Washington Middle, La Habra CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Washington Middle

Washington Middle serves seventh and eighth grades in La Habra, a suburban Orange County community with a family-oriented feel anchored by parks, local shops, and civic amenities. The school sits within La Habra City Elementary School District, which serves this small city and neighboring areas. Most students at Washington Middle come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds; a substantial share of the school's enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price meals. The enrollment is diverse, with a large majority of Hispanic students and a small number of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds.

On state assessments in 2024-25, the school's results fell below the midpoint for middle schools countywide in Orange County. In English Language Arts, about half of seventh graders met proficiency standards, while a slightly smaller share of eighth graders did. Mathematics performance was considerably lower: roughly a third of seventh graders and a smaller proportion of eighth graders demonstrated proficiency. In science (tested only in eighth grade), about one in five students met the standard. These results place Washington Middle in the bottom quartile of schools in the county when looking across all tested subjects and grade levels.

The school building reflects a broader district condition. Most schools in La Habra City Elementary were constructed several decades ago with aging infrastructure. In November 2024, voters approved a bond measure to fund repairs and upgrades to roofs, plumbing, electrical systems, classrooms, and science labs across the district's nine schools over coming years. This modernization work is likely to touch Washington Middle as part of that phased district effort.

The district is also implementing full-day Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten beginning in the 2026-27 school year, which affects early elementary but signals the district's approach to instructional expansion. For a family considering Washington Middle, the relevant takeaway is that the district is investing in facilities and instructional time, though the academic performance data suggests the school may benefit from additional academic support. A parent may want to discuss with the school what interventions or support programs are in place to help students who are struggling, particularly in mathematics.

La Habra itself is a compact suburban city where civic life clusters near downtown around La Habra Boulevard and Euclid Street, where the library, children's museum, and historic civic buildings sit within walking distance. The housing market is characterized by a mix of older Craftsman and ranch-style homes in the historic core and more recent development. Schools in La Habra are dispersed across three separate school districts rather than concentrated in a single system, which shapes how families navigate education options in the area. Public transit is available through OCTA bus routes connecting to regional centers.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 733%

School 33% · District 30% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Grade 819%

School 19% · District 18% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 29 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 752%

School 52% · District 49% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Grade 849%

School 49% · District 43% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Science

Grade 822%

School 22% · District 18% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 22 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 851%

School 51% · District 57% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

This schoolLa Habra City Elementary, 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-income23%Higher-income56%33 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income48%Higher-income75%27 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income44%Higher-income73%28 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income23%Higher-income44%21 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income27%Higher-income65%38 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income15%Higher-income45%30 pp gap