Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Monterey County Public Middle Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 44 public middle schools serving 17,126 students in Monterey County, CA.
The top-ranked public middle schools in Monterey County, CA are Carmel Middle School, Pacific Grove Middle School and San Benancio Middle School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Monterey County, CA public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 22% (versus the California public middle school average of 32%), and reading proficiency score of 39% (versus the 46% statewide average). Middle schools in Monterey County have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of California public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 84% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public middle school average of 78% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Middle Schools in Monterey County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Carmel Middle School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4380 Carmel Valley Rd.
Carmel, CA 93922
(831) 624-2785
Gr: 6-8 | 468 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #22.
Pacific Grove Middle School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
835 Forest Ave.
Pacific Grove, CA 93950
(831) 646-6568
Gr: 6-8 | 439 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #33.
San Benancio Middle School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
43 San Benancio Rd.
Salinas, CA 93908
(831) 484-1172
Gr: 6-8 | 261 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #44.
La Mesa
(Math: 49% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1 La Mesa Way
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 649-1872
Gr: K-8 | 689 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #55.
Big Sur Charter
Charter School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
304 Foam St.
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 324-4573
Gr: K-12 | 101 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #66.
Monterey Bay Charter
Charter School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1004 David Ave.
Pacific Grove, CA 93950
(831) 655-4638
Gr: K-8 | 475 students Student-teacher ratio: 28:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #77.
Monte Vista
(Math: 42% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
100 Toda Vista Dr.
Monterey, CA 93942
(831) 392-3890
Gr: K-8 | 688 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #88.
Phoenix Academy Community Day
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
667 Meyer Ave.
King City, CA 93930
(831) 385-4400
Gr: 5-8
Rank: #99.
Carr Lake Community Day
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
10 Sherwood Pl.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 796-7700
Gr: 7-12 | 18 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #1010.
Buena Vista Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
18250 Tara Dr.
Salinas, CA 93908
(831) 455-8936
Gr: 6-8 | 321 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #1111.
Mission Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
36825 Foothill Rd.
Soledad, CA 93960
(831) 678-3524
Gr: K-8 | 130 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #1212.
Pacific Valley (K-12)
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
69325 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
(805) 927-4507
Gr: K-12 | 11 students Student-teacher ratio: 2:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #1313.
International School Of Monterey
Charter School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1720 Yosemite St.
Seaside, CA 93955
(831) 583-2165
Gr: K-8 | 439 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #1414.
Graves Elementary School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
15 Mcfadden Rd.
Salinas, CA 93908
(831) 422-6392
Gr: K-8 | 32 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #1515.
Bradley Elementary School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
65600 Dixie St.
Bradley, CA 93426
(805) 472-2310
Gr: K-8 | 54 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #1616.
Chualar Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
24285 Lincoln St.
Chualar, CA 93925
(831) 679-2313
Gr: K-8 | 234 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1717.
Bay View Academy
Charter School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
222 Casa Verde Ave.
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 717-4630
Gr: K-8 | 477 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #1818.
Aromas
(Math: 28% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
365 Vega St.
Aromas, CA 95004
(831) 726-5100
Gr: K-8 | 399 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #1919.
Wellington M. Smith Junior
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1420 Natividad Rd.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 755-3979
Gr: 4-12 | 50 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2020.
Bitterwater-tully Elementary School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
45980 Airline Hwy State Highwa
King City, CA 93930
(831) 385-5339
Gr: K-8 | 35 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
Dual Language Academy Of The Monterey Peninsula
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1650 Sonoma Ave.
Seaside, CA 93955
(831) 899-1100
Gr: K-8 | 410 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
Washington Middle School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
560 Iverson St.
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 796-7100
Gr: 7-8 | 1,082 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #2323.
El Sausal Middle School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1155 East Alisal St.
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 796-7200
Gr: 7-8 | 1,067 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #2424.
Monterey County Home Charter
Charter School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
901 Blanco Cir.
Salinas, CA 93912
(831) 755-0331
Gr: K-12 | 255 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #2525.
La Paz Middle School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1300 North Sanborn Rd.
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 796-7900
Gr: 7-8 | 1,099 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
Rank: #2626.
Seaside Middle School
(Math: 17% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
999 Coe Ave.
Seaside, CA 93955
(831) 899-7080
Gr: 7-8 | 521 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #2727.
San Antonio Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
67550 Lockwood/jolon Rd.
Lockwood, CA 93932
(831) 385-3051
Gr: K-8 | 134 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #2828.
Gavilan View Middle School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
18250 Van Buren Ave.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 443-7212
Gr: 6-8 | 556 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #2929.
Harden Middle School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1561 Mckinnon St.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 796-7300
Gr: 7-8 | 1,101 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #3030.
John Gutierrez Middle School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1031 Rogge Rd.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 443-3300
Gr: 6-8 | 568 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #3131.
San Lucas Elementary School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
53675 San Benito St.
San Lucas, CA 93954
(831) 382-4426
Gr: K-8 | 72 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #3232.
Los Arboles Middle School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
294 Hillcrest Ave.
Marina, CA 93933
(831) 384-3550
Gr: 7-8 | 408 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #3333.
North Monterey County Middle School
(Math: 12% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
10301 Seymour St.
Castroville, CA 95012
(831) 633-3391
Gr: 7-8 | 624 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #3434.
Monterey Peninsula Unf School Dist Com Day Middle School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
200 Coe Ave.
Seaside, CA 93955
(831) 392-3822
Gr: 6-8 | 3 students Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #3535.
Vista Verde Middle School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1199 Elm Ave.
Greenfield, CA 93927
(831) 674-1420
Gr: 7-8 | 727 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Show 9 more public schools in Monterey County, CA (out of 44 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public middle schools in Monterey County, CA?
The top-ranked public middle schools in Monterey County, CA include Carmel Middle School, Pacific Grove Middle School and San Benancio Middle School.
How many public middle schools are located in Monterey County?
45 public middle schools are located in Monterey County.
What is the racial composition of students in Monterey County?
Monterey County public middle schools minority enrollment is 84% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public middle schools average of 78% (majority Hispanic).
Which public middle schools in Monterey County are often viewed compared to one another?

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