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Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary

Public Grades 1-5

9^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 100% of California elementary schools

Summary

Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary is a highly selective public magnet school for grades 1-5 in Northridge, CA, serving about 650 students within the Los Angeles Unified school district and consistently ranked among the very best elementary schools in the state.

The school's academic results are exceptional, with over 90% of students proficient in English and math, dramatically outperforming all nearby schools. For example, it far exceeds the performance of the closest school, Mayall Street Elementary, and its science scores are more than thirteen times higher than those at Granada Elementary. This excellence is consistent for all student groups, with Hispanic and low-income students at Balboa ranking #1 and #7 in California, respectively. The school also maintains a remarkably positive culture, with a chronic absenteeism rate of just 3.1%, which is a fraction of the rate at neighboring schools and the district average.

Balboa achieves these outstanding results efficiently, spending less per student than several nearby schools like Gledhill Street Elementary. Its success highlights the impact of its specialized gifted magnet program, though it also shows a sharp contrast in opportunity and outcomes compared to the traditional neighborhood schools in the same area, raising important considerations about educational access within the same community.

650

Students ?

24.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,056

Per pupil spending ?

31.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

17020 Labrador St.
Northridge, CA 91325-1906

(818) 349-4801

District: Los Angeles Unified

Racial breakdown:

White:

30.2%

Asian:

27.8%

Hispanic:

23.2%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 99th percentile in 2013 → 100th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (91% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 1% of California elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Los Angeles Unified

Worth a look

!Large classes — about 24 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school91%

District avg39%

California avg41%

9^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 1%▲ up 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 487Elementary Schools in the Los Angeles Unified

791^st of 1,543Los Angeles Unified among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	99.2	9 of 5857	99.8%	★★★★★
2024	99.0	16 of 5869	99.7%	★★★★★
2023	99.3	6 of 5859	99.9%	★★★★★
2022	99.0	19 of 5883	99.7%	★★★★★
2019	98.0	65 of 5789	98.9%	★★★★★
2018	98.3	42 of 5662	99.3%	★★★★★
2017	97.8	107 of 5692	98.1%	★★★★★
2016	97.5	109 of 5614	98.1%	★★★★★
2015	97.9	110 of 5611	98.0%	★★★★★
2013	96.3	44 of 5530	99.2%	★★★★★
2012	96.5	26 of 5390	99.5%	★★★★★
2011	96.4	46 of 5377	99.1%	★★★★★
2010	97.2	22 of 5314	99.6%	★★★★★
2009	97.8	15 of 5193	99.7%	★★★★★
2008	98.4	18 of 5113	99.6%	★★★★★
2007	98.7	15 of 5113	99.7%	★★★★★
2006	98.9	8 of 4818	99.8%	★★★★★
2005	99.0	10 of 4822	99.8%	★★★★★
2004	99.5	5 of 4809	99.9%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	89.2	9 of 1203	99.3%	★★★★★
2024	87.5	25 of 1205	97.9%	★★★★★
2023	87.1	22 of 1190	98.2%	★★★★★
2022	85.8	41 of 1154	96.4%	★★★★★
2019	81.8	91 of 1149	92.1%	★★★★★
2018	85.9	21 of 1071	98.0%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	98.8	9 of 5597	99.8%	★★★★★
2024	98.8	11 of 5612	99.8%	★★★★★
2023	99.2	3 of 5609	99.9%	★★★★★
2022	98.5	29 of 5635	99.5%	★★★★★
2019	96.7	110 of 5492	98.0%	★★★★★
2018	97.8	46 of 5413	99.2%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	99.8	1 of 5107	100.0%	★★★★★
2024	99.9	5 of 5107	99.9%	★★★★★
2023	99.9	1 of 5087	100.0%	★★★★★
2022	99.9	6 of 5084	99.9%	★★★★★
2019	98.3	51 of 4963	99.0%	★★★★★
2018	99.5	15 of 4830	99.7%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	99.9	7 of 5460	99.9%	★★★★★
2024	99.6	21 of 5517	99.6%	★★★★★
2023	99.9	3 of 5363	99.9%	★★★★★
2022	99.9	4 of 5264	99.9%	★★★★★
2019	99.3	14 of 5173	99.7%	★★★★★
2018	99.6	10 of 5084	99.8%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	98.8	12 of 5628	99.8%	★★★★★
2024	98.7	24 of 5643	99.6%	★★★★★
2023	99.1	7 of 5638	99.9%	★★★★★
2022	99.0	14 of 5663	99.8%	★★★★★
2019	98.3	38 of 5510	99.3%	★★★★★
2018	98.0	51 of 5431	99.1%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	88.3	30 of 718	95.8%	★★★★★
2024	87.7	37 of 670	94.5%	★★★★★
2022	88.5	21 of 610	96.6%	★★★★★
2019	75.8	93 of 445	79.1%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	100.0	3 of 2420	99.9%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	94.6	10 of 2598	99.6%	★★★★★
2024	93.0	30 of 2651	98.9%	★★★★★
2023	95.5	3 of 2661	99.9%	★★★★★
2022	92.7	39 of 2726	98.6%	★★★★★
2019	92.4	38 of 2834	98.7%	★★★★★
2018	91.4	68 of 2737	97.5%	★★★★★

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Hispanic (2025)100th percentile~ school

Special Education (2023)100th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)100th percentile~ school

Female (2025)100th percentile~ school

Male (2025)100th percentile~ school

White (2025)100th percentile~ school

Asian (2025)99th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2025)96th percentile-4 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy94%+45 vs state

Mathematics91%+54 vs state

Science84%+51 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, November 6, 2017

My daughter got into Balboa in the 3rd grade and is now a 5th grader! We LOVE this school and am sad it's her last year. She has thrived since going there. She is challenged academically, but not overwhelmed. They have so many wonderful activities the kids get to participate in and the teachers are stellar. Like I said we love it there and are very thankful our daughter got in there when we did! Close Quote

Schools Near Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)		Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)				Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)				% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary	Public	1-5	17020 Labrador St.	Northridge	91325	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 349-4801	650	27	24.0	31.1%	196 (30.2%)	15 (2.3%)	151 (23.2%)	181 (27.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	106 (16.3%)	99.2	9^th of 5857 public elementary schools	99.8%		99	16^th of 5869 public elementary schools	99.7%	7	84.1	84.1	92.6	94.8	93.5	93.6	92.6	91.9	89.2	91.2					$17,056	$2,172	$14,884
Mayall Street Elementary	Public	K-5	16701 Mayall St.	North Hills	91343	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 363-5058	471	23	20.4	65.0%	95 (20.2%)	16 (3.4%)	244 (51.8%)	38 (8.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	78 (16.6%)	89.2	703^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	88.0%		89.7	715^th of 5869 public elementary schools	87.8%	12	64.7	64.7	61.4	77.8	81.2	74.0	62.5	59.7	70.6	64.6	96.9				$22,305	$3,014	$19,291
Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	9240 Wish Ave.	Northridge	91325	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 349-4381	527	25	21.0	72.1%	91 (17.3%)	22 (4.2%)	308 (58.4%)	45 (8.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	61 (11.6%)	76.7	1301^st of 5857 public elementary schools	77.8%		74.6	1382^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	76.5%	81	42.5	42.5	48.8	72.2	63.9	61.3	65.5	61.0	46.6	58.2	97.1		98.1	98.1	$20,497	$3,054	$17,443
Andasol Avenue Elementary	Public	K-5	10126 Encino Ave.	Northridge	91325	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 349-8631	411	20	21.0	75.7%	48 (11.7%)	19 (4.6%)	249 (60.6%)	39 (9.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	54 (13.1%)	62.9	1926^th of 5857 public elementary schools	67.1%		61.3	2020^th of 5869 public elementary schools	65.6%	94	29.9	29.9	59.6	51.1	55.6	55.4	63.8	51.1	35.8	48.5					$24,546	$4,219	$20,327
Valley Charter Elementary	Public, Charter	K-5	16514 Nordhoff St.	North Hills	91343	Los Angeles County	Valley Charter Elementary District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 810-6713	295	14	21.0	37.3%	79 (26.8%)	8 (2.7%)	145 (49.2%)	38 (12.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (8.5%)	66.9	1747^th of 5857 public elementary schools	70.2%		68.1	1679^th of 5869 public elementary schools	71.4%	68	42.2	42.2	60.9	45.5	60.0	55.6	73.9	31.8	44.4	50.4					$16,039	$1,208	$14,831
Gledhill Street Elementary	Public	K-5	16030 Gledhill St.	North Hills	91343	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 894-1151	373	20	18.6	78.8%	32 (8.6%)	5 (1.3%)	282 (75.6%)	40 (10.7%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	12 (3.2%)	53	2429^th of 5857 public elementary schools	58.5%		45	2865^th of 5869 public elementary schools	51.2%	436	29.3	29.3	45.1	31.8	53.5	44.4	54.9	37.8	44.8	46.1					$29,583	$5,215	$24,368
Granada Elementary	Public	K-5	17170 Tribune St.	Granada Hills	91344	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 363-3188	370	18	20.5	93.0%	53 (14.3%)	15 (4.1%)	224 (60.5%)	26 (7.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	50 (13.5%)	28.7	4076^th of 5857 public elementary schools	30.4%		41.8	3080^th of 5869 public elementary schools	47.5%	996	6.4	6.4	37.7	33.3	21.7	31.3	43.4	35.2	17.4	32.7	97.5		97.5		$27,076	$4,298	$22,778
Vintage Math/Science/Technology Magnet	Public	K-5	15848 Stare St.	North Hills	91343	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 892-8661	725	31	23.3	59.7%	116 (16.0%)	13 (1.8%)	469 (64.7%)	87 (12.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	39 (5.4%)	82.5	1049^th of 5857 public elementary schools	82.1%		84.2	990^th of 5869 public elementary schools	83.1%	59	50.3	50.3	57.6	69.8	67.6	65.3	62.1	61.7	55.9	59.9					$19,197	$3,162	$16,035
Parthenia Academy of Arts and Technology	Public	K-5	16825 Napa St.	North Hills	91343	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 891-6955	421	21	20.5	90.3%	19 (4.5%)	18 (4.3%)	345 (81.9%)	18 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.0%)	33	3722^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	36.5%		27.4	4161^st of 5869 public elementary schools	29.1%	439	17.0	17.0	33.8	21.5	36.2	30.4	52.9	19.4	37.9	36.8	96.4	98.2		96.4	$25,307	$5,290	$20,017
Tulsa Street Elementary	Public	K-5	10900 Hayvenhurst Ave.	Granada Hills	91344	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 363-5061	406	19	21.3	76.6%	57 (14.0%)	14 (3.4%)	277 (68.2%)	27 (6.7%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.1%)	54.5	2334^th of 5857 public elementary schools	60.2%		43.9	2926^th of 5869 public elementary schools	50.1%	592	33.3	33.3	56.9	48.0	45.5	49.8	59.0	36.8	30.3	41.4	92.3	96.9	96.9	93.9	$22,289	$4,231	$18,058

Frequently Asked Questions about Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary

How many students attend Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 650 students attended Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary?

Students at Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary are 30% White, 28% Asian, 23% Hispanic, 16% Two or more races, 2% African American.

Is Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary a good school?

Yes! Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 9^th of 5857 California elementary schools.

What district is Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary in?

Los Angeles Unified

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.