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Best Public Middle Schools in Lake County (2026)
Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Lake County Public Middle Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 35 public middle schools serving 20,875 students in Lake County, IN.
The top-ranked public middle schools in Lake County, IN are Wilbur Wright Middle School, Robert Taft Middle School and Lowell Middle School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Lake County, IN public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 25% (versus the Indiana public middle school average of 32%), and reading proficiency score of 34% (versus the 40% statewide average). Middle schools in Lake County have an average ranking of 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Indiana public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 69% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Indiana public middle school average of 36% (majority Hispanic and Black).

Best Public Middle Schools in Lake County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Wilbur Wright Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
8650 Columbia Ave
Munster, IN 46321
(219) 836-6260
Gr: 6-8 | 990 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #22.
Robert Taft Middle School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1000 S Main
Crown Point, IN 46307
(219) 663-1507
Gr: 6-8 | 1,067 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #33.
Lowell Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
19250 Cline Ave
Lowell, IN 46356
(219) 696-7701
Gr: 7-8 | 498 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #44.
Colonel John Wheeler Middle School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
401 W Joliet St
Crown Point, IN 46307
(219) 663-2173
Gr: 6-8 | 1,061 student Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #55.
Hal E Clark Middle School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
8915 W 93rd Ave
Saint John, IN 46373
(219) 365-8507
Gr: 5-8 | 1,032 student Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #66.
Michael Grimmer Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
225 W 77th Ave
Schererville, IN 46375
(219) 865-6985
Gr: 5-8 | 814 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #77.
Hanover Central Middle School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
10631 W 141st St
Cedar Lake, IN 46303
(219) 374-3500
Gr: 6-8 | 647 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #88.
Kahler Middle School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
600 Joliet St
Dyer, IN 46311
(219) 865-3535
Gr: 5-8 | 971 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #99.
Highland Middle School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2941 41st St
Highland, IN 46322
(219) 922-5620
Gr: 6-8 | 774 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #1010.
Hobart Middle School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
36 E 8th St
Hobart, IN 46342
(219) 942-8541
Gr: 6-8 | 905 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #1111.
Griffth Jr/sr High School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
600 N Wiggs St
Griffith, IN 46319
(219) 924-4281
Gr: 6-12 | 1,112 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
Hammond Academy Of Science & Technical
Charter School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
33 Muenich Ct
Hammond, IN 46320
(219) 852-0500
Gr: 6-12 | 578 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
Whiting Middle School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1800 New York Ave
Whiting, IN 46394
(219) 473-1344
Gr: 6-8 | 250 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #1414.
Pierce Middle School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
199 E 70th Pl
Merrillville, IN 46410
(219) 650-5308
Gr: 7-8 | 878 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #1515.
Aspire Charter Academy
Charter School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
4900 W 15th Ave
Gary, IN 46406
(219) 944-7400
Gr: K-8 | 684 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1616.
East Chicago Urban Enterprise Academy
Charter School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 23%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1402 E Chicago Ave
East Chicago, IN 46312
(219) 392-3650
Gr: K-8 | 424 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1717.
River Forest Middle School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3300 Indiana St
Hobart, IN 46342
(219) 962-7551
Gr: 6-8 | 369 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #1818.
Eagle Park Community School
Special Education School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: ≤10% )
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2150 W 97th Place
Crown Point, IN 46307
(219) 769-4000
Gr: K-12 | 87 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #1919.
Thomas A Edison Jr-sr High School
(Math: 5% | Reading: 21%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
3304 Parkside Ave
Lake Station, IN 46405
(219) 962-8531
Gr: 6-12 | 595 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #2020.
Gary Virtual Academy
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1800 E 35th Ave
Gary, IN 46409
(219) 881-5466
Gr: K-12 | 45 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #2121.
East Chicago Lighthouse
Charter School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
3916 Pulaski
East Chicago, IN 46312
(219) 378-7450
Gr: K-8 | 495 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #2222.
Henry W Eggers Middle School
(Math: 5% | Reading: 17%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
5825 Blaine Ave
Hammond, IN 46320
(219) 933-2449
Gr: 7-8 | 693 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #2323.
Joseph Block Middle School
(Math: 4% | Reading: 18%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2700 Cardinal Dr
East Chicago, IN 46312
(219) 391-4084
Gr: 7-8 | 436 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #2424.
Gary Lighthouse Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 9% | Reading: 12%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
725 Clark Road
Gary, IN 46406
(219) 977-9583
Gr: K-12 | 1,138 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #25 - 2725. - 27.
21st Century Charter School Of Gary
Charter School
(Math: 8% | Reading: 12%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
556 Washington St
Gary, IN 46402
(219) 886-9339
Gr: K-12 | 1,180 student Student-teacher ratio: 118:1
Rank: #25 - 2725. - 27.
Charles N Scott Middle School
(Math: 3% | Reading: 18%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
3635 173rd St
Hammond, IN 46323
(219) 989-7340
Gr: 7-8 | 663 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #25 - 2725. - 27.
Thea Bowman Leadership Academy
Charter School
(Math: 8% | Reading: 12%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
3401 W 5th Ave
Gary, IN 46406
(219) 944-3100
Gr: K-12 | 773 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
Rank: #2828.
Lake Ridge New Tech Middle School
(Math: 7% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
3601 W 41st Ave
Gary, IN 46408
(219) 980-0730
Gr: 5-8 | 447 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #29 - 3029. - 30.
Higher Institute Of Arts & Technical
Charter School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
5861 Harrison Street
Merrillville, IN 46410
(219) 359-1522
Gr: K-8 | 259 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #29 - 3029. - 30.
Steel City Academy
Charter School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2650 W 35th Avenue
Gary, IN 46408
(219) 750-1010
Gr: K-12 | 286 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #3131.
Gary Middle School
(Math: 2% | Reading: 13%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
301 Parke St
Gary, IN 46403
(219) 321-8547
Gr: 6-8 | 365 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #3232.
Bailly Middle School
(Math: 4% | Reading: 11%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
4621 Georgia St
Gary, IN 46409
(219) 980-6326
Gr: 6-8 | 355 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #3333.
Charter School Of The Dunes
Charter School
(Math: 6% | Reading: 7%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
7300 East Melton Rd
Gary, IN 46403
(219) 939-9690
Gr: PK-8 | 836 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: n/an/a
Area Career Center
Vocational School
5727 Sohl Ave
Hammond, IN 46320
(219) 933-2428
Gr: 6-12
Rank: n/an/a
Gary Career Center
Vocational School
1800 E 35th Ave
Gary, IN 46409
(219) 962-7571
Gr: 6-12

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public middle schools in Lake County, IN?
The top-ranked public middle schools in Lake County, IN include Wilbur Wright Middle School, Robert Taft Middle School and Lowell Middle School.
How many public middle schools are located in Lake County?
34 public middle schools are located in Lake County.
What is the racial composition of students in Lake County?
Lake County public middle schools minority enrollment is 69% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Indiana public middle schools average of 36% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Which public middle schools in Lake County are often viewed compared to one another?

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