The brief
The top-rated middle schools in Seattle for 2026 are Rainier Prep (9.4/10), Jane Addams Middle School (8.9/10), and Mercer International Middle School (8.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 15 middle schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Seattle's middle school landscape spans 15 ranked schools, with scores ranging from the district average of 6.5 to a high of 8.9 at Rainier Prep, the metro's top-performing middle school. That gap matters — it signals meaningful differences in academic outcomes, and the table below makes those differences easy to compare. Forty percent of ranked schools — six in total — score 7 or above, suggesting a solid tier of strong options for families across the city. Rainier Prep leads at 8.9, followed by Robert Eagle Staff Middle School at 8.2 and Aki Kurose Middle School at 7.7. Use the sortable columns to filter by the metrics that matter most to your family, whether that's overall score, academic growth, or another factor. The data is here to help you move past reputation and make a grounded decision.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 19.4
- 28.9
- 38.9
- 48.5
- 58.3
- 68.1
- 78.0
- 88.0
- 97.6
- 107.5
All 15 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.All 15
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Rainier PrepcharterRainier Prep Charter School Districtstudents 333student-teacher ratio 14.5:1grades 5th–8th
- 2Jane Addams Middle SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 834student-teacher ratio 19.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 3Mercer International Middle SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 751student-teacher ratio 18.3:1grades 6th–8th
- 4Robert Eagle Staff Middle SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 674student-teacher ratio 18.2:1grades 6th–8th
- 5David T. Denny International Middle SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 713student-teacher ratio 14.6:1grades 6th–8th
- 6Washington Middle SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 551student-teacher ratio 18.4:1grades 6th–8th
- 7Hamilton International Middle SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 897student-teacher ratio 23.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 8Mcclure Middle SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 459student-teacher ratio 20.9:1grades 6th–8th
- 9Whitman Middle SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 660student-teacher ratio 20.6:1grades 6th–8th
- 10Eckstein Middle SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 1,013student-teacher ratio 21.6:1grades 6th–8th
- 11Edmonds S. Meany Middle SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 477student-teacher ratio 19.9:1grades 6th–8th
- 12Dimmitt Middle SchoolRenton School Districtstudents 630student-teacher ratio 17.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 13Madison Middle SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 1,020student-teacher ratio 22.2:1grades 6th–8th
- 14Cascade Middle SchoolHighline School Districtstudents 662student-teacher ratio 15.4:1grades 6th–8th
- 15Aki Kurose Middle SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 783student-teacher ratio 16.7:1grades 6th–8th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Washington education department. Rankings are relative to all public middle schools in Washington. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 15 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Rainier Prep
Rainier Prep Charter School District
333 students · 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 5th–8th
Top 1% in Washington · charter
- Academics
- 9.5
- Growth
- 9.5
- Environment
- 9.3
- 2
Jane Addams Middle School
Seattle School District No. 1
834 students · 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 3% in Washington
- Academics
- 9.2
- Growth
- 9.2
- Environment
- 7.9
- 3
Mercer International Middle School
Seattle School District No. 1
751 students · 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 3% in Washington
- Academics
- 9.1
- Growth
- 9.5
- Environment
- 7.8
- 4
Robert Eagle Staff Middle School
Seattle School District No. 1
674 students · 18.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 7% in Washington
- Academics
- 9.5
- Growth
- 7.8
- Environment
- 8.3
- 5
David T. Denny International Middle School
Seattle School District No. 1
713 students · 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 10% in Washington
- Academics
- 7.0
- Growth
- 9.3
- Environment
- 8.7
- 6
Washington Middle School
Seattle School District No. 1
551 students · 18.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 12% in Washington
- Academics
- 7.8
- Growth
- 8.4
- Environment
- 8.1
- 7
Hamilton International Middle School
Seattle School District No. 1
897 students · 23.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 14% in Washington
- Academics
- 9.2
- Growth
- 8.1
- Environment
- 6.0
- 8
Mcclure Middle School
Seattle School District No. 1
459 students · 20.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 14% in Washington
- Academics
- 8.6
- Growth
- 8.4
- Environment
- 6.6
- 9
Whitman Middle School
Seattle School District No. 1
660 students · 20.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 22% in Washington
- Academics
- 8.9
- Growth
- 7.1
- Environment
- 6.7
- 10
Eckstein Middle School
Seattle School District No. 1
1,013 students · 21.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 24% in Washington
- Academics
- 8.8
- Growth
- 7.2
- Environment
- 6.1
Questions
What is the best middle school in Seattle, Washington?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Rainier Prep is the top-rated middle school in Seattle 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 Seattle, Washington?
Seattle has 23 middle schools, including 1 charter schools. Of these, 21 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average middle school rating in Seattle?
Among 21 Seattle middle schools with a composite score, the average is 7.7/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Washington).
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 Washington, 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 Washington, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the Seattle middle school rankings?
Seattle 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 Seattle2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in Seattle2026 rankings and ratings
- All 213 schools in SeattleElementary, middle and high
- Washington schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings