Matt DiSanto
March 26, 2024 at 10:54 AM
Getty Images/iStockphoto
Looking for information on the best public middle schools in Pennsylvania? Niche, a website that provides comprehensive data on schools and colleges nationwide, offers valuable insights through its latest rankings.
Niche’s annual rankings draw upon various sources such as the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census, Civil Rights Data Collection, and more. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, this school search platform assesses public middle schools based on the following key categories:
- Academic Performance, which considers state assessment proficiency rates, district academics grades, student-to-teacher ratios, and feedback from parent or student surveys on academics.
- Diversity, which takes into account a student racial diversity index, surveys on culture and diversity from parents or students, and the percentages of economically disadvantaged students and gender diversity.
- Teachers, which evaluates academic grades, surveys on educators from parents or students, teacher absenteeism, salary index, the proportion of teachers in their early years of teaching, average salary, and student-to-teacher ratios.
Niche assigns overall grades by weighting different segments as follows:
- Academics grade: 50%
- Teachers grade: 20%
- School district’s overall Niche grade: 15%
- Culture and diversity grade: 10%
- Parent/student surveys on overall experience: 5%
In Pennsylvania, the top public middle schools are predominantly located near Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Notably, three schools achieved an overall grade of “A”: Mount Nittany Middle School, Park Forest Middle School, and Centre Learning Community Charter School. Bellefonte Area Middle School and Young Scholars of Central Pennsylvania Charter School also performed well, receiving “B-” grades.
Each of the top-ranked public middle schools in Pennsylvania for 2024 attained an overall grade of “A” or higher according to Niche’s analysis. Here’s a glimpse of how the top 25 public middle schools in Pennsylvania compare this year:
25. David E. Williams Middle School
Location: Coraopolis, Pa.
Grades: A overall, A academics, A+ teachers, B diversity
With a student-to-teacher ratio of 16-to-1 for its 952 students in grades five to eight, David E. Williams Middle School in Coraopolis demonstrates proficiency rates of at least 57% in math and approximately 76% in reading based on the latest standardized test scores.
24. Peters Township Middle School
Location: McMurray, Pa.
Grades: A overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, C diversity
Ranked as the top public middle school in Washington County, Peters Township Middle School in McMurray serves around 905 students with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14-to-1. Recent standardized testing indicates proficiency rates of about 54% in math and 84% in reading.
23. Lionville Middle School
Location: Exton, Pa.
Grades: A overall, A academics, A teachers, A- diversity
Situated near Philadelphia, Lionville Middle School in Exton offers a 13-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio for its 1,031 seventh and eighth-grade students. Recent standardized tests show proficiency rates of 59% in math and 81% in reading.
22. Quaker Valley Middle School
Location: Sewickley, Pa.
Grades: A overall, A academics, A+ teachers, B- diversity
Instructing 444 students in grades six to eight, Quaker Valley Middle School in Sewickley maintains an 11-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Proficiency rates based on recent standardized tests reveal 45% in math and 80% in reading.
21. Wissahickon Middle School
Location: Ambler, Pa.
Grades: A overall, A academics, A teachers, A diversity
With a 13-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio for its 1,126 students in grades six to eight, Wissahickon Middle School in Ambler reports proficiency rates of about 46% in math and roughly 78% in reading.
20. Strath Haven Middle School
Location: Wallingford, Pa.
Grades: A overall, A academics, A+ teachers, B+ diversity
Located in Delaware County, Strath Haven Middle School in Wallingford caters to approximately 863 students in grades six to eight with a 12-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Proficiency rates stand at 47% in math and 71% in reading.
19. South Fayette Middle School
Location: McDonald, Pa.
Grades: A overall, A academics, A+ teachers, B+ diversity
Near Pittsburgh, South Fayette Middle School in McDonald boasts a 15-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio for its 822 sixth to eighth-grade students. Standardized testing indicates proficiency rates of about 57% in math and 85% in reading.
18. Hampton Middle School
Location: Allison Park, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, C+ diversity
With a 13-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio for its 656 sixth to eighth-grade students, Hampton Middle School in Allison Park shows proficiency rates of 53% in math and 81% in reading based on the latest standardized test scores.
17. Infinity Charter School
Location: Harrisburg, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A+ teachers, A diversity
Instructing 256 students from kindergarten to eighth grade, Infinity Charter School in Harrisburg offers a 13-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Proficiency rates based on state standardized tests are around 67% in math and 87% in reading.
16. Carson Middle School
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A+ teachers, B diversity
Carson Middle School in Pittsburgh serves approximately 659 sixth to eighth-grade students with a 12-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Proficiency rates from recent state tests are about 41% in math and 77% in reading.
15. Mellon Middle School
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, B- diversity
Also in Pittsburgh, Mellon Middle School instructs roughly 641 students in grades six to eight with a 12-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Proficiency rates stand at around 52% in math and 85% in reading.
14. Dorseyville Middle School
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, B diversity
Continuing the trend of top-performing Pittsburgh schools, Dorseyville Middle School maintains a 13-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio for its 957 sixth to eighth-grade students. Proficiency rates based on recent standardized tests are 59% in math and 82% in reading.
13. Hershey Middle School
Location: Hershey, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A- diversity
Named the top public middle school in Dauphin County, Hershey Middle School in Hershey instructs 767 sixth to eighth-grade students with an 11-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Proficiency rates based on recent state tests are 72% in math and 87% in reading.
12. Fort Couch Middle School
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, B diversity
Fort Couch Middle School in Pittsburgh accommodates over 600 seventh and eighth-grade students with a 13-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Proficiency rates are approximately 65% in math and 90% in reading.
11. Jefferson Middle School
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, B- diversity
With an 11-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio for its 603 sixth to eighth-grade students, Jefferson Middle School in Pittsburgh reports proficiency rates of 55% in math and 89% in reading based on recent standardized tests.
10. Boyce Middle School
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, B diversity
Another notable school in Pittsburgh, Boyce Middle School caters to 592 fifth and sixth-grade students with a 12-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Proficiency rates are 70% in math and 87% in reading.
9. Welsh Valley Middle School
Location: Narberth, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, B+ diversity
Located near Philadelphia in Montgomery County, Welsh Valley Middle School serves approximately 815 fifth to eighth-grade students with an 8-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Proficiency rates are around 63% in math and 80% in reading.
8. Ingomar Middle School
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, B diversity
Ingomar Middle School in Pittsburgh boasts a 13-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio for its 547 sixth to eighth-grade students. Proficiency rates based on state tests are approximately 48% in math and up to 80% in reading.
7. Tredyffrin-Easttown Middle School
Location: Berwyn, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A- diversity
With a 14-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio, Tredyffrin-Easttown Middle School in Berwyn instructs about 1,052 fifth to eighth-grade students. Proficiency rates based on recent standardized tests are 66% in math and 86% in reading.
6. Bala Cynwyd Middle School
Location: Bala Cynwyd, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A teachers, A- diversity
Bala Cynwyd Middle School in Bala Cynwyd caters to around 811 fifth to eighth-grade students with an 8-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Proficiency rates are at 66% in math and 84% in reading based on state standardized tests.
5. Valley Forge Middle School
Location: Wayne, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A- diversity
Ranked as the top public middle school in Chester County, Valley Forge Middle School in Wayne offers a 14-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio for its 1,141 fifth to sixth-grade students. Proficiency rates stand at 69% in math and 87% in reading.
4. Marshall Middle School
Location: Wexford, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, B+ diversity
With a 14-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio, Marshall Middle School in Wexford serves 800 sixth to eighth-grade students. Proficiency rates based on recent standardized tests are 55% in math and 81% in reading.
3. Radnor Middle School
Location: Wayne, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, B+ diversity
Instructing approximately 828 sixth to eighth-grade students, Radnor Middle School in Wayne offers an 11-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Proficiency rates are around 63% in math and 87% in reading.
2. The Souderton Charter School Collective
Location: Souderton, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A- diversity
Instructing about 226 kindergarten to eighth-grade students, The Souderton Charter School Collective in Souderton maintains an 8-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Proficiency rates based on recent state tests are 67% in math and 92% in reading.
1. Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School
Location: Philadelphia, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A diversity
With nearly 1,200 fifth to twelfth-grade students, Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School in Philadelphia offers a 22-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Proficiency rates following state standardized testing are an impressive 95% in both math and reading.
For more detailed rankings, data, and reviews of Pennsylvania’s top public middle schools, visit Niche’s website.