Middle Schools in Hemet Unified

The Hemet Unified School District in California is home to 4 middle schools serving grades 6-8. While the schools face significant academic and socioeconomic challenges, Rancho Viejo Middle stands out as the highest-performing middle school in the district.

Across the Hemet Unified middle schools, chronic absenteeism rates are high, ranging from 34.9% to 47.3% in 2022-2023, well above the state average. Test scores in English Language Arts, Math, and Science also lag behind state averages, with the percentage of 8th graders proficient or better ranging from 24.92% to 33.56% in ELA, compared to the state average of 45.95%. The middle schools serve predominantly economically disadvantaged populations, with 83.9% to 94.09% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in 2022-2023.

Despite these challenges, Rancho Viejo Middle emerges as the standout school, with the highest test scores across multiple subjects and grade levels, the lowest chronic absenteeism rate, and the highest percentage of students proficient or better in CAST Science. Understanding the practices and strategies that contribute to Rancho Viejo's relative success could provide valuable insights for improving the other Hemet Unified middle schools.