Joaquin Miller Middle, San Jose CA

Original Research by School Decision on Joaquin Miller Middle

Joaquin Miller Middle is a mid-sized public middle school in San Jose serving grades six through eight. The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly Asian, with smaller populations of other backgrounds. A small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the school's overall demographics reflect the affluent, tech-industry-anchored neighborhoods it serves.

On state assessments in 2024-25, the school's academic performance is strong across the board. In mathematics, proficiency rates are very high, holding steady across the three grade levels. In English language arts, proficiency is similarly robust. In science, measured in grade eight, the rate is solid. The school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among the county's school districts. This consistency across subjects and grades suggests a school where core academic instruction is working well for the student population as a whole.

The school's profile reflects a community where academic preparation for high school is a priority. Housing values in the 95129 zip code where the school sits are substantial, and the neighborhood character is suburban residential with good schools as a major draw for families. The Cupertino Union school district, the school's parent district, operates in an area known for high family investment in education and stable, well-resourced neighborhoods.

Joaquin Miller draws from a student body where the vast majority arrive academically ready. The proficiency rates do not tell us about the experience of students who arrive below grade level or who need targeted intervention, and we found no data on special education enrollment or English learner populations at the school. A parent interested in how the school serves students performing below proficiency or working on language acquisition may want to ask the school directly about those supports and their effectiveness. Social studies assessment data come from 2012-13 and are not current.

The school sits in an established San Jose neighborhood with tree-lined streets and single-family homes typical of the area's mid-twentieth-century residential character. Downtown San Jose, with its cultural institutions, transit hub at Diridon Station, and ongoing downtown development, lies a short drive away. The neighborhood has good transit and is part of a larger metro area where many families work in technology and related professional services.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 693%

School 93% · District 85% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▲ 63 pts above state median · ▲ 47 pts above county median

Grade 793%

School 93% · District 86% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▲ 63 pts above state median · ▲ 48 pts above county median

Grade 891%

School 91% · District 86% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 63 pts above state median · ▲ 52 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 689%

School 89% · District 85% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▲ 45 pts above state median · ▲ 31 pts above county median

Grade 791%

School 91% · District 86% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 46 pts above state median · ▲ 35 pts above county median

Grade 889%

School 89% · District 87% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▲ 45 pts above state median · ▲ 35 pts above county median

Science

Grade 886%

School 86% · District 80% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▲ 60 pts above state median · ▲ 49 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 890%

School 90% · District 84% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▲ 41 pts above state median · ▲ 33 pts above county median

This schoolCupertino Union, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income75%Higher-income91%17 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income69%Higher-income95%26 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income81%Higher-income90%10 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income92%Higher-income93%2 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income69%Higher-income97%27 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income82%Higher-income93%11 pp gap