The brief
The top-rated middle schools in Philadelphia for 2026 are St James School (7.2/10), Science Leadership Academy MS (7.1/10), and Hope Partnership for Education (6.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 21 middle schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Philadelphia's middle school landscape spans 18 ranked schools, with composite scores ranging across a competitive field — though only one school clears the 7-out-of-10 threshold. That distinction belongs to AMY NW, which leads the city at 7.2/10, a full half-point ahead of second-ranked Science Leadership Academy Middle School at 6.7/10. Richard Allen Preparatory Charter School and Clemente Roberto Middle School round out the upper tier, while the citywide average sits at 5.4/10. That gap between the top performer and the average signals meaningful variation across Philadelphia's ranked middle schools — making school-by-school comparison worth the effort. The table below lets you sort by composite score, school type, and other key metrics to find the best fit for your student. Whether you're weighing academics, location, or school model, the data here gives you a concrete starting point.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 17.2
- 27.1
- 36.9
- 46.7
- 55.9
- 65.6
- 75.1
- 84.5
- 94.5
- 104.4
All 21 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.All 21
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1St James Schoolstudents 84student-teacher ratio 7.9:1grades 4th–8th
- 2Science Leadership Academy MSPhiladelphia City SDstudents 352student-teacher ratio 19.6:1grades 5th–8th
- 3Hope Partnership for Educationstudents 37student-teacher ratio 6.2:1grades 5th–8th
- 4Nazareth Academy Grade Schoolstudents 195student-teacher ratio 12.7:1grades 1st–8th
- 5Tilden William T MSPhiladelphia City SDstudents 278student-teacher ratio 12.6:1grades 5th–8th
- 6Baldi C C a MSPhiladelphia City SDstudents 1,515student-teacher ratio 15.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 7Memphis Street Academy Cs @ Jp JonescharterMemphis Street Academy Cs @ Jp Jonesstudents 544student-teacher ratio 16.0:1grades 5th–8th
- 8Universal Vare CscharterUniversal Vare Csstudents 150student-teacher ratio 25.0:1grades 5th–8th
- 9Feltonville Sch of Arts & SciencesPhiladelphia City SDstudents 554student-teacher ratio 14.2:1grades 6th–8th
- 10Clemente Roberto MSPhiladelphia City SDstudents 203student-teacher ratio 8.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 11Harding Warren G MSPhiladelphia City SDstudents 602student-teacher ratio 14.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 12Washington Grover JR SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 428student-teacher ratio 13.4:1grades 5th–8th
- 13Amy NwPhiladelphia City SDstudents 134student-teacher ratio 9.6:1grades 6th–8th
- 14Middle Years AlternativePhiladelphia City SDstudents 155student-teacher ratio 11.9:1grades 5th–8th
- 15Richard Allen Preparatory CscharterRichard Allen Preparatory Csstudents 368student-teacher ratio 11.9:1grades 5th–9th
- 16Conwell Russell MSPhiladelphia City SDstudents 127student-teacher ratio 9.8:1grades 5th–8th
- 17Young Scholars CscharterYoung Scholars Csstudents 251student-teacher ratio 13.2:1grades 5th–8th
- 18Castor Gardens MSPhiladelphia City SDstudents 1,269student-teacher ratio 17.9:1grades 6th–8th
- 19Amy at MartinPhiladelphia City SDstudents 208student-teacher ratio 9.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 20Wagner Gen Louis MSPhiladelphia City SDstudents 301student-teacher ratio 12.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 21John B Stetson MSPhiladelphia City SDstudents 554student-teacher ratio 19.1:1grades 5th–8th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Pennsylvania education department. Rankings are relative to all public middle schools in Pennsylvania. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 21 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
- Academics
- not scored
- Growth
- not scored
- Environment
- not scored
- 2
Science Leadership Academy MS
Philadelphia City SD
352 students · 19.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 5th–8th
Top 36% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 6.4
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 3.9
- 3
Hope Partnership for Education
37 students · 6.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 5th–8th
Top 39% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- not scored
- Growth
- not scored
- Environment
- not scored
- 4
Nazareth Academy Grade School
195 students · 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 1st–8th
Top 43% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- not scored
- Growth
- not scored
- Environment
- not scored
- 5
Tilden William T MS
Philadelphia City SD
278 students · 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 5th–8th
Top 59% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 1.9
- Growth
- 9.6
- Environment
- 5.7
- 6
Baldi C C a MS
Philadelphia City SD
1,515 students · 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 65% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 7.0
- Growth
- 4.8
- Environment
- 4.8
- 7
Memphis Street Academy Cs @ Jp Jones
Memphis Street Academy Cs @ Jp Jones
544 students · 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 5th–8th
Top 72% in Pennsylvania · charter
- Academics
- 1.8
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 2.9
- 8
Universal Vare Cs
Universal Vare Cs
150 students · 25.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 5th–8th
Top 81% in Pennsylvania · charter
- Academics
- 2.3
- Growth
- 8.2
- Environment
- 1.7
- 9
Feltonville Sch of Arts & Sciences
Philadelphia City SD
554 students · 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 82% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 2.4
- Growth
- 6.0
- Environment
- 5.2
- 10
Clemente Roberto MS
Philadelphia City SD
203 students · 8.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 83% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 1.5
- Growth
- 7.4
- Environment
- 3.6
Questions
What is the best middle school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, St James School is the top-rated middle school in Philadelphia with a composite score of 7.2/10. 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 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?
Philadelphia has 21 middle schools, including 4 charter schools. Of these, 21 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average middle school rating in Philadelphia?
Among 21 Philadelphia middle schools with a composite score, the average is 4.5/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Pennsylvania).
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 Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the Philadelphia middle school rankings?
Philadelphia has 4 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 Philadelphia2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in Philadelphia2026 rankings and ratings
- All 421 schools in PhiladelphiaElementary, middle and high
- Pennsylvania schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings