Gaspar De Portola Charter Middle

Gaspar De Portola Charter Middle School serves grades 6 through 8 in Tarzana, California, enrolling 1,403 students. The school earns a composite score of 8.9/10 and an Excellent rating across both academic performance and student growth. The growth score — 9.3/10 — is the standout figure.

It tops an already-high academic score of 8.9/10, signaling that students here advance measurably faster than at most schools with similar starting points. That combination places Portola at #41 among 1,349 California middle schools, a top-3% finish in the state. Zoomed out, the picture holds: Portola outperforms 96% of California's 9,533 public schools at any grade level, landing at #359 overall.

At 23.4 students per teacher across a 1,403-student enrollment, the school runs at real scale without sacrificing those outcomes. For Tarzana families weighing local middle school options, Portola ranks #2 of 4 in the area. Families prioritizing both a high academic baseline and strong upward student trajectory will find that combination here.

The student-teacher ratio at Gaspar De Portola Charter Middle is 23.4:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.

Gaspar De Portola Charter Middle is a charter school — a publicly funded school that operates with more autonomy than traditional district schools. Charter schools often have distinct educational models or specialties. Parents should understand the school's specific mission, enrollment process, and how its approach differs from nearby district options.