Middle school can be one of the most challenging times in your child’s life, and choosing the right middle school is about more than just test scores. While you try to figure out what direction to go in with your child’s education, you might feel overwhelmed and not sure which school to choose. There are numerous educational methods and schools aren’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why to help you choose a school, we’ve created a list of the best middle schools in the United States.
While education choices can be deeply personal for each family, there are ways to determine some of the top schools in the country. Our list of best middle schools includes both private and public schools so there’s something to fit the needs of every family. Keep reading to find out more about what factors to consider when determining the best schools.
©Ground Picture/Shutterstock.com
How We Chose the Best Middle Schools in the United States
Evaluating the best schools can be tricky since there are so many factors to consider. Whether your child excels in core subjects or needs extra support, what’s right for your child may not be what’s right for other children. Even still, there are some general factors you can use to rank the top public and private schools. For this list of best middle schools in the United States, the factors to determine the best schools include:
- Academics and proficiency in core subjects
- Teaching staff
- Diversity
- Parent reviews
- Extracurriculars
While there are many ways to determine the best schools in an area, test scores and academics can be a great place to start. However, they don’t provide the whole picture. Considering factors like teaching staff, diversity, culture, and extracurriculars gives a more complete picture of what a school is like.
Best Public Middle Schools in the United States
©Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com
BASIS Phoenix
13231 North 22nd St, Phoenix, AZ 85022
(602) 595-9870
- 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
BASIS Phoenix is a public charter school that’s a part of the BASIS Charter School Network. This school in Phoenix, Arizona was ranked by Niche.com as the fifth-best public middle school in the country.
BASIS Phoenix is rated highly based on its academics, teachers, diversity, and college prep. They serve 730 students in grades 6-12. Additionally, 88% of students are proficient in math and 83% are proficient in reading.
©Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com
Riverside STEM Academy
4466 Mt Vernon Ave, Riverside, CA 92507
(951) 788-7308
Riverside STEM Academy is a highly-rated public school in Riverside, California. They serve 662 students in grades 5-12. The middle school program is highly rated based on its academics, teachers, diversity, and administration.
According to Niche.com, Riverside STEM Academy is the best public middle school in California. At Riverside STEM Academy, 94% of students are proficient in reading and 90% of students are proficient in math.
©iStock.com/monkeybusinessimages
Pine View School
1 Python Path, Osprey, FL 34229
(941) 486-2001
Pine View School is a public school in Osprey, Florida that serves students in grades 2-12. They have a student population of 1,700 and their academic program is specifically designed for gifted students. Pine View School ranks highly due to its academics, diversity, teachers, and extracurricular activities.
Pine View School is one of the only stand-alone gifted programs in the country. According to Niche.com, it was rated the second-best public middle school in Florida. 99% of students are proficient in reading, 99% are proficient in math, and the average SAT score is 1400.
©Ground Picture/Shutterstock.com
Rising Leaders Academy
1527 Lincoln Ave, Panama City, FL 32405
(850) 215-0844
Rising Leaders Academy is a public charter school in Panama City, Florida. They serve about 250 students in grades K-12. This school is highly rated due to its academics, diversity, teachers, clubs, activities, and administration.
Rising Leaders Academy was recognized by the state of Florida as a “School of Excellence” and according to Niche.com, it is the best public middle school in Florida. Additionally, according to a Niche.com survey, students feel safe and happy while at school.
- 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
©Diego Cervo/Shutterstock.com
The Davidson Academy
1164 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89503
(775) 682-5800
The Davidson Academy is a highly-rated public school in Reno, Nevada. This school has a program designed for gifted students and they serve students in grades 5-12. Instead of being grouped specifically by age or grade, students at The Davidson Academy are grouped by academic ability.
The middle school program at The Davidson Academy ranked based on its academics, staff, diversity, and college prep. 95% of students at this school are proficient in reading and math. Niche.com rated The Davidson Academy as the third-best public high school in the country.
According to one parent review, “For the right student, Davidson is a dream school. First, the students are incredibly smart and motivated, making it perfect for the child who likes to discuss intellectual pursuits with peers.”
Best Private Middle Schools in the United States
©SpeedKingz/Shutterstock.com
St. John’s School
2401 Claremont Ln, Houston, TX 77019
(713) 850-0222
St. John’s School is an independent K-12 school located in Houston, Texas. This top-rated private school has 1,424 students and annual tuition is $30,515. St. John’s School ranked highly due to its academics, diversity, teachers, and college prep.
According to Niche.com, St. John’s School ranked as the top private K-12 school in Texas. They have a low student-teacher ratio of 6 to 1 and according to one survey, 93% of students stated they feel safe at St. John’s School.
©Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com
The Chapin School
100 East End Ave, New York, NY 10028
(212) 744-2335
The Chapin School is a private, all-girls school in New York City. This school serves 825 students in grades K-12. The Chapin School ranked highly due to its academics, teachers, diversity, clubs, activities, and sports.
The Chapin School also has a low student-teacher ratio of 6 to 1. They also have a highly-rated staff and 86% of the teachers at this school have advanced degrees. For students to attend, the annual tuition is $62,500. According to Niche.com, The Chapin School ranked as the second-best private K-12 school in the state.
©SpeedKingz/Shutterstock.com
Riverdale Country School
5250 Fieldston Rd, Bronx, NY 10471
(718) 549-8810
Riverdale Country School is an independent, college-preparatory school in the Bronx, New York. They serve around 1,299 students in grades K-12. Riverdale Country School was ranked as the top private K-12 school in the state according to Niche.com. This school ranked highly due to its academics, teachers, diversity, clubs, and activities.
For students to attend Riverdale Country School, the annual tuition is $54,545. The school has numerous clubs and activities for students to participate in and athletic participation is high across the student population.
©Sergey Novikov/Shutterstock.com
The Pingry School
131 Martinsville Road, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
(908) 647-5555
- 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
The Pingry School is an independent college-preparatory school located in New Jersey. They serve about 1,129 students in grades K-12. This school is highly rated due to its academics, teachers, extracurriculars, diversity, and sports. Annual tuition for students is $47,336.
According to Niche.com, The Pingry School ranked as the best private K-12 school in New Jersey. They have a low student-teacher ratio of 7 to 1, and they also have high participation in clubs, activities, and athletics teams. According to one survey by Niche.com, 93% of students and parents say that the teachers give engaging lessons and adequately lead in the classroom.
©Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com
The Nueva School
6565 CA-35, Hillsborough, CA 94010
(650) 235-7100
The Nueva School is a highly-rated private school located in Hillsborough, California. They currently serve 853 students in grades Pre-K-12 and annual tuition is $53,350. This school is ranked highly due to its academics, diversity, teachers, and extracurriculars.
The Nueva School also has a low student-teacher ratio of 6 to 1. According to Niche.com, The Nueva School ranked as the best private K-12 school in California. Additionally, 93% of students and parents agree that the teachers give engaging lessons and that they genuinely care about the students.
According to one review, “Closely cooperating with Stanford University and Silicon Valley's famous creative company IDEO, this private middle school pays the most attention to cultivating students' learning methods and creativity.”
Choosing the Right Middle School for Your Child
It doesn’t matter how old your child is–as a parent, you’re always going to be invested in their well-being and want to make the best decisions for their future. Choosing the right school for your child is a large part of that.
If you’re looking for the best middle schools in the United States, there are numerous factors to consider. Choosing the right school may look different for every family and it’s important to consider the specific needs of your child even if your choice looks different than most other parents. However, if you’re looking for a great school for your child, these middle schools are an excellent place to start.
Check Out the Other Best Schools in the United States
- Best Elementary Schools in the United States
- Best High Schools in the United States
- Best Schools in the United States
The image featured at the top of this post is ©SpeedKingz/Shutterstock.com.