Very Good
#1965 of 9,533 schools in CA
Top 21% in state
Portola High
High School · Irvine Unified
1001 Cadence, Irvine, CA 92618
Enrollment
2,503
Student-Teacher
26.3:1
Score
7.7
Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
2,503
Student-Teacher
26.3:1
Score
7.7
Grades
9th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Irvine
#7 of 47
public schools
California high schools
#338 of 1,892
In district
#5 of 43
Irvine Unified
Equity
9.4 / 10
Exceptional
About Portola High
Portola High serves 2,503 students in grades 9-12 in Irvine, California, earning strong academic recognition with a MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10. The school ranks in the 86th percentile statewide, placing #1297 among California's 9,566 schools, with an impressive academic score of 9.4 out of 10. Students demonstrate solid academic achievement, with 81% scoring proficient or above in English Language Arts and 68% meeting proficiency standards in mathematics.
The school operates with 95 full-time equivalent teachers, creating a student-teacher ratio of 26.3 to 1. Portola High is situated in an affluent area of Irvine where the median household income reaches $132,843 and the median home value is $1,103,600. The surrounding 92618 ZIP code community is highly educated, with 71% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher, while maintaining a low poverty rate of just 8.5%.
This ZIP code area serves nearly 59,386 residents. The school benefits from its location in Orange County's Irvine, a large city known for its planned communities, excellent infrastructure, and family-friendly environment that strongly values educational achievement.
What's said publicly about Portola High
Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated April 2026.
Sources (1)
What Parents Should Know
Portola High is a large school with 2,503 students enrolled. Larger schools typically offer a wider range of academic programs, electives, and extracurricular activities. Parents may want to ask about how the school maintains a sense of community and ensures students don't get lost in the crowd.
The student-teacher ratio at Portola High is 26.3:1, 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 · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Portola High — Students at Portola High score 75% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 65%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
18.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 8 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 9.0/10.
How Portola High Compares
See how Portola High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 69% (2019) to 68.35% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 73% (2019) to 81.08% (2024).
Location
1001 Cadence, Irvine, CA 92618
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Portola High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. NEW HORIZON SCHOOL IRVINE (rated 8.3/10, 2.1 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Serrano Intermediate (rated 7.1/10, 2.6 miles away, in nearby Lake Forest), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Portola Springs Elementary (rated 6.8/10, 1.5 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Irvine, see our Irvine schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.6 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Solis Park Irvine | 0.3 mi | 6.1 |
| Cadence Park Irvine | 0.8 mi | 5.7 |
| Portola Springs Elementary Irvine | 1.5 mi | 6.8 |
| Loma Ridge Elementary Irvine | 1.8 mi | 5.7 |
| Beacon Park Irvine | 1.7 mi | 6.5 |
| Tumble 'N Grow Irvine | 1.9 mi | — |
| NEW HORIZON SCHOOL IRVINE Irvine | 2.1 mi | 8.3 |
| New Horizon School Irvine Upper Campus Irvine | 2.1 mi | — |
| LEPORT SCHOOLS - IRVINE SPECTRUM NORTH CAMPUS Irvine | 2.1 mi | 5.9 |
| LEPORT SCHOOLS Irvine | 2.1 mi | — |
| Excel Academy Charter Irvine | 2.1 mi | 5.6 |
| Excel Academy Charter Irvine | 2.1 mi | 5.2 |
| LePort Montessori Irvine Spectrum Irvine | 2.1 mi | — |
| Rancho Canada Elementary Lake Forest | 2.2 mi | 5.1 |
| Crean Lutheran High School Irvine | 2.3 mi | — |
| CREAN LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL Irvine | 2.3 mi | 5.7 |
| FULBRIGHT MONTESSORI ACADEMY Lake Forest | 2.1 mi | — |
| Fulbright Montessori Academy Lake Forest | 2.1 mi | — |
| LAKE FOREST MONTESSORI SCHOOL Lake Forest | 2.3 mi | — |
| Serrano Intermediate Lake Forest | 2.6 mi | 7.1 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 92618 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$135,609
Median Home Value
$1,153,400
Median Rent
$3,053/mo
Population
62,296
College Educated
72.5%
Homeownership
39.5%
Avg Commute
25.9 min
Poverty Rate
8.4%
Median Age
34.1
Community Profile
The community surrounding Portola High has a median household income of $135,609. It is a well-educated community where 73% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,153,400, with a median rent of $3,053/month. The local poverty rate of 8.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 26 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 |
|---|---|
| Alhambra High Alhambra, CA | 7.7 |
| Bonita High San Dimas, CA | 7.7 |
| Cerritos High Cerritos, CA | 7.7 |
| Citrus Valley High Redlands, CA | 7.7 |
| Del Oro High Loomis, CA | 7.7 |
| Fresno High Fresno, CA | 7.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Portola High
What grades does Portola High serve?
Portola High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Portola High?
Portola High has an enrollment of approximately 2,503 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Portola High?
The student-teacher ratio at Portola High is 26.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Portola High rank in CA?
Portola High is ranked #1965 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Portola High's MySchoolScout rating?
Portola High has a composite rating of 7.7 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 High?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Portola High has 70.4% math proficiency and 80.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Portola High a charter school?
No, Portola High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Portola High a Title I school?
No, Portola High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Portola High?
18.1% of students at Portola High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 2,503
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 26.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 95
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 18.1%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Orange County
- Phone
- (949) 936-8200
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Irvine Unified- District Enrollment
- 37,731
- Schools in District
- 45
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,405
- District Rank
- #5 of 43
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.
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