Hilton D. Bell Intermediate

Tucked into the quieter, residential stretch of Garden Grove near the Seal Beach border, Bell Intermediate is one of those schools that quietly punches well above its weight — ranking among the top 75 middle schools in California with standout scores across English, math, and science. Families in this part of Orange County tend to be deeply invested in their kids' education, and Bell reflects that energy with a student body that consistently performs at a high level in the critical 7th and 8th grade years. If you're settling into the western Garden Grove or Los Alamitos area and want a public middle school that takes academics seriously without the pressure of a magnet or private school environment, Bell is worth a close look.