San Fernando Middle, San Fernando CA

Original Research by School Decision on San Fernando Middle

San Fernando Middle is a small Los Angeles Unified public middle school serving grades six through eight in the city of San Fernando, located in the northeast San Fernando Valley. The school sits in a densely populated, predominantly Hispanic community of tight-knit neighborhoods anchored by a walkable downtown and major transit connections, including nearby Metrolink access.

The school's academic profile shows persistent challenge across all tested domains. In English language arts, proficiency rates sit in the low-to-mid range across the three grades, with sixth grade performing somewhat higher than seventh and eighth grades. Mathematics proficiency is notably low, ranging from single digits in seventh grade up to the low twenties in sixth grade. Science proficiency in eighth grade is similarly weak. These results position the school in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Los Angeles County when proficiency is measured across all tested subjects and grades.

The student body is small to mid-sized for a middle school, with enrollment split fairly evenly across the three grades, though eighth grade is larger than the two lower grades. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the school is overwhelmingly Hispanic, with very small populations of other racial and ethnic groups. Data on the rate of English learners and students receiving special education services was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those populations and what support structures exist for them.

San Fernando is experiencing growth tied to new housing development and major transit investment. The city is implementing a housing element to accommodate new units along commercial corridors, and Metro's East San Fernando Valley Light Rail is under construction, which will reshape transit access and job connectivity for the area. Property taxes in the district will rise over time to fund a large school facilities bond approved by voters, a multi-decade commitment families moving to the area should understand.

The school operates within Los Angeles Unified, which has implemented several recent changes affecting daily life. A district-wide cellphone ban took effect in February 2025, meaning students may not use phones, smartwatches, or earbuds during the school day, with most schools using lockable pouches for storage. The district has also revamped its Black Student Achievement Plan to expand eligibility and boost funding for culturally responsive programming and added counseling and support staff at prioritized schools.

For a family considering San Fernando Middle, the key questions are whether the school's intensive support structure and community resources address the low proficiency numbers, what pathways exist to strengthen mathematics and science outcomes, and whether the school's approach aligns with how a student learns best. The surrounding community offers walkability, cultural continuity, and accessible transit, which some families value; a parent may want to visit the school, speak with current families, and understand what interventions or tutoring support the school provides alongside classroom instruction.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 621%

School 21% · District 35% · ▼ 14 pts below district

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 711%

School 11% · District 34% · ▼ 23 pts below district

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Grade 813%

School 13% · District 32% · ▼ 19 pts below district

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 633%

School 33% · District 46% · ▼ 13 pts below district

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Grade 728%

School 28% · District 46% · ▼ 18 pts below district

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

Grade 828%

School 28% · District 45% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

Science

Grade 811%

School 11% · District 27% · ▼ 15 pts below district

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 823%

School 23% · District 43% · ▼ 20 pts below district

▼ 26 pts below state median · ▼ 25 pts below county median

This schoolLos Angeles Unified, 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.