The top reported proficiency rate is 53% in English language arts. The lowest is 48% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Centennial Middle
Centennial Middle serves seventh and eighth graders in Provo, part of Provo District. It is a traditional public school, not a charter, serving a student body of about that size for a two-grade middle school in a city with a major university presence. The school sits in a community shaped heavily by Brigham Young University, a startup and corporate employment base, and steady residential growth patterns that have drawn some national attention to Provo’s governance.
Academically, the school’s tested results place it above the midpoint among the county’s districts. In math proficiency, the share of students meeting the state’s benchmark was below half. In English language arts, the proficiency rate was above half. In science, the proficiency rate was also above half. A parent may want to look into which groups of students are driving these numbers, since the school’s own subgroup breakdowns were not available in the data reviewed. The state changed its cut scores for ELA in the most recent testing year, which means comparisons to earlier years are not straightforward.
Centennial’s student composition reflects the broader Provo area. The largest share of students are white, with a substantial Hispanic population, and smaller shares of students who are Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native, or two or more races. More than a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a significant share that signals a moderate level of economic diversity in the building. The school is not a Title I school, or at least that status was not reported.
The school’s setting in Provo means families live in a city where the median housing value and rents place it above the state average and well above the national average. Provo is a mix of downtown commercial corridors, residential neighborhoods, and large institutional campuses. The city’s General Plan identifies it as one of the fastest growing in Utah, though recent census estimates show a relatively flat population trend since 2020. Residents have identified managing traffic and providing a mix of housing at various price points as top priorities, and the city was named best-run city in America for 2026 by WalletHub, a publicly reported accolade.
For families considering Centennial, the school’s academic performance is solid relative to other districts in Utah County, particularly in ELA and science, while math proficiency is an area where a parent may want to follow up with the school for more detail. The school serves only two grades, so the middle school experience is a focused two-year window before high school. The absence of data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, and staffing means those aspects of school environment are not part of this picture; a parent may want to ask directly about student support and school climate. The district itself had no notable recent changes or strategic priorities publicly reported that would shape a family’s decision.
Provo’s employment base is dominated by Brigham Young University, healthcare, and a cluster of technology and business services employers, which gives the area an educated workforce. Civic anchors include the Provo City Library, a recreation center with an outdoor pool, and multiple canyon and lake recreation areas. The city has a FrontRunner commuter rail station connecting to Salt Lake City, which matters for families commuting north. But much of Provo outside the downtown core is auto-oriented, and the average commute time reflects that.
Centennial Middle is a mid-sized, traditional middle school in a growing, university-anchored city. Its test results are above the midpoint for the county, with ELA and science as relative strengths and math a bit lower. The student body is economically diverse, and the housing market is expensive. A parent considering this school will want to visit, talk to the school about how it supports students across different performance levels, and understand the middle school’s connection to the district’s high school options.
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