STEAM Academy @ Burke

Tucked into Pico Rivera's close-knit, working-class community in the southeast San Gabriel Valley, STEAM Academy @ Burke brings a focused science, technology, engineering, arts, and math lens to the middle school years — a welcome option for families looking for something beyond a traditional junior high experience. The school lands solidly in the middle of the pack statewide, with math being a relative strength, and its STEAM identity gives students a sense of purpose and direction during what can otherwise be a pretty turbulent time in a kid's academic life. Pico Rivera itself is a tight community where local pride runs deep, and families here tend to value schools that feel intentional and connected to something bigger than just test scores.