Creekside Junior High

Los Banos is a Central Valley agricultural community where families tend to put down deep roots, and Creekside Junior High serves the 7th and 8th graders here during a critical couple of years before high school. Academics lean a bit stronger in math than English, though both sit below state medians — families who stay engaged and supplement at home will likely get the most out of what the school has to offer. It's a tight-knit town with an affordable cost of living compared to the Bay Area an hour or so west, making it a common landing spot for families who want a quieter pace without completely leaving the California workforce behind.