A Home Buyer’s Guide to Portland Schools

How do you pick a Portland neighborhood to live in? You might want proximity to work, family, or recreational opportunities, but if you’re a parent, chances are schools top the list.

There are many ways to figure out which Portland schools are right for your kids. Greatschools.org is a website that offers basic stats as well as user-generated info on schools and is geared toward the home buyer with quick links to real estate available near every school it lists. The school reviews are a little hit-and-miss (that’s what happens when students review their own schools) but the school details are helpful. Check out how many students are enrolled in the school and what kind of special programs it offers.

Another way to get Portland school information is by looking at the data on SchoolDigger.com, which ranks schools according to standardized test scores. Looking here, we find that 7 of the 10 best-performing elementary schools in Oregon are in Portland and Lake Oswego!

The Oregon Department of Education also publishes yearly report cards on all schools in the state. According to their website, “These reports were mandated by the 1999 state legislature and provide educators with an opportunity to communicate directly with parents and community members about how local schools are performing.”
They are available here: http://www.ode.state.or.us/data/reportcard/reports.aspx

The best way to choose a Portland area school, however, is to go in person! Meet the principal and some teachers and get a feel for the culture there. Talk to other parents about their kids’ experience. Portland’s schools very much reflect their neighborhoods and the communities that support them. Test scores only tell part of the story, and they don’t predict whether your student will thrive or flounder in a particular school.

Ultimately, it’s up for you to decide – does a school make or break a neighborhood? Are you willing to shuttle your student to a school that may be better but lies farther away? (Don’t forget about Safe Routes to School!) Keep these questions in mind as you and your real estate agent check out potential homes to buy in the Portland area.

Did you know you can search for a home by school district? You can here.