Aubrey R. Watzek House · Photo: Visitor7 · CC BY-SA 3.0Portland’s public schools outscore 87% of Oregon districts
Math proficiency in Portland’s districts is 44%, above the Oregon average (31%). The grade covers the public school district serving Portland, 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.
From Oregon state tests taken in spring 2022, when 84% 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.
Portland’s schools, in brief
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 55% and math 44% in spring 2022, against 44% and 31% statewide; 84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 81%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $21,557 per student, against $17,749 across Oregon (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
54 elementary schools, then 24 middle and nine high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 7% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
The Cottonwood School of Civics and Science, The Ivy School, Arthur Academy, Emerson School, Portland Village School, Portland Arthur Academy Charter School, Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School, Kairos PDX, HOLLA School, Central Catholic High School (private), Portland Christian Schools (private), St. Marys Academy (private), French International School of Oregon (private), Portland Christian Elementary School (private), International School of Portland (private), Columbia Christian Schools (private), Rosemary Anderson High School/Portland Oic (private), West Hills Christian School (private), Portland Jewish Academy (private), Franciscan Montessori Earth School (private), Childpeace Montessori School (private), The Madeleine Elementary School (private), Holy Redeemer Catholic School (private), Cedarwood Waldorf School (private), Holy Cross Catholic School (private), St. Clare School (private), De la Salle North Catholic High School (private), St. John Fisher (private), St. Ignatius School (private), St. Therese Catholic School (private), St. Rose School (private), St. Thomas More School (private), Portland Adventist Academy (private), Holy Family School (private), West Hills Montessori School-Vermont (private), St. Agatha Catholic School (private), Montessori of Alameda (private), Sunstone Montessori School (private), Class Academy (private), Trinity Academy (private), Puddletown School (private), Shining Star Waldorf School (private), The Portland Montessori School (private), Grace Lutheran School (private), L'Etoile French Immersion School (private), St. Andrew Nativity School (private), Tucker Maxon School (private), Community Transitional School (private), Slavic Christian Academy (private), Serendipity Center (private), Portland Montessori Collaborative (private), Village Free School (private), Bridges Middle School (private), Trinity Lutheran School (private), Whole Child Montessori Center (private), Montessori Childrens House (private), Parkrose Montessori (private), Portland Chinese School (private), Rosemary Anderson Middle School (private), Portland Youthbuilders (private), Happy Day Christian Child Care (private), Activate School (private), Chestnut Grove Montessori Childrens House (private), Sunnyside Mennonite Montessori School (private), Chesterton Academy Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (private) and Woodlawn Montessori (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.
What’s behind Portland’s grade
A: better than 87% of Oregon school districts, #23 of 142 Oregon towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Oregon average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Portland, with each school’s own grade.
Portland’s public schools are run by Portland School District 1J. Parts of Portland (8%, 8%, 4% and 3% of its land) are served by Parkrose School District 3, David Douglas School District 40, Centennial School District 28J and Reynolds School District 7 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.
Well above the state in reading
Portland vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Oregon towns that share Portland’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Portland | A | Portland School District 1J |
| Gresham | C− | Gresham-Barlow School District 1J K–12 · Reynolds School District 7 K–12 |
| Beaverton | A | Beaverton School District 48J |
| Lake Oswego | A+ | Lake Oswego School District 7J |
| Milwaukie | B+ | North Clackamas School District 12 |
| Happy Valley | B+ | North Clackamas School District 12 |
| Tigard | A− | Tigard-Tualatin School District 23J |
Vancouver, WA borders Portland but is graded on its own state’s tests, so it’s left out.
Every school in Portland
175 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).
Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Rivercrest Academy).
Questions about Portland’s schools
Are Portland’s schools good?
By Oregon’s own tests, yes: the public schools Portland children attend outscore 87% of Oregon’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #23 of 142 Oregon towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 89%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Portland in?
Portland School District 1J, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 41,894 students in 86 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Portland are served by Parkrose School District 3, David Douglas School District 40, Centennial School District 28J and Reynolds School District 7.
Where do Portland kids go to high school?
One of 9 high schools, depending on your address: Grant High School, Franklin High School, Leodis V. McDaniel High School, Ida B. Wells-Barnett High School, Lincoln High School, Roosevelt High School, Cleveland High School, Benson Polytechnic High School and Jefferson High School.
What is Portland’s graduation rate?
84% of the class of 2023 in Portland School District 1J graduated in four years, against 81% across Oregon.
How much does Portland spend per student?
$21,557 in Portland School District 1J (FY2024), against $17,749 across Oregon. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Portland?
Yes: Central Catholic High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 865 students), Portland Christian Schools (religious, grades PK–12, 735 students), St. Marys Academy (catholic · all-girls, grades 9–12, 606 students), French International School of Oregon (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 568 students), Portland Christian Elementary School (religious, grades PK–5, 429 students), International School of Portland (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 376 students), Columbia Christian Schools (religious, grades PK–12, 333 students), Rosemary Anderson High School/Portland Oic (nonsectarian, grades 6–12, 326 students), West Hills Christian School (religious, grades K–8, 322 students), Portland Jewish Academy (religious, grades PK–8, 290 students), Franciscan Montessori Earth School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 263 students), Childpeace Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 261 students), The Madeleine Elementary School (Catholic, grades K–8, 256 students), Holy Redeemer Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 253 students), Cedarwood Waldorf School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 239 students), Holy Cross Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 235 students), St. Clare School (Catholic, grades K–8, 228 students), De la Salle North Catholic High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 220 students), St. John Fisher (Catholic, grades PK–8, 217 students), St. Ignatius School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 213 students), St. Therese Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 209 students), St. Rose School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 207 students), St. Thomas More School (Catholic, grades K–8, 193 students), Portland Adventist Academy (religious, grades 9–12, 193 students), Holy Family School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 188 students), West Hills Montessori School-Vermont (nonsectarian, grades PK–6, 162 students), St. Agatha Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 158 students), Montessori of Alameda (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 150 students), Sunstone Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–6, 144 students), Class Academy (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 138 students), Trinity Academy (religious, grades 6–12, 126 students), Puddletown School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 121 students), Shining Star Waldorf School (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 117 students), The Portland Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–4, 116 students), Grace Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 108 students), L'Etoile French Immersion School (nonsectarian, grades K–5, 84 students), St. Andrew Nativity School (Catholic, grades 6–8, 81 students), Tucker Maxon School (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 79 students), Community Transitional School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 79 students), Slavic Christian Academy (religious, grades K–8, 73 students), Serendipity Center (special education, grades 2–12, 67 students), Portland Montessori Collaborative (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 65 students), Village Free School (nonsectarian, grades K, 62 students), Bridges Middle School (special education, grades 4–8, 60 students), Trinity Lutheran School (religious, grades K–8, 50 students), Whole Child Montessori Center (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 50 students), Montessori Childrens House (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 48 students), Parkrose Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 46 students), Portland Chinese School (nonsectarian, grades K–10, 41 students), Rosemary Anderson Middle School (nonsectarian, grades 6–8, 31 students), Portland Youthbuilders (nonsectarian, grades 11–12, 27 students), Happy Day Christian Child Care (religious, grades PK–K, 22 students), Activate School (nonsectarian, grades 3–5, 18 students), Chestnut Grove Montessori Childrens House (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 15 students), Sunnyside Mennonite Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades K, 11 students), Chesterton Academy Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (Catholic, grades 9–10, 10 students) and Woodlawn Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 6 students). Portland also has 9 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Portland families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Portland → 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.