The brief
The top-rated middle schools in San Diego for 2026 are Pacific Beach Middle (9.4/10), Solana Pacific Elementary (9.0/10), and Marshall Middle (8.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 42 middle schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
San Diego's middle school landscape spans 39 ranked schools, with performance ranging from a district average of 6.8/10 to a peak of 9.2/10 at Pacific Beach Middle — one of the sharper spreads you'll find in a major California metro. That gap matters when you're choosing where your child spends three formative years. Just over half the ranked schools — 20 of 39 — score 7 or higher, meaning solid options are distributed across the region rather than concentrated in one pocket. Innovation Middle (8.7) and Dana (8.4) round out the top tier alongside Pacific Beach, giving families in different neighborhoods genuine high-performing choices. The table below lets you sort by overall score, test performance, and other key metrics. Use it to zero in on schools that match both your standards and your zip code.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 19.4
- 29.0
- 38.8
- 48.8
- 58.5
- 68.5
- 78.4
- 88.4
- 98.2
- 108.2
All 42 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 42
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Pacific Beach MiddleSan Diego Unifiedstudents 631student-teacher ratio 21.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 2Solana Pacific ElementarySolana Beach Elementarystudents 422student-teacher ratio 24.8:1grades 4th–6th
- 3Marshall MiddleSan Diego Unifiedstudents 1,359student-teacher ratio 25.6:1grades 6th–8th
- 4De Portola MiddleSan Diego Unifiedstudents 659student-teacher ratio 22.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 5Marston MiddleSan Diego Unifiedstudents 674student-teacher ratio 23.2:1grades 6th–8th
- 6Standley MiddleSan Diego Unifiedstudents 838student-teacher ratio 23.3:1grades 6th–8th
- 7High Tech Middle North CountycharterHigh Tech Middle North County Districtstudents 332student-teacher ratio 20.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 8Oak Valley MiddlePoway Unifiedstudents 1,485student-teacher ratio 24.3:1grades 6th–8th
- 9Farb MiddleSan Diego Unifiedstudents 446student-teacher ratio 15.9:1grades 6th–8th
- 10Lewis MiddleSan Diego Unifiedstudents 963student-teacher ratio 24.1:1grades 6th–8th
- 11DanaSan Diego Unifiedstudents 648student-teacher ratio 22.3:1grades 5th–6th
- 12Challenger MiddleSan Diego Unifiedstudents 918student-teacher ratio 24.2:1grades 6th–8th
- 13Mesa Verde MiddlePoway Unifiedstudents 1,119student-teacher ratio 26.6:1grades 6th–8th
- 14Correia MiddleSan Diego Unifiedstudents 632student-teacher ratio 24.3:1grades 7th–8th
- 15Pershing MiddleSan Diego Unifiedstudents 873student-teacher ratio 26.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 16High Tech Middle MesacharterHigh Tech Middle Mesa Districtstudents 338student-teacher ratio 17.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 17Black Mountain MiddlePoway Unifiedstudents 1,132student-teacher ratio 23.6:1grades 6th–8th
- 18Innovation MiddleSan Diego Unifiedstudents 345student-teacher ratio 18.2:1grades 6th–8th
- 19Magnolia Science Academy San DiegocharterMagnolia Science Academy San Diego Districtstudents 439student-teacher ratio 25.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 20Roosevelt International MiddleSan Diego Unifiedstudents 785student-teacher ratio 20.7:1grades 6th–8th
- 21Bernardo Heights MiddlePoway Unifiedstudents 1,501student-teacher ratio 23.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 22Montgomery MiddleSan Diego Unifiedstudents 342student-teacher ratio 19.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 23Taft MiddleSan Diego Unifiedstudents 375student-teacher ratio 19.7:1grades 6th–8th
- 24Wilson MiddleSan Diego Unifiedstudents 755student-teacher ratio 20.4:1grades 6th–8th
- 25Childrens Workshopstudents 49student-teacher ratio 4.9:1grades 3rd–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
Pacific Beach Middle
San Diego Unified
631 students · 21.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 1% in California
- Academics
- 9.5
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 8.7
- 2
Solana Pacific Elementary
Solana Beach Elementary
422 students · 24.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 4th–6th
Top 3% in California
- Academics
- 9.8
- Growth
- 8.8
- Environment
- 8.0
- 3
Marshall Middle
San Diego Unified
1,359 students · 25.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 5% in California
- Academics
- 9.5
- Growth
- 9.0
- Environment
- 7.4
- 4
De Portola Middle
San Diego Unified
659 students · 22.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 5% in California
- Academics
- 9.1
- Growth
- 8.5
- Environment
- 8.7
- 5
Marston Middle
San Diego Unified
674 students · 23.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 9% in California
- Academics
- 7.9
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 7.8
- 6
Standley Middle
San Diego Unified
838 students · 23.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 9% in California
- Academics
- 9.1
- Growth
- 8.0
- Environment
- 8.6
- 7
High Tech Middle North County
High Tech Middle North County District
332 students · 20.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 9% in California · charter
- Academics
- 8.4
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 6.0
- 8
Oak Valley Middle
Poway Unified
1,485 students · 24.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 10% in California
- Academics
- 8.9
- Growth
- 9.5
- Environment
- 6.0
- 9
Farb Middle
San Diego Unified
446 students · 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 14% in California
- Academics
- 7.2
- Growth
- 8.2
- Environment
- 9.6
- 10
Lewis Middle
San Diego Unified
963 students · 24.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 14% in California
- Academics
- 8.8
- Growth
- 8.1
- Environment
- 7.6
Questions
What is the best middle school in San Diego, California?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Pacific Beach Middle is the top-rated middle school in San Diego with a composite score of 9.4/10. 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 San Diego, California?
San Diego has 44 middle schools, including 8 charter schools. Of these, 42 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average middle school rating in San Diego?
Among 42 San Diego 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 San Diego middle school rankings?
San Diego has 8 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 San Diego2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in San Diego2026 rankings and ratings
- All 412 schools in San DiegoElementary, middle and high
- California schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings