- Environment
- 9.5
- 9
Emerson Community Charter
Los Angeles Unified
516 students · 21.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 5% in California · charter
- Academics
- 7.9
- Growth
- 9.6
- Environment
- 7.9
- 10
Luther Burbank Middle
Los Angeles Unified
866 students · 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 6% in California
- Academics
- 8.1
- Growth
- 8.4
- Environment
- 9.4
Questions
What is the best middle school in Los Angeles, California?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Icef Vista Middle Academy is the top-rated middle school in Los Angeles with a composite score of 9.6/10. 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 Los Angeles, California?
Los Angeles has 87 middle schools, including 42 charter schools. Of these, 80 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average middle school rating in Los Angeles?
Among 80 Los Angeles middle schools with a composite score, the average is 6.9/10. 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 Los Angeles middle school rankings?
Los Angeles has 42 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 Los Angeles2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in Los Angeles2026 rankings and ratings
- All 868 schools in Los AngelesElementary, middle and high
- California schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings