SMMUSD Schools Among Best Public Schools In CA: New Ranking

SANTA MONICA, CA — Lincoln Middle School and Franklin Elementary School are among the best public schools in California, according to a new ranking from U.S. News & World Report.

U.S. News researchers based the 2025 rankings of the nation’s best elementary and middle schools on publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education. The researchers analyzed 79,374 schools for the report.

Here's how Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District elementary schools ranked statewide:

• 127 — Franklin Elementary
• 241 — Webster Elementary
• 324 — Grant Elementary
• 383 — Edison Elementary
• 471 — Roosevelt Elementary
• 721 — Mckinley Elementary
• 1,525 — Will Rogers Elementary
• 2,405 — Malibu Elementary

And how SMMUSD middle schools ranked:

• 103 — Lincoln Middle
• 431 — John Adams Middle
• 334 — Malibu Middle

The methodology for the rankings focused on state assessments of students who were proficient or above proficient in math and reading/language arts, while also accounting for students’ background and their achievements in core subjects. Student-teacher ratios were applied to break ties.

The rankings are intended as an evaluation tool to give parents a snapshot of how well schools provide a high-quality education and prepare students for a successful future, LaMont Jones, managing editor for Education at U.S. News, said in a news release.

Related:

• Santa Monica High School Among 50 Best LA-Area Schools: Ranking
• Malibu High School Among 100 Best High Schools In CA: New Ranking