California's Best Charter Public Middle Schools

The California Department of Education honors exceptional schools with the California Distinguished School Award. Below is a list of charter middle schools that received the distinction in 2026.

Middle Schools (Grades 6-8)

• Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle, Greater Los Angeles
• Animo Pat Brown, Greater Los Angeles
• Animo South Los Angeles Charter, Greater Los Angeles
• College Preparatory Middle, Southern California
• Gaspar De Portola Charter Middle, Greater Los Angeles
• George Ellery Hale Charter Academy, Greater Los Angeles
• Hickman Middle, Central Valley & Northern Central
• High Tech Middle North County, Southern California
• Hillcrest Middle, Northern California
• ICEF Vista Middle Academy, Greater Los Angeles
• Oakland Unity Middle, Bay Area
• Oxford Preparatory Academy – Middle, Southern California
• PUC Community Charter Middle, Greater Los Angeles
• PUC Triumph Charter Academy, Greater Los Angeles
• KIPP Summit Academy, Bay Area
  

Middle/High Schools (Grades 6-12, 7-12 or Grades K-12)

• Aspire Benjamin Holt College Preparatory Academy, Central Valley & Northern Central
• El Rancho Charter, Southern California
• High Tech High Mesa, Southern California
• Inspire School of Arts and Sciences, Northern California
• KIPP Navigate College Prep, Bay Area
• Magnolia Science Academy 4, Greater Los Angeles
• Magnolia Science Academy 5, Greater Los Angeles
• Magnolia Science Academy 6, Greater Los Angeles
• Magnolia Science Academy San Diego, Southern California
• Millennium Charter, Central Valley & Northern Central
• Samueli Academy, Southern California
• School for Entrepreneurship and Technology, Southern California
• Sherman Thomas STEM Academy, Central Valley & Northern Central
• Synergy Kinetic Academy, Greater Los Angeles
• The Grove School, Southern California
• The Preuss School UC San Diego, Southern California
• University Preparatory Academy Charter, Bay Area
• Western Center Academy, Southern California

Niche is a leading school search and review platform used by millions of families to research and compare schools. More than 21 million people use Niche annually to research K–12 schools for their children. Drawing on Niche’s 2026 rankings and data, we’ve highlighted the highest-ranked charter middle schools in California, based on academic performance, school culture, student experiences and other measures.

• Ranked #16 – Yu Ming Charter School, Oakland
• Ranked #23 – Goethe International Charter School, Los Angeles
• Ranked #47 – Elevate Elementary School, San Diego
• Ranked #61 – College Preparatory Middle – La Mesa Spring Valley, Spring Valley