The brief
The top-rated middle schools in Oakland for 2026 are Downtown Charter Academy (9.0/10), Claremont Middle (9.0/10), and Montera Middle (7.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 17 middle schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Downtown Charter Academy leads Oakland's 17 ranked middle schools with a 9.3/10 composite score, setting a high bar in a market where the average sits at 6.9. That gap matters: only 6 schools — 35% of the ranked field — clear the 7/10 threshold, so the difference between a good pick and a great one is meaningful here. Edna Brewer Middle (8.9) and Montera Middle (8.5) round out the top tier, with Claremont Middle (8.3) close behind. The table below lets you sort by score, location, and other key metrics to find the right fit for your family. Whether you're prioritizing academics, proximity, or school type, the spread across Oakland's middle school landscape gives families real choices — but the data also shows that strong performers are concentrated at the top.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 19.0
- 29.0
- 37.9
- 46.8
- 56.8
- 66.5
- 76.2
- 86.2
- 95.9
- 105.8
All 17 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.All 17
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Downtown Charter AcademycharterDowntown Charter Academy Districtstudents 259student-teacher ratio 18.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 2Claremont MiddleOakland Unifiedstudents 488student-teacher ratio 15.7:1grades 6th–8th
- 3Montera MiddleOakland Unifiedstudents 659student-teacher ratio 18.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 4Aspire Benjamin Holt MiddlecharterAspire Benjamin Holt Middle Districtstudents 572student-teacher ratio 28.6:1grades 6th–8th
- 5Edna Brewer MiddleOakland Unifiedstudents 791student-teacher ratio 19.3:1grades 6th–8th
- 6Aspire Centennial College Preparatory AcademycharterAspire Centennial College Preparatory Academy Districtstudents 519student-teacher ratio 30.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 7Bret Harte MiddleOakland Unifiedstudents 417student-teacher ratio 15.4:1grades 6th–9th
- 8Roosevelt MiddleOakland Unifiedstudents 551student-teacher ratio 16.7:1grades 6th–8th
- 9Westlake MiddleOakland Unifiedstudents 300student-teacher ratio 13.6:1grades 6th–8th
- 10Elmhurst United MiddleOakland Unifiedstudents 752student-teacher ratio 17.1:1grades 6th–8th
- 11Aims College Prep MiddlecharterAims College Prep Middle Districtstudents 212student-teacher ratio 19.3:1grades 6th–8th
- 12Oakland Unity MiddlecharterOakland Unity Middle Districtstudents 125student-teacher ratio 62.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 13United for Success Academy MiddleOakland Unifiedstudents 356student-teacher ratio 16.2:1grades 6th–8th
- 14West Oakland MiddleOakland Unifiedstudents 160student-teacher ratio 10.7:1grades 6th–8th
- 15Urban Promise Academy MiddleOakland Unifiedstudents 371student-teacher ratio 19.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 16Frick United Academy of Language MiddleOakland Unifiedstudents 355student-teacher ratio 18.7:1grades 6th–8th
- 17Aurum Preparatory AcademycharterAurum Preparatory Academy Districtstudents 122student-teacher ratio 15.2:1grades 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 17 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Downtown Charter Academy
Downtown Charter Academy District
259 students · 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 1% in California · charter
- Academics
- 9.7
- Growth
- 8.0
- Environment
- 9.5
- 2
Claremont Middle
Oakland Unified
488 students · 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 2% in California
- Academics
- 8.8
- Growth
- 9.3
- Environment
- 8.9
- 3
Montera Middle
Oakland Unified
659 students · 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 15% in California
- Academics
- 7.5
- Growth
- 9.1
- Environment
- 6.7
- 4
Aspire Benjamin Holt Middle
Aspire Benjamin Holt Middle District
572 students · 28.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 39% in California · charter
- Academics
- 7.8
- Growth
- 9.1
- Environment
- 1.7
- 5
Edna Brewer Middle
Oakland Unified
791 students · 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 41% in California
- Academics
- 8.4
- Growth
- 4.6
- Environment
- 8.0
- 6
Aspire Centennial College Preparatory Academy
Aspire Centennial College Preparatory Academy District
519 students · 30.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 47% in California · charter
- Academics
- 8.0
- Growth
- 7.9
- Environment
- 2.0
- 7
Bret Harte Middle
Oakland Unified
417 students · 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–9th
Top 55% in California
- Academics
- 3.8
- Growth
- 8.0
- Environment
- 6.5
- 8
Roosevelt Middle
Oakland Unified
551 students · 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 55% in California
- Academics
- 4.6
- Growth
- 6.6
- Environment
- 7.8
- 9
Westlake Middle
Oakland Unified
300 students · 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 62% in California
- Academics
- 3.1
- Growth
- 7.5
- Environment
- 7.2
- 10
Elmhurst United Middle
Oakland Unified
752 students · 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 64% in California
- Academics
- 3.7
- Growth
- 7.7
- Environment
- 5.6
Questions
What is the best middle school in Oakland, California?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Downtown Charter Academy is the top-rated middle school in Oakland with a composite score of 9.0/10. 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 Oakland, California?
Oakland has 19 middle schools, including 6 charter schools. Of these, 18 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average middle school rating in Oakland?
Among 18 Oakland middle schools with a composite score, the average is 6.2/10. 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 Oakland middle school rankings?
Oakland has 6 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 Oakland2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in Oakland2026 rankings and ratings
- All 196 schools in OaklandElementary, middle and high
- California schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings