Comment: Today's Portola Isn't Yesterday's Portola

The ongoing discussions, debates and doubts about the quality of some public schools in El Cerrito came into sharp focus this past week with the latest state rankings of public schools. Our June 14 article on the results, "," sparked a relatively large number of comments and spirited debate about Portola Middle School, which, like El Cerrito High, ranked in the lowest 10 percent (decile) among comparable schools. Arguing that Portola has seen a significant turnaround from its problem-plagued days was the Comment of the Week from Mary Schmida, responding to another commenter who said Portola "has been abismal for 25 years. The fact that 80% of the students are from Richmond speaks volumes. It is a waste of a school."

Mary Schmida:

Alvin, many people who went to Portola back in the day feel the same way you do. BUT, I beg of you, please do not judge our new Portola with the sins of the past. We have tried hard to build a loving and supportive community there, demand high academic and behavior standards for our students, provide parental support and input to teachers on a weekly (or even daily) basis, communicate with the principal, fundraise, bring in additional programs such as Lawrence Hall of Science, Oakland Art and Science Center, and writing coaches for dozens and dozens of students. If you are not a student there currently, or if you do not have a student there currently, please do not do us harm by telling people that the new Portola is the same as the old Portola. It is not. We are determined to give our students a top-notch education in our neighborhood school, just as they deserve. If Richmond kids join us, we are happy to have them. I find all the students this year at Portola to be charming, articulate, sweet, communicative, funny, smart, interesting, polite, and I am proud that my daughter attends her local school. Come visit us in the fall; we will be happy to show you around. But do not say that we are an abysmal school when we are all working, as a community, to improve Portola, support our wonderful principal, and be the change we want to see.

• Editor's note: We welcome reader comments on our articles. The Comment of the Week doesn't necessarily reflect the view of El Cerrito Patch. It's chosen according to what we believe will be of general reader interest. For other examples from our Comment of the Week series, please click .