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Excellent

#1085 of 9,533 schools in CA

Top 11% in state

Portola Elementary

Elementary School · San Bruno Park Elementary

300 Amador Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066

Enrollment

325

Student-Teacher

23.2:1

Score

8.2

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In San Bruno

#2 of 8

public schools

California elementary schools

#787 of 5,817

In district

#1 of 5

San Bruno Park Elementary

Academic growth

9.2 / 10

Exceptional

About Portola Elementary

Portola Elementary is a public elementary school in San Bruno, CA, part of the San Bruno Park Elementary. The school serves approximately 325 students in grades Kindergarten – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 23.2:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.2/10, placing it in the 88.6th percentile among CA schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 67% proficiency in math, 28 points above the state average and 67% in reading/language arts, 22 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.2/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $135,976, where 44% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a large suburban setting.

What Parents Should Know

The student-teacher ratio at Portola Elementary is 23.2:1, 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.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.2Exceptional50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+0.84 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendStable
Academics8.6Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency69.8%
Reading/ELA Proficiency67.5%
Math vs. State Avg+24.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+24.7 pts
Overall Proficiency69%
Expected (poverty-adj.)64%
vs. Expected+4.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile78th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment5.1Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio23.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,574

Portola Elementary — Students at Portola Elementary score 69% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 64%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

19.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 67.2%
School
State
39.4%
ELA Proficiency 67.2%
School
State
45.3%

Based on 12 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
62%
ELA
67%
2021*
Math
62%
ELA
67%
2024
Math
69.8%
ELA
67.3%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.2/10.

How Portola Elementary Compares

See how Portola Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.2/10
89th percentile in CA
Academic
8.6/10
8.6/10
Growth
9.2/10
Above average
Environment
5.1/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
19%
Teaching Staff
23:1 student-teacher ratio
14 teachers

Location

300 Amador Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Portola Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Buri Buri Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 2.3 miles away, in nearby South San Francisco), with a very similar rating. Another option is Monte Verde Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 0.8 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, John Muir Elementary (rated 7.7/10, 1.2 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in San Bruno, see our San Bruno schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.3 mi
School Distance Rating
HIGHLANDS CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS San Bruno 0.3 mi 4.7
Wings Learning Center San Bruno 0.6 mi
Monte Verde Elementary San Bruno 0.8 mi 8.3
Stratford School - San Bruno Crestmoor Canyon San Bruno 1.0 mi
STRATFORD SCHOOL San Bruno 1.0 mi 6.2
John Muir Elementary San Bruno 1.2 mi 7.7
Westborough Middle South San Francisco 1.4 mi 6.2
Ponderosa Elementary South San Francisco 1.8 mi 7.4
Skyline Elementary Daly City 2.0 mi 7.2
Baden High (Continuation) South San Francisco 2.0 mi 6.5
St. Veronica Catholic School South San Francisco 1.9 mi
ST VERONICA CATHOLIC SCHOOL South San Francisco 2.0 mi 6.0
Vallemar Elementary Pacifica 1.8 mi 5.4
Buri Buri Elementary South San Francisco 2.3 mi 8.4
South San Francisco High South San Francisco 2.1 mi 8.0
Parkside Intermediate San Bruno 2.0 mi 5.0
Oceana High Pacifica 2.1 mi 6.8
Terra Nova High Pacifica 2.4 mi 7.8
Alta Loma Middle South San Francisco 2.5 mi 7.1
Los Cerritos Elementary South San Francisco 2.3 mi 5.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 94066 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$135,976

Median Home Value

$1,199,400

Median Rent

$2,696/mo

Population

42,875

College Educated

43.5%

Homeownership

61.8%

Avg Commute

25.1 min

Poverty Rate

5.1%

Median Age

39.8

Community Profile

The community surrounding Portola Elementary has a median household income of $135,976. It is a well-educated community where 44% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,199,400, with a median rent of $2,696/month. The local poverty rate of 5.1% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
ALL SAINTS' EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL Carmel, CA 8.2
ALTA VISTA SCHOOL San Francisco, CA 8.2
Alta Loma Elementary Los Angeles, CA 8.2
Andres and Maria Cardenas Elementary Van Nuys, CA 8.2
Arbolita Elementary La Habra, CA 8.2
Aspen Elementary Thousand Oaks, CA 8.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Portola Elementary

What grades does Portola Elementary serve?

Portola Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Portola Elementary?

Portola Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 325 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Portola Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Portola Elementary is 23.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Portola Elementary rank in CA?

Portola Elementary is ranked #1085 out of 9,533 schools in CA.

What is Portola Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Portola Elementary has a composite rating of 8.2 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Portola Elementary?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Portola Elementary has 67.2% math proficiency and 67.2% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Portola Elementary a charter school?

No, Portola Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Portola Elementary a Title I school?

No, Portola Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Portola Elementary?

19.4% of students at Portola Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
16 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
10 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,234/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (San Bruno). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
325
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
14
Free/Reduced Lunch
19.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
San Mateo County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

San Bruno Park Elementary
District Enrollment
1,950
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,156
District Rank
#1 of 5

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Related reading

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