Best Middle Schools in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Part of our Best Schools in Allegheny County guide.

Introduction

Allegheny County is home to some of the most academically competitive public schools in Pennsylvania, and that's especially true at the middle school level. Whether you're relocating to one of Pittsburgh's affluent suburbs or simply trying to figure out which district is worth the stretch, the middle school years are a critical time — and the schools on this list are genuinely exceptional. These aren't just "good for the area" schools. Several rank in the 99th and 100th percentile nationally, meaning they're competing with the best public middle schools in the country.

What makes Allegheny County interesting is the variety. You'll find top-performing schools in established communities like Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair, fast-growing suburbs like South Fayette, and quieter, tight-knit towns like Sewickley. If strong academics are a priority for your family, any of these ten schools would be an outstanding choice — but each one has its own character, community feel, and surrounding neighborhood worth knowing about.

1. Boyce Middle School — Upper St. Clair SD, Pittsburgh

Boyce Middle School sits at the very top of our rankings for Allegheny County, scoring in the 99th percentile in English and a remarkable 100th percentile in both math and overall performance. Upper St. Clair is one of the most consistently high-performing school districts in all of Pennsylvania, and Boyce is a big reason why. Families who move to Upper St. Clair tend to be deeply invested in education, and that community culture shows up in the classroom. The suburb itself has a polished, established feel — good restaurants, well-kept neighborhoods, and easy access to both downtown Pittsburgh and the South Hills corridor. If you're looking for a school where academic excellence is simply the norm, Boyce is about as good as it gets.

2. Dorseyville Middle School — Fox Chapel Area SD, Pittsburgh

Dorseyville Middle School, part of the highly regarded Fox Chapel Area School District, earns its place near the top with 98th percentile English, 99th percentile math, and 99th percentile science scores. Fox Chapel is one of Pittsburgh's most sought-after school districts, known for producing well-rounded students and sending graduates to competitive colleges. The area itself — stretching through the river valleys northeast of Pittsburgh — is leafy and residential, with a mix of longtime families and professionals who've specifically chosen the district for its schools. Dorseyville has a reputation for strong academics without feeling like a pressure cooker, which appeals to families who want rigor alongside a healthy school environment.

3. Fort Couch Middle School — Upper St. Clair SD, Pittsburgh

Fort Couch is the second Upper St. Clair middle school to crack our top three, and its scores speak for themselves: 99th percentile in English, 98th in math, and 97th in science. Like its district peer Boyce, Fort Couch benefits from being embedded in a community where academic achievement is a shared value. Upper St. Clair families tend to be highly engaged — you'll find active parent organizations, strong extracurricular participation, and a school culture that takes academics seriously across the board. The South Hills location offers a suburban lifestyle with genuine convenience to Pittsburgh, making it a popular landing spot for families relocating to the metro area.

4. Jefferson Middle School — Mt. Lebanon SD, Pittsburgh

Mt. Lebanon is one of Pittsburgh's most iconic suburban communities, and Jefferson Middle School is a reflection of everything that makes the district special. With 99th percentile English, 96th percentile math, and 99th percentile science scores, Jefferson is an elite academic environment by any measure. Mt. Lebanon itself has the feel of a classic American suburb done right — walkable neighborhoods, a charming downtown, strong community identity, and housing stock that ranges from century-old Craftsman homes to newer construction. Families who choose Mt. Lebanon often cite the schools as the primary draw, and Jefferson is a cornerstone of that reputation.

5. Mellon Middle School — Mt. Lebanon SD, Pittsburgh

Mellon Middle School rounds out Mt. Lebanon's impressive showing on this list, with 97th percentile English, 97th percentile math, and a standout 100th percentile science score — the highest science ranking on our entire list. That perfect science score is worth noting for families with kids who lean toward STEM interests. Like Jefferson, Mellon benefits from Mt. Lebanon's engaged parent community and well-resourced district. The two schools serve different parts of the township, but both reflect the same commitment to academic excellence that has made Mt. Lebanon one of the most desirable districts in western Pennsylvania for decades.

Score Trends — Top 5

Boyce Middle School is leading the charge with gains across both subjects—English scores rose from 86 to 89 and Math improved from 80 to 83, each jumping +3 points. Dorseyville Middle School shows a mixed picture: while English dipped slightly from 85 to 83 (-2), their Math performance surged from 73 to 77 (+4), suggesting stronger momentum in numeracy skills. Fort Couch Middle School is heading in the wrong direction, with English dropping from 88 to 86 (-2) and Math falling more sharply from 73 to 70 (-3), making it the only school in this group losing ground in both areas. Jefferson Middle School and Mellon Middle School both posted modest improvements, with Jefferson gaining +1 in each subject and Mellon seeing English slip slightly (-1) while Math climbed from 67 to 69 (+2). Overall, Boyce stands out as the clear winner this year, while Fort Couch deserves closer attention given its dual-subject decline.

6. South Fayette Middle School — South Fayette Township SD, McDonald

South Fayette Middle School is one of the more exciting schools on this list, not just because of its scores — 98th percentile English, 97th percentile math, 94th percentile science — but because of the trajectory of the district itself. South Fayette Township School District has quietly become one of the top-performing districts in Pennsylvania, earning national recognition for its innovative approach to STEM and technology integration. The community around McDonald and the broader South Fayette area has grown significantly over the past decade, attracting young families and professionals who are drawn to the combination of strong schools, newer housing, and relative affordability compared to Mt. Lebanon or Upper St. Clair. It's a district that feels like it's on the rise, and families who get in early tend to be glad they did.

7. Marshall Middle School — North Allegheny SD, Wexford

North Allegheny is one of the largest and most respected school districts in the Pittsburgh region, and Marshall Middle School is one of its crown jewels. Scoring in the 95th percentile in English, 98th percentile in math, and 97th percentile in science, Marshall serves families in the Wexford area — a northern suburb that has seen substantial growth over the years as more families have discovered what North Allegheny has to offer. Wexford has a busy, well-amenitized suburban feel with plenty of shopping, dining, and outdoor recreation nearby. Families who land at Marshall tend to appreciate the combination of a large, resource-rich district and a school that still manages to feel community-oriented.

8. Ingomar Middle School — North Allegheny SD, Pittsburgh

Ingomar Middle School is North Allegheny's second entry on this list, and it's right alongside Marshall in terms of academic strength: 97th percentile English, 95th percentile math, and 98th percentile science. Ingomar serves the more southern portion of the North Allegheny district, in neighborhoods closer to Pittsburgh proper. The area has a quieter, more established feel than some of the newer developments further north, with families who have often put down deep roots in the community. North Allegheny as a district is known for its competitive academics, strong athletics, and active parent involvement — all of which are on display at Ingomar.

9. Hampton Middle School — Hampton Township SD, Allison Park

Hampton Middle School earns a spot in our top ten with 98th percentile English, 93rd percentile math, and an impressive 99th percentile science score. Hampton Township School District is a smaller, more intimate district than some of the larger names on this list, which is part of its appeal. Families who choose Hampton often describe a strong sense of community — this is the kind of place where parents know the teachers, kids stay with the same group of classmates for years, and school events actually feel like community events. Allison Park itself is a pleasant, residential community north of Pittsburgh with a quiet suburban character that suits families looking for a more low-key environment without sacrificing academic quality.

10. Quaker Valley Middle School — Quaker Valley SD, Sewickley

Quaker Valley Middle School rounds out our top ten, with 93rd percentile English, 93rd percentile math, and 97th percentile science scores. The school is part of the Quaker Valley School District, which serves the picturesque river town of Sewickley and surrounding communities. Sewickley has a distinct personality — it's one of the most charming small towns in the Pittsburgh area, with a walkable main street, a strong arts scene, and a genuine small-town feel that's rare this close to a major city. Quaker Valley as a district punches above its weight academically, and families who settle in Sewickley often find it hard to imagine living anywhere else. If community character matters as much as test scores to your family, Quaker Valley belongs on your shortlist.

Score Trends — #6-10

South Fayette Middle School remains largely flat, with English dropping just one point (85 to 84) and Math holding steady at 69, suggesting a school that's treading water rather than progressing. Marshall and Ingomar middle schools both delivered strong Math gains of +4 points each, lifting Marshall from 66 to 70 and Ingomar from 63 to 67, though their English scores stayed put at 78 and 81 respectively. Hampton Middle School took a notable hit, with English plummeting from 85 to 81 (-4) while Math remained unchanged at 63, signaling concerning weakness in literacy skills. Quaker Valley Middle School faced the steepest English decline in the entire district, dropping from 80 to 75 (-5), while Math stalled at 64, marking this school as needing immediate intervention and support. The standout finding here is that both Marshall and Ingomar managed to boost Math significantly, but most schools in this group are either stagnant or struggling, particularly in English.

How We Rank Schools

Our rankings are based on student performance data across three core subjects: English (weighted at 40%), math (weighted at 40%), and science (weighted at 20%). We convert raw performance data into percentile scores so schools can be compared on equal footing regardless of size or location. More recent years are weighted more heavily in our model, so the rankings reflect where schools stand today — not where they were five years ago. Our goal is to give parents a clear, honest snapshot of academic performance without the noise.

Compare Schools Yourself

Numbers only tell part of the story, and every family's priorities are different. If you want to dig deeper and compare specific schools side by side — whether that's two schools in the same district or options across different suburbs — head over to our comparison tool at /compare. You can stack up schools across English, math, and science scores and get a clearer picture of which school might be the right fit for your child.

Top 50 Rankings

Rank	School	District	City	English	Math	Overall
1	Boyce Middle School	Upper St. Clair SD	Pittsburgh	99	100	100
2	Dorseyville Middle School	Fox Chapel Area SD	Pittsburgh	98	99	99
3	Fort Couch Middle School	Upper St. Clair SD	Pittsburgh	99	98	99
4	Jefferson Middle School	Mt Lebanon SD	Pittsburgh	99	96	98
5	Mellon Middle School	Mt Lebanon SD	Pittsburgh	97	97	98
6	South Fayette Middle School	South Fayette Township SD	McDonald	98	97	98
7	Marshall Middle School	North Allegheny SD	Wexford	95	98	97
8	Ingomar Middle School	North Allegheny SD	Pittsburgh	97	95	97
9	Hampton Middle School	Hampton Township SD	Allison Park	98	93	96
10	Quaker Valley Middle School	Quaker Valley SD	Sewickley	93	93	95
11	West Allegheny Middle School	West Allegheny SD	Imperial	95	96	94
12	Pine-Richland Middle School	Pine-Richland SD	Gibsonia	95	88	93
13	David E Williams Middle School	Montour SD	Coraopolis	91	95	91
14	Moon Area Lower Middle School	Moon Area SD	Moon Township	83	96	90
15	Neil Armstrong 5-6 Middle School	Bethel Park SD	Bethel Park	84	94	90
16	Carson Middle School	North Allegheny SD	Pittsburgh	90	85	88
17	Pleasant Hills Middle School	West Jefferson Hills SD	Pittsburgh	92	88	88
18	North Hills Middle School	North Hills SD	Pittsburgh	89	82	87
19	Moon Area Upper Middle School	Moon Area SD	Moon Township	87	84	86
20	Avonworth Middle School	Avonworth SD	Pittsburgh	82	91	85
21	Independence Middle School	Bethel Park SD	Bethel Park	84	84	85
22	Holiday Park Intermediate School	Plum Borough SD	Pittsburgh	60	86	75
23	Keystone Oaks Middle School	Keystone Oaks SD	Pittsburgh	79	75	71
24	Elizabeth Forward Middle School	Elizabeth Forward SD	Elizabeth	64	64	67
25	Deer Lakes Middle School	Deer Lakes SD	Cheswick	59	68	60
26	Chartiers Valley Middle School	Chartiers Valley SD	Bridgeville	66	53	58
27	South Park Middle School	South Park SD	South Park	46	65	58
28	Plum Middle School	Plum Borough SD	Pittsburgh	56	58	57
29	Gateway Middle School	Gateway SD		59	62	56
30	Shaler Area Middle School	Shaler Area SD	Glenshaw	60	49	55
31	J.E. Harrison Middle School	Baldwin-Whitehall SD		39	48	54
32	Brentwood Middle School	Brentwood Borough SD	Pittsburgh	46	33	42
33	Highlands Middle School	Highlands SD	Natrona Heights	27	39	29
34	Pittsburgh Schiller 6-8	Pittsburgh SD	Pittsburgh	33	30	27
35	West Mifflin Area Middle School	West Mifflin Area SD	West Mifflin	19	32	27
36	Steel Valley Middle School	Steel Valley SD	Munhall	17	20	20
37	South Allegheny Middle School	South Allegheny SD	McKeesport	20	18	19
38	Pittsburgh Classical 6-8	Pittsburgh SD	Pittsburgh	24	12	16
39	Pittsburgh Sterrett 6-8	Pittsburgh SD	Pittsburgh	18	15	15
40	Pittsburgh South Brook 6-8	Pittsburgh SD	Pittsburgh	19	13	13
41	Pittsburgh Arsenal 6-8	Pittsburgh SD	Pittsburgh	12	12	12
42	Pittsburgh Allegheny 6-8	Pittsburgh SD	Pittsburgh	10	9	11
43	Dickson Prep STEAM Academy	Woodland Hills SD	Swissvale	12	9	10
44	Urban Pathways 6-12 CS	Urban Pathways 6-12 CS	Pittsburgh	13	10	10
45	Linton Middle School	Penn Hills SD	Pittsburgh	11	8	10
46	Pittsburgh South Hills 6-8	Pittsburgh SD	Pittsburgh	6	7	7
47	Founders Hall Middle School	McKeesport Area SD	McKeesport	7	5	6
48	Life Male STEAM Academy CS	Life Male STEAM Academy CS	Pittsburgh	1	1	1
49	Life Male STEAM Academy CS	Life Male STEAM Academy CS	Pittsburgh	0	0	0
50	Propel CS-East	Propel CS-East	Turtle Creek	0	0	0

Related Guides

• Best Schools in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
• Best Elementary Schools in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
• Best High Schools in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania