Bret Harte Middle, San Jose CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Bret Harte Middle

Bret Harte Middle is a regular public middle school serving grades six through eight in San Jose, located in the 95120 zip code in the southern part of the city. The school draws from a suburban residential area and enrolls a student body of roughly average size for a middle school, with a notably high share of Asian students and a low share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals. The school's demographics reflect a more affluent, academically oriented population than the district as a whole.

Academically, Bret Harte performs solidly across tested subjects. In English language arts, proficiency rates range across the three grades, with middle grades performing slightly above the sixth grade baseline. Math proficiency is consistent and strong, with seventh grade reaching a higher level than sixth or eighth grade. Science proficiency in eighth grade sits noticeably lower than reading and math, a pattern common in middle schools. The overall proficiency index places the school in the top quartile among districts in Santa Clara County, indicating performance above most of its regional peers.

The school's math results are particularly competitive. Reading performance is steady across grades, though eighth grade English shows a dip from seventh grade that a parent may want to look into further with the school to understand whether it reflects curriculum shifts or other factors. Science remains a relative soft spot; eighth graders' proficiency in science is appreciably lower than in literacy and mathematics. The school has only one year of comparable state testing data, so trend information is not available.

San Jose's housing market in the 95120 area reflects substantial wealth concentration. Home values in the zip code are well above state and national benchmarks, and monthly mortgage costs far exceed rental costs for comparable living situations. Rent-to-income ratios are high, making housing affordability a significant factor for families. The broader San Jose area is undergoing downtown redensification and expansion of residential corridors, though the southern neighborhoods where this school sits are established residential districts rather than growth zones.

San Jose Unified itself is navigating enrollment decline and major structural change. In March 2026, the board voted to close five elementary schools and relocate a Montessori program, affecting attendance boundaries across affected neighborhoods. This consolidation reflects roughly two decades of declining student population, primarily driven by rising housing costs and lower birth rates. In November 2024, voters approved a substantial facilities bond that will increase property taxes for roughly three decades, funding building renovations, classroom upgrades, and teacher and staff housing. Families considering the area should weigh both the long-term tax commitment and the ongoing enrollment-driven changes to school boundaries and program locations within the district.

Bret Harte's peer composition is academically selective in practice, with a strong majority of students from higher-income households and a large share of Asian students, many of whom come from immigrant families with high educational expectations. The school is well-positioned for students aiming toward rigorous high school programs and is a good fit for families prioritizing strong foundational skills in math and literacy alongside peer environments oriented toward academic achievement.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 678%

School 78% · District 42% · ▲ 36 pts above district

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

Grade 782%

School 82% · District 42% · ▲ 40 pts above district

▲ 52 pts above state median · ▲ 37 pts above county median

Grade 880%

School 80% · District 39% · ▲ 41 pts above district

▲ 52 pts above state median · ▲ 40 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 677%

School 77% · District 49% · ▲ 29 pts above district

▲ 33 pts above state median · ▲ 19 pts above county median

Grade 778%

School 78% · District 51% · ▲ 27 pts above district

▲ 33 pts above state median · ▲ 22 pts above county median

Grade 871%

School 71% · District 49% · ▲ 22 pts above district

▲ 27 pts above state median · ▲ 17 pts above county median

Science

Grade 864%

School 64% · District 41% · ▲ 22 pts above district

▲ 38 pts above state median · ▲ 27 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 878%

School 78% · District 55% · ▲ 23 pts above district

▲ 29 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

This schoolSan Jose 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income57%Higher-income81%24 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income44%Higher-income83%39 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income35%Higher-income75%40 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income59%Higher-income82%23 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income42%Higher-income87%45 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income38%Higher-income84%46 pp gap