The brief
The top-rated middle schools in Sacramento for 2026 are Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep Middle (8.5/10), Miwok Middle (7.6/10), and Norwood Junior High (7.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 20 middle schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Sacramento's middle school landscape spans 19 ranked schools, with performance ranging considerably across the metro. At the top, Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep Middle and Will C. Wood Middle share the lead at 7.4 out of 10, followed closely by Miwok Middle at 7.3. Only 4 schools — 21% of the ranked pool — clear the 7-point mark, which makes that threshold a useful filter when comparing options. The average composite score across Sacramento middle schools sits at 5.5 out of 10, signaling real variation between the strongest and most typical performers. That gap matters for families: a school a few miles away can look very different in the data. Use the table below to sort by score, location, or other factors to find the middle schools that align with what your student needs.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 18.5
- 27.6
- 37.2
- 47.0
- 56.9
- 66.4
- 76.4
- 86.2
- 96.0
- 105.3
All 20 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.All 20
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep MiddlecharterNatomas Unifiedstudents 512student-teacher ratio 23.3:1grades 6th–8th
- 2Miwok MiddleSacramento City Unifiedstudents 1,184student-teacher ratio 27.5:1grades 7th–8th
- 3Norwood Junior HighTwin Rivers Unifiedstudents 458student-teacher ratio 21.8:1grades 7th–8th
- 4Foothill Ranch MiddleTwin Rivers Unifiedstudents 493student-teacher ratio 20.5:1grades 7th–8th
- 5California MiddleSacramento City Unifiedstudents 753student-teacher ratio 18.4:1grades 7th–8th
- 6T. R. Smedberg MiddleElk Grove Unifiedstudents 1,046student-teacher ratio 22.3:1grades 7th–8th
- 7Fern Bacon MiddleSacramento City Unifiedstudents 647student-teacher ratio 20.2:1grades 7th–8th
- 8James Rutter MiddleElk Grove Unifiedstudents 845student-teacher ratio 18.8:1grades 7th–8th
- 9Will C. Wood MiddleSacramento City Unifiedstudents 666student-teacher ratio 21.5:1grades 7th–8th
- 10Samuel Jackman MiddleElk Grove Unifiedstudents 849student-teacher ratio 20.7:1grades 7th–8th
- 11Martin Luther King Jr. Technology AcademyTwin Rivers Unifiedstudents 514student-teacher ratio 21.4:1grades 7th–8th
- 12Natomas MiddleNatomas Unifiedstudents 609student-teacher ratio 16.9:1grades 6th–8th
- 13Rio Tierra Junior HighTwin Rivers Unifiedstudents 303student-teacher ratio 18.9:1grades 7th–8th
- 14Arden MiddleSan Juan Unifiedstudents 956student-teacher ratio 24.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 15Katherine Johnson MiddleSan Juan Unifiedstudents 616student-teacher ratio 22.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 16Cesar Chavez IntermediateSacramento City Unifiedstudents 380student-teacher ratio 27.1:1grades 4th–6th
- 17Albert Einstein MiddleSacramento City Unifiedstudents 609student-teacher ratio 23.4:1grades 7th–8th
- 186900 West 4th Streetstudents 38student-teacher ratio 11.2:1grades 1st–7th
- 19Sam Brannan MiddleSacramento City Unifiedstudents 377student-teacher ratio 23.6:1grades 7th–8th
- 20Arcade Fundamental MiddleSan Juan Unifiedstudents 391student-teacher ratio 23.0:1grades 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 20 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep Middle
Natomas Unified
512 students · 23.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 8% in California · charter
- Academics
- 8.4
- Growth
- 9.3
- Environment
- 7.4
- 2
Miwok Middle
Sacramento City Unified
1,184 students · 27.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 7th–8th
Top 25% in California
- Academics
- 8.9
- Growth
- 8.3
- Environment
- 4.7
- 3
Norwood Junior High
Twin Rivers Unified
458 students · 21.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 7th–8th
Top 32% in California
- Academics
- 5.8
- Growth
- 8.6
- Environment
- 7.1
- 4
Foothill Ranch Middle
Twin Rivers Unified
493 students · 20.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 7th–8th
Top 35% in California
- Academics
- 4.6
- Growth
- 8.5
- Environment
- 7.8
- 5
California Middle
Sacramento City Unified
753 students · 18.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 7th–8th
Top 39% in California
- Academics
- 6.8
- Growth
- 6.2
- Environment
- 8.2
- 6
T. R. Smedberg Middle
Elk Grove Unified
1,046 students · 22.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 7th–8th
Top 49% in California
- Academics
- 6.1
- Growth
- 6.7
- Environment
- 6.4
- 7
Fern Bacon Middle
Sacramento City Unified
647 students · 20.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 7th–8th
Top 50% in California
- Academics
- 5.6
- Growth
- 7.0
- Environment
- 6.6
- 8
James Rutter Middle
Elk Grove Unified
845 students · 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 7th–8th
Top 53% in California
- Academics
- 4.2
- Growth
- 7.2
- Environment
- 7.5
- 9
Will C. Wood Middle
Sacramento City Unified
666 students · 21.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 7th–8th
Top 58% in California
- Academics
- 6.0
- Growth
- 6.6
- Environment
- 5.2
- 10
Samuel Jackman Middle
Elk Grove Unified
849 students · 20.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 7th–8th
Top 70% in California
- Academics
- 3.4
- Growth
- 5.7
- Environment
- 7.2
Questions
What is the best middle school in Sacramento, California?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep Middle is the top-rated middle school in Sacramento with a composite score of 8.5/10. 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 Sacramento, California?
Sacramento has 21 middle schools, including 1 charter schools. Of these, 20 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average middle school rating in Sacramento?
Among 20 Sacramento middle schools with a composite score, the average is 5.5/10. 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 Sacramento middle school rankings?
Sacramento 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 Sacramento2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in Sacramento2026 rankings and ratings
- All 273 schools in SacramentoElementary, middle and high
- California schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings