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
Enrollment
808
Student-Teacher
18:1
Score
8.1
Grades
6th – 8th
Updated
2022-23
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 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
John Adams Middle — Students at John Adams Middle score 53% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 52%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
41.3%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 10 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
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.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 43% (2019) to 43.28% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 63% (2019) to 61.84% (2024).
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.
Neighborhood Context
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
- Phone
- (310) 452-2326
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified- District Enrollment
- 8,641
- Schools in District
- 17
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $24,994
- District Rank
- #7 of 15
Other Schools in This District
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 methodologyRelated reading
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- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
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