The school system has a lot of great options. It’s best to check out schools in your area and find the right one for you and your child.
Some things to look at include teacher retention, student-teacher ratios and test scores. Also, pay attention to the quality of facilities.
Public Schools
Portland has some of the best public schools in the state. Its students have above-average math and reading proficiency scores. But the city also has some low-performing schools.
Its 149 schools are spread across nine school districts, including Beaverton, Parkrose, Lake Oswego, Centennial, Tigard-Tualatin, Reynolds, Riverdale and Portland Public. The largest, Portland Public School District, encompasses the city’s most populous areas and is one of the highest-performing large urban school districts in the nation.
Top-rated schools include Findley Elementary and Winterhaven Elementary, both of which have exceptional reading proficiency rankings. The city’s best high schools include Grant, Cleveland and Lincoln. The area’s most affordable neighborhoods for family homes are in the southeast, with great options like Scouters Mountain Elementary and Happy Valley Junior High.
For higher education, the city is home to Portland State University and OHSU, a massive medical, dental and nursing campus located on Marquam Hill. Its hospitals are renowned for the quality of their care and research. In addition, there are several private colleges and universities in the city. These include Oregon College of Oriental Medicine and Western States Chiropractic College. The Portland metro area has many public libraries, including the Oregon Main Library in downtown Portland. Its collection of materials is extensive, and the library also features a number of reading rooms, including the popular Powell’s Booksellers on Third.
Private Schools
With 125 private schools in Portland, students have many options for learning in an environment that fosters creativity and character. These independent schools offer a unique curriculum, smaller class sizes, and specialized extracurricular activities, which help students thrive both academically and socially.
A large number of private schools in the Portland area are religiously affiliated, with Catholic and Christian schools particularly popular with families. Other private schools are secular and may emphasize specific educational philosophies such as Montessori or Waldorf education. In addition, private schools in Portland can have a very rigorous admissions process, which creates a close-knit community of motivated students.
Students in private schools have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of extracurricular activities, which can include music, theater, art, dance, and sports. One of the most prominent private high schools in Portland is Northwest Academy, which offers a comprehensive college preparatory program and provides students with opportunities for leadership and service.
Most private schools in Oregon do not need to be registered or approved by the state Department of Education. However, they are required to comply with local health, safety, and fire codes. In addition, students graduating from accredited private high schools are more likely to be accepted by higher education institutions and employers.
Public & Private Colleges & Universities
The top public colleges and universities in Portland Oregon USA offer a range of undergraduate and graduate degrees for in-state and out-of-state students. From climate science and robotics to public health, Oregon’s innovative universities help build a well-educated workforce to solve critical problems. Explore their websites to learn more and find tools for transfer planning including admissions guides, cost calculators and more.
Located on the west coast of the United States, Oregon is a diverse and liberal state with a vibrant college culture. Its largest city, Portland, is famous for its “Keep Portland Weird” motto and offers a range of professional sports teams as well as a thriving live music scene. Oregon’s colleges, from the University of Portland and its many schools to the Oregon Health & Science University, have a variety of offerings to match any interest.
University of Oregon (UO) is a nationally ranked research institution, according to US News and World Report. The school provides a hands-on curriculum that drives discovery, and students have the freedom to pursue new directions or combine fields of study. It also has a range of fellowships, grants and study abroad programs. Students at the UO are known for their civic engagement and high levels of community involvement. This includes the school’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities and support for first-generation students.
International Schools
Located on the campus of Warner Pacific University, International School of Portland offers academic programming and student support services to students from around the world. PIA’s intensive English program provides students with the language skills and study habits they need to study at universities in the United States or pursue other academic or career paths that require advanced English skills.
The school welcomes international students in kindergarten through eighth grade and is a member of the French American International Schools Association and the Northwest Association of Independent Schools. Its Intensive English Program offers students instruction from qualified native-English speakers and offers six levels of English classes, starting with English Basics and finishing with Level 5. Students in PIA’s Intensive English Program are eligible to attend a variety of extracurricular activities, including drama, music and sports.
Students learn about other cultures by hosting visiting international students and by participating in Model United Nations and engineering clubs. They also take college-level courses that are weighted, meaning a full point (1.0) is added to the grade points earned in these courses.
Students receive personalized guidance in selecting colleges based on their strengths, interests and goals. The college admissions expert who works with you in your high school education can help you create a comprehensive admission strategy to top colleges and universities.