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Excellent

#1265 of 9,533 schools in CA

Top 13% in state

John Adams Middle

Middle School · Santa Monica-Malibu Unified

2425 16th St., Santa Monica, CA 90405

Enrollment

808

Student-Teacher

18:1

Score

8.1

Grades

6th – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Santa Monica

#4 of 12

public schools

California middle schools

#135 of 1,349

In district

#7 of 15

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified

School environment

9.1 / 10

Exceptional

About John Adams Middle

John Adams Middle is a public middle school in Santa Monica, CA, part of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified. The school serves approximately 808 students in grades 6th – 8th with a student-teacher ratio of 18:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.1/10, placing it in the 86.7th percentile among CA schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 43% proficiency in math, 9 points above the state average and 62% in reading/language arts, 15 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in school environment (9.1/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $114,489, where 70% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a small city setting.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.9Very Good40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change-0.11 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendStable
Academics7.7Very Good35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency43.3%
Reading/ELA Proficiency61.8%
Math vs. State Avg+8.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+15.9 pts
Overall Proficiency53%
Expected (poverty-adj.)52%
vs. Expected+0.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile66th
Resources & Environment9.1Exceptional25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio18:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,739

John Adams Middle — Students at John Adams Middle score 53% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 52%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

41.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 43.2%
School
State
33.9%
ELA Proficiency 62.0%
School
State
46.6%

Based on 10 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
43%
ELA
63%
2024
Math
43.2%
ELA
61.7%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.9/10.

How John Adams Middle Compares

See how John Adams Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.1/10
87th percentile in CA
Academic
7.7/10
7.7/10
Growth
7.9/10
Above average
Environment
9.1/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
41%
Teaching Staff
18:1 student-teacher ratio
45 teachers

Location

2425 16th St., Santa Monica, CA 90405

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering John Adams Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Edison Elementary (rated 9.3/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Santa Monica High (rated 9.2/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Walgrove Avenue Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 1.1 miles away, in nearby Los Angeles), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Santa Monica, see our Santa Monica schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Will Rogers Elementary Santa Monica 0.1 mi 5.2
Grant Elementary Santa Monica 0.6 mi 8.1
SmartStart Developmental Learning Center Santa Monica 0.6 mi
SmartStart Academy Santa Monica 0.6 mi
Olympic High (Continuation) Santa Monica 0.6 mi 4.5
Edison Elementary Santa Monica 0.8 mi 9.3
Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences Santa Monica 0.8 mi
CROSSROADS SCHOOL FOR ARTS & SCIENCES Santa Monica 0.8 mi 6.3
Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) Santa Monica 0.9 mi 7.9
St. Anne Elementary Santa Monica 1.0 mi
ST ANNES SCHOOL Santa Monica 1.0 mi 7.0
St. Matthew's Parish School Santa Monica 1.0 mi
Santa Monica High Santa Monica 0.9 mi 9.2
Broadway Elementary Venice 1.2 mi 8.3
Westside Waldorf School Santa Monica 1.1 mi
WALDORF EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER Santa Monica 1.1 mi
Animo Venice Charter High Los Angeles 1.2 mi 8.3
PS1 Pluralistic School Santa Monica 1.1 mi
PS1 PLURALISTIC SCHOOL Santa Monica 1.1 mi 6.7
Walgrove Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 1.1 mi 8.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 90405 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$114,489

Median Home Value

$1,940,700

Median Rent

$2,311/mo

Population

26,809

College Educated

69.8%

Homeownership

31.1%

Avg Commute

27.4 min

Poverty Rate

9.1%

Median Age

42.2

Community Profile

The community surrounding John Adams Middle has a median household income of $114,489. It is a well-educated community where 70% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,940,700, with a median rent of $2,311/month. The local poverty rate of 9.1% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Albany Middle Albany, CA 8.1
Challenger Middle San Diego, CA 8.1
Clement Middle Redlands, CA 8.1
Helen Stacey Middle Huntington Beach, CA 8.1
Huntington Middle San Marino, CA 8.1
Joaquin Miller Middle San Jose, CA 8.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about John Adams Middle

What grades does John Adams Middle serve?

John Adams Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend John Adams Middle?

John Adams Middle has an enrollment of approximately 808 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at John Adams Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at John Adams Middle is 18:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does John Adams Middle rank in CA?

John Adams Middle is ranked #1265 out of 9,533 schools in CA.

What is John Adams Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

John Adams Middle has a composite rating of 8.1 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at John Adams Middle?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, John Adams Middle has 43.2% math proficiency and 62.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is John Adams Middle a charter school?

No, John Adams Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is John Adams Middle a Title I school?

No, John Adams Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for John Adams Middle?

41.3% of students at John Adams Middle qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
80 Very Walkable
Transit Score
53 Good Transit
Bike Score
96 Biker’s Paradise
City Safety
High (5,630/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Santa Monica). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
808
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
Teachers (FTE)
45
Free/Reduced Lunch
41.3%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Los Angeles County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified
District Enrollment
8,641
Schools in District
17
Per-Pupil Spending
$24,994
District Rank
#7 of 15

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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