Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle vs Alfred B. Nobel Charter Middle

Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle and Alfred B. Nobel Charter Middle are separated by 2.9 miles in Northridge, California, and their overall ratings are effectively identical — both earn 9.1/10. In California's state ranking, Holmes sits at #227 of 9,533 schools while Nobel Charter lands at #232 of 9,533, a difference of just five positions. Parents choosing between these two schools are not choosing between good and mediocre — they are choosing between two schools that perform near the top of the state.

Where the two schools diverge most sharply is in academic scores. Alfred B. Nobel Charter Middle earns a 9.5/10 on academics compared to Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle's 9.0/10 — a half-point gap that places Nobel Charter among California's academic elite at the middle school level. Growth scores, however, are a dead heat: both schools post a 9.4/10, meaning students at each school advance at equivalent rates relative to peers statewide.

The schools differ significantly in size and student demographics. Alfred B. Nobel Charter Middle enrolls 1,839 students — more than twice the 871 at Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle. That larger enrollment comes with a less favorable student-teacher ratio: 23.3:1 at Nobel Charter versus 20.7:1 at Holmes, meaning Holmes students have, on average, more teacher contact per class. The free and reduced-price lunch rate at Holmes is 72%, compared to 52% at Nobel Charter, indicating Holmes serves a substantially higher share of economically disadvantaged families.

On school type, Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle is a traditional LAUSD public school, while Alfred B. Nobel Charter Middle operates as a charter. Both serve grades 6 through 8, so the transition year is the same. Families weighing the charter model — which typically involves an enrollment process, a school-specific culture, and distinct governance — should factor in Nobel's larger campus size and whether that environment suits their child alongside the school's academic edge.