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Montgomery Middle · San Diego

Montgomery Middle: No single number tells this school's story. Here's the honest picture.

Montgomery posts 33% meeting the standard and 9.2% exceeding it, against 39% and 16.8% statewide. The gaps and the bright spots below are the real read.

2019–2025 trend · CDE CAASPP
This schoolCA avg
Scope3743
% Exceeded9%17%
% Met+33%39%
Growth+6.8+1.5
Absence25.4%18.5%
Suspension8.2%3.7%
Scope Score
37
📈 On the Rise · Developing
ranked #1,369 statewide · #36 of 58 in San Diego Unified

Montgomery Middle scores 37 of 100 on SchoolScope's Scope Score — the 39th percentile of 2,238 California middle schools (CDE CAASPP 2025).

Measures test performance, attendance, and climate — not arts, community, or your kid. How we score →

📈 On the Rise — Ask how many years the improvement has held, not just the latest one — one strong cohort and a real turnaround can look identical in a single year of data.

Most rating sites would stop at “33% proficient” and call it done. Montgomery deserves a closer read. It sits at the 39th percentile of 2,238 California middle schools — but the ranking is the least interesting thing on this page.

The seven-year arc

Percentile among 2,238 middle schools statewide

Climbed from the 22nd to the 39th percentile since 2019 — past roughly 200 middle schools.

CA Dashboard
ELAGreen(Increased Significantly)MathBlue(Increased Significantly)

Proficiency here is back to its pre-pandemic level — 33% meet the standard, about where the school stood in 2019.

ELA — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 644%18%25%30%31%
Grade 742%38%30%30%45%
Grade 834%38%40%35%44%
Math — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 624%11%25%21%24%
Grade 725%16%13%20%32%
Grade 820%18%21%17%24%

The story this school is actually telling

The school, grade by grade

ELA · CAASPP 2024–25

Different students, same year — each bar is one grade's proficiency mix.

26%
69%
Grade 6 · 31% proficient
9%
36%
55%
Grade 7 · 45% proficient
15%
29%
56%
Grade 8 · 44% proficient

The honest read: the share exceeding rises 9.6pp across grades; the floor rises 13.2pp. The state average falls 0.5pp over the same span. Kids here gain ground the longer they stay — the pattern you want to see. A school visit and conversation with teachers will tell you more than this number.

The 6 things our score weighs

Exceeded standard
9.2%
State 16.8%
7.6pp below state avg
Growth (G6→G8)
+6.8pp
State +1.5pp
Scores improve across grades
Met or exceeded
33.5%
State 39.3%
5.8pp below state avg
Chronic absenteeism
25.4%
State 18.5%
6.9pp above state avg
Suspension rate
8.2%
State 3.7%
4.5pp above state avg
EL proficiency (ELPAC)
22.7%
State 18.0%
4.8pp above state avg
Worth a school visit

Ask what the school is working on next. Strong numbers tell you where a school is, not where it's going.

  • Ask how the school follows up when a student starts missing days — chronic absence often starts outside the classroom, not inside it.
  • Ask what typically leads to a suspension, and what happens before it gets there.
  • Ask whether the tour can step into a working classroom — watch how the teacher handles a student who's stuck.
  • Ask to tour while school's in session, and notice how hallways and transitions feel — culture shows up between classes, not just in them.
  • Ask how the school communicates with families when a child starts to struggle.
  • Ask what a typical day looks like for a new student in the first few weeks.

How every group of students does here

At Montgomery Middle in San Diego, 36.8% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 42.6% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Montgomery Middle trails its district average for low-income students by 5.8 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (24.6% Math proficient); Hispanic students (32.5% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 38.2 percentage points for english learner students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 272 students tested.

All students at this school: 33% met or exceeded
All StudentsAll Students: this school 33%, district —, state 39%33%
Socioeconomically DisadvantagedSocioeconomically Disadvantaged: this school 31%, district 36%, state 32%31% · −3 vs school
Hispanic/LatinoHispanic/Latino: this school 26%, district 35%, state 32%26% · −7 vs school
FemaleFemale: this school 32%, district 51%, state 44%32% · −2 vs school
MaleMale: this school 35%, district 50%, state 42%35% · +2 vs school
English LearnersEnglish Learners: this school 7%, district 10%, state 11%7% · −26 vs school
Students with DisabilitiesStudents with Disabilities: this school 10%, district 21%, state 15%10% · −23 vs school
AsianAsian: this school 55%, district 72%, state 72%55% · +22 vs school
HomelessHomeless: this school 16%, district 23%, state 22%16% · −17 vs school
Black/African AmericanBlack/African American: this school 11%, district 27%, state 26%11% · −22 vs school

7 of 17 student groups here are too small to report — a privacy protection, not a gap.

this school district, same group California, same group
Subgroup growth by grade

Change in proficiency from the lowest tested grade — which groups gain ground the longer they stay. Groups with fewer than 10 tested students per grade are not shown.

Low-income student ELA proficiency rises by 11.5pp from grade 6 to grade 8 at this school. District average: +0.8pp.

Showing up, and staying in class

Chronic absenteeismChronic absenteeism: this school 25.4%, district 20.8%, state 18.5%25.4% · +6.9pp vs state
Suspension rateSuspension rate: this school 8.2%, district —, state 3.7%8.2% · +4.5pp vs state
Chronic absenteeism by grade band
Grades 4–623.9%
Grades 7–826.8%

Where the path goes

The path below follows attendance boundaries — scores shown for each next step.

K-12 Feeder Path

Estimated path based on proximity within the same district. Contact your school district for official feeder information.

The people teaching here

Context — never part of the Scope Score
Teaching staff19 teachers
Avg. experience19.8 years
Fully credentialed96%
Salary Schedule
Teacher salary schedule$55,375 – $124,275
Principal salary$0 – $187,294
Superintendent salary$300,404

Pay is set by the district, not the school.

What gets spent here

Per-pupil spendingPer-pupil spending: $24,949, CA average $14,815$24,949 · spent at this school
Federal share$2,708 per student

$2,708 per student arrives as federal Title funding — a measure of concentrated need, not school quality.

District current expense · FY 2024–25$21,967 per student

The district's current expense of education per student, from CDE's annual SACS filing — the freshest district spending figure the state publishes.

Where the district's dollars go · FY 2024–25 · CDE SACS
Instruction63%
Instruction support12%
Student services12%
Administration5%
Buildings & maintenance7%
Other1%

District-level, from the district's own SACS general-ledger filing — school-by-school breakdowns aren't published by the state.

district detail, 2016–2020 — the newest published
2020$15,976 per pupil
2019$14,540 per pupil
2018$14,457 per pupil
2017$11,416 per pupil
2016$11,708 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

The neighborhood it serves

Hispanic66.7%
District 47.0% · CA 56.1%
Asian12.9%
District 8.7% · CA 10.2%
Other8.5%
District 13.8% · CA 9.0%
Black7.0%
District 7.5% · CA 4.8%
White5.0%
District 22.9% · CA 19.9%
Neighborhood — American Community Survey
Median income$100K · CA $85K
Median home value$818K · CA $659K
Bachelor's degree+46% · CA 35%
ZIP population45,249
Median age39 years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024) · ZIP-level

Worth Knowing

On the state's science test (CAST), 21% met or exceeded the standard — science is tested in grades 5 and 8 but never enters the Scope Score.

Frequently asked questions

Is Montgomery Middle a good middle school?

Montgomery Middle has a Scope Score of 37 out of 100, placing it in the 39th percentile of California middle schools and ranked #1,369 statewide. 9.2% of students exceeded the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment, which is 7.6 percentage points below the California average of 16.8%. The Scope Score weights 6 dimensions for middle schools: exceeded standard (38%), grade 6-to-8 growth (27%), met or exceeded (proficient) (20%), chronic absenteeism (5%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

What are Montgomery Middle's CAASPP test scores?

On the 2025 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessment, 33.5% of students at Montgomery Middle met or exceeded the state standard in ELA and Math combined, and 9.2% exceeded it. The gap between those numbers matters: 24.3% of students are at the proficiency floor, while 9.2% pushed past it. Most rating sites report only the combined "proficient" number. SchoolScope surfaces the exceeded-vs-met split because it reveals whether a school's curriculum challenges students beyond minimum proficiency or paces toward it. 632 student-subject combinations were assessed.

How does Montgomery Middle rank in California?

Montgomery Middle ranks #1,369 among California middle schools by Scope Score, placing it in the 39th percentile. This ranking is based on a weighted composite of 2025 CAASPP test performance (exceeded and met rates), grade-level growth (Grade 6 to grade 8 growth), chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score shows what drives the ranking so parents can decide what matters most to their family. See full methodology.

Is Montgomery Middle getting better or worse?

Based on 2025 CAASPP data, proficiency at Montgomery Middle increases by 6.8 percentage points from Grade 6 to grade 8 growth. This upward trajectory suggests the school is adding measurable value — students leave with higher proficiency rates than they entered with. Growth trajectory is weighted at 15% in the middle Scope Score because it measures what the school does, not just who walks in the door.

What is the attendance and school culture like at Montgomery Middle?

25.4% of students at Montgomery Middle are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), compared to the California average of 18.5%. The suspension rate is 8.2%. SchoolScope includes these culture metrics in the Scope Score because they reflect day-to-day school experience in ways test scores alone cannot.

How does Montgomery Middle compare to other schools in San Diego?

Montgomery Middle scores 37/100 (39th percentile) among California middle schools. To compare with nearby schools, SchoolScope shows the same metrics side by side: exceeded rate, proficiency, growth trajectory, and school culture indicators. Use the schools in San Diego page or the map view to compare all middle schools nearby.

How does Montgomery Middle serve low-income and underrepresented students?

At Montgomery Middle in San Diego, 36.8% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 42.6% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Montgomery Middle trails its district average for low-income students by 5.8 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (24.6% Math proficient); Hispanic students (32.5% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 38.2 percentage points for english learner students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 272 students tested. SchoolScope shows disaggregated test scores by demographic subgroup so you can see how a school performs for your child's specific group — not just the school-wide average. Subgroup data is context, not part of the Scope Score: we don't penalize schools for who they serve. See our equity approach.

Your other options

Private alternatives nearby

Private schools within ~10 miles. These schools do not participate in state testing and cannot be scored or ranked.


For the data nerds

Every number on this page

Score factors, grade-level breakdowns, subgroup proficiency, and peer comparisons.

01Score factorsWeighted composite · 2024–25
Exceeded standard · 38%
9.2%
↓ vs CA 16.8% · 42th pctile
Growth (G6→G8) · 27%
+6.8pp
↑ vs CA +1.5pp · 53th pctile
Met or exceeded · 20%
33.5%
↓ vs CA 39.3% · 45th pctile
Chronic absenteeism · 5%
25.4%
↓ vs CA 18.5% · 40th pctile
Suspension rate · 5%
8.2%
↓ vs CA 3.7% · 32th pctile
EL proficiency (ELPAC) · 5%
22.7%
↑ vs CA 18.0% · 52th pctile
02By grade & subgroupCAASPP 2024–25 · % of tested students
ELATestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 61165%26%29%40%31%−16
Grade 71009%36%23%32%45%−3
Grade 89515%29%24%32%44%−2
MathTestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 61208%17%18%58%24%−11
Grade 710310%22%19%49%32%−2
Grade 8989%15%23%52%24%−8
Science (CAST)TestedEXCMETNEARNOT
Grade 5/8/11972%19%54%26%

CAST is tested in grades 5, 8, and once in high school — not annually. Not part of the Scope Score.

Subgroup · ELATestedMET+vs districtvs CA
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged27236.8%−6−1
Hispanic/Latino19432.5%−9−6
English Learners583.4%−5−7
03Peer comparison · nearest middle schoolssorted by Scope Score
SchoolDistScopeEXCMET+GrowthSusp
Montgomery Middle ←379.2%33.5%+6.88.2%
Marston Middle2.2 mi5327.5%54.7%−1.05.0%
High Tech Middle Mesa2 mi4017.0%46.4%−7.70.7%
California average4316.8%39.3%+1.53.7%
04More measurescontext · not all part of the Scope Score
YearScopePctileRankExcMet+AbsentSuspGrowth
20192822#156310.9%31.3%11.2%14.7%-6.8pp
20223648#11265.9%23.3%31.7%10.8%+13.9pp
20233432#14826.2%25.6%26.5%14.6%+5.4pp
20243134#14657.7%25.7%25.8%13.1%+0.8pp
20253739#13699.2%33.5%25.4%8.2%+6.8pp
NO STATEWIDE TESTING 2020–21 (COVID) · SCORE AND PERCENTILE ARE RELATIVE TO EACH YEAR'S FIELD
05Climate by student groupchronic absenteeism · 2019 vs 2025 — the two years CDE publishes at subgroup level
Group20192025Δ
Female11.4%27.7%+16.3pp
Male11.1%23.6%+12.5pp
Asian4.4%7.1%+2.7pp
Black/African American9.1%42.1%+33.0pp
Filipino9.1%
White5.3%
Hispanic/Latino12.1%28.6%+16.5pp
Two or More Races17.9%
Students with Disabilities22.8%34.2%+11.4pp
English Learners8.5%25.5%+17.0pp
Homeless21.6%44.6%+23.0pp
Military-Connected0.0%
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged11.4%27.8%+16.4pp
All Students11.2%25.7%+14.5pp
EXC = exceeded standard · MET+ = met or exceeded ("proficient") · Source: CA Dept. of Education · CAASPP 2024–25 · n=2,238 middle schools · Vintages: climate subgroups 2019+2025 · district finance per its label · ACS 2022 · Data updated 2026-07-03methodology · data updates · CSV · report issue

SchoolScope scores and verdicts are our interpretation of public California Department of Education data — independent analysis, not an official rating. How we analyze · Request a correction