John Muir Middle, San Jose CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on John Muir Middle

John Muir Middle is a regular public middle school serving grades six through eight in south San Jose, in a neighborhood not far from the foothills. The school draws students from a mixed-income area: roughly half qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the enrollment is majority Hispanic, with smaller shares of white, Asian, and other students.

The school's academic performance, measured by California state assessments in 2024-25, shows mixed results across subjects and grade levels. In English language arts, proficiency ranges from the mid-thirties percent in sixth grade up to near fifty percent in eighth grade. Math proficiency is lower: around one-third of sixth graders meet the standard, rising slightly to about forty percent in seventh grade, then dropping back to under thirty percent in eighth grade. Science proficiency, tested only in eighth grade, sits around one-third. These results place the school below the midpoint for overall proficiency when compared against other districts in Santa Clara County. A parent may want to look into how the school supports students who have not yet reached proficiency and what instructional approaches are being used to address gaps, particularly in math.

The school's enrollment is stable at roughly the size typical for a middle school in its district. Most students live in nearby neighborhoods; the school is accessed by car or bus from a city area that is largely residential and suburban in character.

San Jose Unified, the parent district, is managing significant change. In March 2026, the school board voted to close five elementary schools and consolidate enrollment due to district-wide population decline over the past several years. While John Muir Middle was not on the closure list, the district context of shrinking enrollment and financial pressure matters for families considering the area. At the same time, in November 2024, voters approved Measure R, a major facilities bond intended to fund building renovations and upgrades. Property owners would see a corresponding increase in school property taxes over roughly thirty years.

The housing market in the school's 95118 zip code is steep. Home values are substantial, and rental costs are high relative to typical household income in the region, making affordability a real constraint for families trying to settle in the area.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 633%

School 33% · District 42% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Grade 741%

School 41% · District 42% · ▼ 2 pts below district

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

Grade 829%

School 29% · District 39% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 635%

School 35% · District 49% · ▼ 14 pts below district

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▼ 23 pts below county median

Grade 743%

School 43% · District 51% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 849%

School 49% · District 49% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

Science

Grade 833%

School 33% · District 41% · ▼ 8 pts below district

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

Social studies

Grade 855%

School 55% · District 55%

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▼ 2 pts below 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-income22%Higher-income52%29 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income22%Higher-income67%45 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income34%Higher-income65%31 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income16%Higher-income57%41 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income22%Higher-income63%41 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income15%Higher-income46%31 pp gap