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Damascus School - Damascus OregonPhoto: Ian Poellet · CC BY-SA 3.0
C
Schools in Damascus · Gresham-Barlow School District 1J

Damascus’s public schools score below 69% of Oregon districts on tests and graduation

Math proficiency in Damascus’s districts is 21%, below the Oregon average (31%). The grade covers the public school district serving Damascus, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Oregon, not nationally.

#105of 142 Oregon townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Oregon state tests taken in spring 2022, when 88% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
38%
▼ 6 pts vs OR 44%
2021–22
Math proficiency
21%
▼ 10 pts vs OR 31%
2021–22
Graduate on time
76%
▼ 5 pts vs OR 81%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.6K
▼ 12% vs OR $17.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
20.5
OR 17.9 · larger classes
Schools in town
3
3,981 students on the public path
In brief

Damascus’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 83 Oregon towns with household incomes within a quarter of Damascus’s, its schools beat 17%, lower than their 31% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 38% of tested students were proficient in reading and 21% in math, against 44% and 31% statewide; 88% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

76% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 81% across Oregon. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,648 per student, against $17,749 across Oregon (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then three high schools

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Damascus Christian School (private) and Hillsview Montessori School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Damascus’s grade

C Test scoresC Graduation

C: better than 31% of Oregon school districts, #105 of 142 Oregon towns. Both inputs trail the Oregon average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Oregon school districts we grade (178)Better than 31%
Lower resultsHigher results
Oregon towns with similar household incomes (83)Better than 17%
C−C+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 5,272 test results and a graduating class of 1,111 could put Damascus anywhere from C− to C+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 88% of Damascus’s students in the tested grades sat them (5,267 in math, 5,278 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Damascus, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–8Deep Creek - Damascus K-8 SchoolGresham-Barlow School District 1JNo scores
9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores

Damascus’s public schools are run by Gresham-Barlow School District 1J, which also serves Gresham. Parts of Damascus (14%, 14% and 5% of its land) are served by North Clackamas School District 12, Centennial School District 28J and Estacada School District 108 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Gresham-Barlow School District 1JGrades K–12 · 20 schools · 11,345 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 20.5 per teacher (OR 17.9)
$15,648OR $17,749 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading38%
State average 44% · 5278 students tested
Math21%
State average 30.6% · 5267 students tested

Damascus vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Oregon towns that share Damascus’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
DamascusCGresham-Barlow School District 1J
Happy ValleyB+North Clackamas School District 12

Every school in Damascus

6 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Oregon’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Damascusby address
Deep Creek - Damascus K-8 School
Elementary · Grades K–8
477 students19:1Rate it →
Also serving Damascusin other towns
Gresham High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Gresham
1,685 students23:1Rate it →
Sam Barlow High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Gresham
1,635 students25:1Rate it →
Springwater Trail High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Gresham
184 students17:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Damascus Christian School
Grades PK–12
Private · Religious
354 students15:1Rate it →
Hillsview Montessori School
Elementary · Grades PK–1
Private · Religious
70 studentsRate it →

Questions about Damascus’s schools

Are Damascus’s schools good?

On Oregon’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Damascus children attend score below 69% of Oregon’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #105 of 142 Oregon towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 17%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Damascus in?

Gresham-Barlow School District 1J, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 11,345 students in 20 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Damascus are served by North Clackamas School District 12, Centennial School District 28J and Estacada School District 108.

Where do Damascus kids go to high school?

One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Gresham High School, Sam Barlow High School and Springwater Trail High School.

What is Damascus’s graduation rate?

76% of the class of 2023 in Gresham-Barlow School District 1J graduated in four years, against 81% across Oregon.

How much does Damascus spend per student?

$15,648 in Gresham-Barlow School District 1J (FY2024), against $17,749 across Oregon. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Damascus?

Yes: Damascus Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 354 students) and Hillsview Montessori School (religious, grades PK–1, 70 students).

Parents talk

What Damascus families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Damascus → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Oregon. Stars are from neighbors.