When it comes to American public schools, early childhood education and high school achievement tend to dominate the conversation — while middle school quality tends to take a backseat. Despite the apparent lack of emphasis, children spend some of their most pivotal years of development in middle school.

Middle school serves as a critical bridge between elementary school and high school. Middle schools typically consist of the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade, and sometimes include the fifth grade as well. Currently, about 1 in every 5 Americans enrolled in school are fifth to eighth graders.

The best methods in education remain a matter of debate and schools approach teaching, administration, and discipline differently. While there is little consensus as to which methods are the best, it is clear that some schools manage to deliver exceptional results where others struggle. Based on analysis by school ranking website Niche, which considers factors such as academic proficiency, parent and student reviews, school culture, and more, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from to identify the best public or charter middle school in each state.

Click here the see the top middle school in each state.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.

1. Alabama
> Middle school: Mt. Brook Junior High School, Mountain Brook
> Students: 1,091
> Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
> Pct. proficient: 84% (math), 77% (reading)

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2. Alaska
> Middle school: Northern Lights ABC K-8 School, Anchorage
> Students: 609
> Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
> Pct. proficient: 67% (math), 69% (reading)

3. Arizona
> Middle school: BASIS Scottsdale, Scottsdale
> Students: 754
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Pct. proficient: 95% (math), 90% (reading)

4. Arkansas
> Middle school: LISA Academy North Middle School, Sherwood
> Students: 177
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Pct. proficient: 82% (math), 82% (reading)

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5. California
> Middle school: Terman Middle School, Palo Alto
> Students: 722
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Pct. proficient: 78% (math), 84% (reading)

6. Colorado
> Middle school: Peak to Peak Charter School, Boulder
> Students: 1,444
> Student-teacher ratio: 21:1
> Pct. proficient: 55% (math), 70% (reading)

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7. Connecticut
> Middle school: Bedford Middle School, Westport
> Students: 853
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Pct. proficient: 70% (math), 86% (reading)

8. Delaware
> Middle school: Newark Charter School, Newark
> Students: 1,787
> Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
> Pct. proficient: 84% (math), 93% (reading)

9. Florida
> Middle school: Pine View School, Osprey
> Students: 2,186
> Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
> Pct. proficient: 99% (math), 99% (reading)

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10. Georgia
> Middle school: Buford Middle School, Buford
> Students: 1,002
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Pct. proficient: 67% (math), 54% (reading)

11. Hawaii
> Middle school: Education Laboratory Public Charter School, Honolulu
> Students: 444
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Pct. proficient: 62% (math), 89% (reading)

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12. Idaho
> Middle school: Falcon Ridge Public Charter School, Kuna
> Students: 276
> Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
> Pct. proficient: 92% (math), 92% (reading)

13. Illinois
> Middle school: Kennedy Junior High School, Naperville
> Students: 927
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Pct. proficient: 73% (math), 80% (reading)

14. Indiana
> Middle school: Creekside Middle School, Carmel
> Students: 1,579
> Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
> Pct. proficient: 86% (math), 89% (reading)

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15. Iowa
> Middle school: Gilbert Middle School, Gilbert
> Students: 331
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Pct. proficient: 98% (math), 93% (reading)

16. Kansas
> Middle school: Susan B. Anthony Middle School, Manhattan
> Students: 462
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Pct. proficient: 85% (math), 94% (reading)

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17. Kentucky
> Middle school: Anchorage Independent Public School, Anchorage
> Students: 380
> Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
> Pct. proficient: 86% (math), 87% (reading)

18. Louisiana
> Middle school: Lusher Charter School, New Orleans
> Students: 1,691
> Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
> Pct. proficient: 97% (math), 99% (reading)

19. Maine
> Middle school: Frank H. Harrison Middle School, Yarmouth
> Students: 489
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Pct. proficient: 73% (math), 79% (reading)

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20. Maryland
> Middle school: Cabin John Middle School, Potomac
> Students: 942
> Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
> Pct. proficient: 68% (math), 75% (reading)

21. Massachusetts
> Middle school: Edward W. Brooke Charter School – East Boston, Boston
> Students: 393
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Pct. proficient: 92% (math), 92% (reading)

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22. Michigan
> Middle school: Boulan Park Middle School, Troy
> Students: 751
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Pct. proficient: 84% (math), 86% (reading)

23. Minnesota
> Middle school: Wayzata East Middle School, Plymouth
> Students: 697
> Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
> Pct. proficient: 81% (math), 81% (reading)

24. Mississippi
> Middle school: Clinton Junior High School, Clinton
> Students: 768
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Pct. proficient: 89% (math), 78% (reading)

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25. Missouri
> Middle school: Wydown Middle School, Clayton
> Students: 611
> Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
> Pct. proficient: 73% (math), 80% (reading)

26. Montana
> Middle school: Swan River Junior High School, Bigfork
> Students: 37
> Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
> Pct. proficient: 75% (math), 90% (reading)

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27. Nebraska
> Middle school: Elkhorn Middle School, Elkhorn
> Students: 367
> Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
> Pct. proficient: 93% (math), 98% (reading)

28. Nevada
> Middle school: Somerset Academy of Las Vegas, Las Vegas
> Students: 4,523
> Student-teacher ratio: 22:1
> Pct. proficient: 75% (math), 84% (reading)

29. New Hampshire
> Middle school: Academy for Science & Design Middle School, Nashua
> Students: 346
> Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
> Pct. proficient: 89% (math), 86% (reading)

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30. New Jersey
> Middle school: Thomas R. Grover Middle School, West Windsor
> Students: 1,161
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Pct. proficient: 75% (math), 84% (reading)

31. New Mexico
> Middle school: Southwest Intermediate Learning Center, Albuquerque
> Students: 109
> Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
> Pct. proficient: 42% (math), 62% (reading)

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32. New York
> Middle school: Great Neck South Middle School, Great Neck
> Students: 774
> Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
> Pct. proficient: 81% (math), 73% (reading)

33. North Carolina
> Middle school: Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy, Charlotte
> Students: 363
> Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
> Pct. proficient: 96% (math), 95% (reading)

34. North Dakota
> Middle school: Emerado Elementary School, Emerado
> Students: 92
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Pct. proficient: 75% (math), 65% (reading)

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35. Ohio
> Middle school: Orchard Middle School, Cleveland
> Students: 736
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Pct. proficient: 96% (math), 97% (reading)

36. Oklahoma
> Middle school: Cottonwood Public School, Coalgate
> Students: 177
> Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
> Pct. proficient: 92% (math), 92% (reading)

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37. Oregon
> Middle school: Riverdale Grade School, Portland
> Students: 346
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Pct. proficient: 87% (math), 84% (reading)

38. Pennsylvania
> Middle school: Julia R. Masterman Middle and High School, Philadelphia
> Students: 1,180
> Student-teacher ratio: 21:1
> Pct. proficient: 93% (math), 99% (reading)

39. Rhode Island
> Middle school: Barrington Middle School, Barrington
> Students: 819
> Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
> Pct. proficient: 59% (math), 73% (reading)

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40. South Carolina
> Middle school: Spartanburg Preparatory School, Spartanburg
> Students: 367
> Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
> Pct. proficient: 89% (math), 89% (reading)

41. South Dakota
> Middle school: Big Stone City Middle School, Big Stone City
> Students: 24
> Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
> Pct. proficient: 85% (math), 85% (reading)

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42. Tennessee
> Middle school: Hillsboro Elementary/Middle School, Franklin
> Students: 529
> Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
> Pct. proficient: 86% (math), 82% (reading)

43. Texas
> Middle school: Wester Middle School, Frisco
> Students: 878
> Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
> Pct. proficient: 96% (math), 94% (reading)

44. Utah
> Middle school: American Preparatory Academy – Salem, Salem
> Students: 464
> Student-teacher ratio: 23:1
> Pct. proficient: 65% (math), 74% (reading)

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45. Vermont
> Middle school: Montgomery Center School, Montgomery Center
> Students: 138
> Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
> Pct. proficient: 77% (math), 82% (reading)

46. Virginia
> Middle school: Carson Middle School, Herndon
> Students: 1,432
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Pct. proficient: 95% (math), 95% (reading)

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47. Washington
> Middle school: Odle Middle School, Bellevue
> Students: 782
> Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
> Pct. proficient: 78% (math), 81% (reading)

48. West Virginia
> Middle school: Suncrest Middle School, Morgantown
> Students: 518
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Pct. proficient: 51% (math), 63% (reading)

49. Wisconsin
> Middle school: Pilgrim Park Middle School, Elm Grove
> Students: 776
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Pct. proficient: 67% (math), 71% (reading)

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50. Wyoming
> Middle school: Snowy Range Academy, Laramie
> Students: 165
> Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
> Pct. proficient: 77% (math), 77% (reading)

An important and measurable quality of a given school is the ratio between students and teachers. Though there is widespread disagreement on the optimal student-to-teacher ratio, many argue that a low ratio often fosters stronger outcomes as instructors are better able to focus on individual students and their needs.

Nationwide, there are 16 students for every teacher in public schools. The majority of the best middle schools in each state have lower than average student-to-teacher ratios. In Big Stone City Middle School in South Dakota, there are only six students per teacher, the lowest ratio of any school on this list.

Educational outcomes are the ultimate test of a school’s quality. In 34 of the 50 schools on this list, at least three-quarters of the student body are considered proficient in reading and math. In every school on the list, at least half of all students are proficient in reading, and only one school on this list — Southwest Intermediate Learning Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico — has a math proficiency score below 50%.

Just because a school ranks as the best in its respective state does not necessarily mean it compares favorably on a national scale. Several states have notoriously weak public school systems and even their best schools rank behind thousands of others nationwide. For example, though Suncrest Middle School is the best in West Virginia, more than 2,000 middle schools in the United States are ranked higher. On the other side of the coin, four of the five best middle schools in the country are in Arizona.

To determine the best public middle school in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed rankings for all public schools from school and neighborhood data clearinghouse Niche. Data on rank, number of students, student-to-teacher ratio, and math and reading proficiency also came from Niche. Some schools on this list include high school and elementary school grade levels.

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