Lemon Grove Academy for the Sciences and Humanities

Lemon Grove Academy for the Sciences and Humanities sits in the small, tight-knit community of Lemon Grove, just east of San Diego, where the suburban feel comes with a genuine neighborhood identity that's easy to overlook from the freeway. The school serves seventh and eighth graders, and while its academic scores — particularly in math — leave room for growth, families who value a smaller district environment and a school with a focused sciences and humanities mission may find it worth a closer look. It could be a good fit for families who want their middle schooler in a community-scale setting rather than a sprawling district, and who are willing to stay engaged in supporting their child's academics along the way.