School History

Original plans made in 1959 called for a junior high school to be built on the 22.17 acre site at the corner of Lowell and Tracy Boulevard, then McKinley Avenue. However, four years of double sessions at Tracy's five elementary schools convinced elementary school trustees to change their plans in 1961 and make El Portal an elementary school, with plans to convert it to a junior  high in future years.

In 1978, Monte Vista Middle School replaced El Portal Elementary School and had sixth, seventh and eighth graders instead of Kindergarten through  sixth grade students in its classrooms.