2020 Best Charter Schools in the Portland AreaAbout this List

Three Rivers Charter School

• West Linn-Wilsonville School District, OR
• 4-8
• 1 review

Parent: My 2 children attended TRCS between 2000 to 2005, i.e., the first 4 years of its operation (we took a gap year in Spain for 2002-2003). They were repeatedly challenged, never allowed to slack and the student body had more IEPs (kids with learning issues) than other schools. Our children thrived.
Read 1 Review

• A

• 110 Students
• 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Hope Chinese Charter School

• Beaverton School District, OR
• K-8

• A

• 200 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Sherwood Charter School

• Sherwood School District, OR
• K-8
• 9 reviews

Parent: Sherwood Charter School is made amazing because of the teachers. They are dedicated to our kids and go above and beyond to make a positive impact. With lack of State funding, the school doesn't have as many resources, but the teaching staff makes up the difference. My child is a happier and more successful student because of this school.
Read 9 Reviews

• A-

• 199 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Arco Iris Spanish Immersion School

• Beaverton School District, OR
• K-8
• 13 reviews

Parent: My Kids have been at this school for 6 years now and love it. The community is very involved and active at this school, sometimes to the point of overactive. Unfortunately due to the charter aspect of this school we tend to see higher teacher/Admin turnover because we can't pay the teachers as much as the district schools can offer. Despite the turnover we have had many wonderful teachers come through our halls, anywhere you go there are great teachers and less great teachers. This school has been the right choice for my kids and I have confidence that they are receiving a great education with a better world view wound into it.
Read 13 Reviews

• A-

• 299 Students
• 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Arthur Academy

• David Douglas School District, OR
• K-5
• 1 review

• A-

• 156 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

The Cottonwood School

• Public School
• Portland, OR
• K-8
• 1 review

Parent: This school is a treasure. Not too many people are aware of how amazing place-based education is, but it should be implemented in all schools. The students often go out in the field to perform hands-on learning and connect with the world around them. The teachers and staff are so supportive and caring. The school leadership does a phenomenal job at doing more with less since this is a tuition-free public charter school and they get only a little more than half of the funding per student typical public schools get.
Read 1 Review

• A-

• 192 Students
• 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

MITCH Charter School

• Tigard-Tualatin School District, OR
• K-8
• 20 reviews

Middle School Student: I love MITCH Charter School! I have gone there for seven years and have never dreaded a Monday morning. All of my teachers have been supportive and have made me laugh too many times to count. I feel like I always learn something new every day, and I never get bored. Our days are filled with many indoor and outdoor activities. I especially enjoy working in the garden during agriculture class! I am thankful to have had the opportunity to choose MITCH as my school.
Read 20 Reviews

• A-

• 233 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School

• Portland Public Schools, OR
• K-5

• A-

• 277 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Emerson School

• Portland Public Schools, OR
• K-5
• 14 reviews

Parent: Great teachers that enjoy teaching and aren't in it for a paycheck. Project based learning. Students as a class decide on a subject to study with lots of field study and local business support.
Read 14 Reviews

• A-

• 144 Students
• 24:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Milwaukie Academy of the Arts

• North Clackamas School District, OR
• 9-12
• 65 reviews

Niche User: Milwaukie Academy of the Arts (MAA) is an alternative school that resides within the same campus and building as Milwaukie High School, and encourages students to use their artistic capabilities to flourish in academics. It provides students with teachers who are willing to challenge the mind and desire to see development in their pupils. It admits any student from any neighboring school district so that anyone and everyone attending high school has an opportunity to break free from the everyday "public school" curriculum, and take part in a more engaging and opportunity filled experience. Though it's rather short staffed, the impact it's made on me and many others is astonishing, to say the least.
Read 65 Reviews

• B+

• 320 Students
• 120:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Cascade Heights Public Charter School

• North Clackamas School District, OR
• K-8

• B+

• 216 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Portland Arthur Academy Charter School

• Portland Public Schools, OR
• K-5

• B+

• 165 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Alliance Charter Academy

• Oregon City School District, OR
• K-12
• 29 reviews

Alum: Alliance Charter Academy is dedicated to catering to the individual needs of each student through parent-teacher cooperation. This allows devoted parents to aid in the role of helping their child reach his or her full academic potential through the help of Educational Specialists and teachers. The environment created by this set up is one generally positive and excellent for learning. However, as in all schools that take a different approach to education there are occasional draw-backs resulting from their chosen method of parent involvement and tailored education. It has been my experience though that the school continually does its best to look after each and every student.
Read 29 Reviews

• B+

• 388 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Sauvie Island Academy

• Scappoose School District, OR
• K-8
• 1 review

Parent: I love Sauvie. The teachers and administration are incredible. They combine book learning with hands on learning to create an environment for all students to be successful.
Read 1 Review

• B+

• 213 Students
• 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Opal Charter School - Portland Children's Museum

• Portland Public Schools, OR
• K-5

• B+

• 88 Students
• 30:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Springwater Environmental Sciences School

• Oregon City School District, OR
• K-8

• B+

• 199 Students
• 20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Forest Grove Community School

• Forest Grove School District, OR
• 1-8

• B+

• 201 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Oregon Trail Academy

• Oregon Trail School District, OR
• K-10
• 3 reviews

Freshman: Oregon Trail Academy has a low number of students at the high school, which allows teachers to work hands-on with students to make sure all of their needs are met.

This school is part of the International Baccalaureate program, which connects students across the world with lesson plans. The school's Diploma Program offers a chance to win an IB diploma, which looks stellar on college applications.

While the school does not offer much in the way of after-school clubs and activities, it offers unique electives, including school "crashers" (a group of students committed to improving the school), an art club, news club, competitive sports, and coding.

Overall, it is a five-star school with amazing opportunities for any students who need to feel included, supported, and encouraged to purse their dreams.
Read 3 Reviews

• B

• 267 Students
• 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Clackamas Middle College

• North Clackamas School District, OR
• 9-12
• 72 reviews

Senior: My experience with Clackamas Middle College has been truly wonderful. I transferred to CMC from a very large high school in my sophomore year and I have achieved much more at CMC than I would have at my previous school. Since CMC goes by trimesters, students are able to complete classes faster, which means that people can take more classes and get more credits. The best thing about CMC is their college program. CMC is partnered with Clackamas Community College and CMC students can double enroll and earn college credits and high school credits at the same time. As students get further into the college programs, the less high school classes they take. Eventually, students are becoming full or part-time students at CCC and are taking classes on CCC campuses, not CMC campuses. I was able to do this and I will be graduating with my associates, along with my high school diploma.
Read 72 Reviews

• B

• 301 Students
• 41:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

St. Helens Arthur Academy

• St. Helens School District, OR
• K-8

• B

• 248 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Gresham Arthur Academy

• Gresham-Barlow School District, OR
• K-5

• B-

• 164 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Clackamas Academy of Industrial Sciences

• Oregon City School District, OR
• 8-12
• 15 reviews

Senior: Overall, this is a pretty good school; the majority of teachers were professionals in what they teach, and if you're willing to put in the effort, they'll always go out of their way to help you succeed. However, they do concentrate on STEM fields, so if you're not into that, this might not be the school for you.
Read 15 Reviews

• B-

• 228 Students
• 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Woodburn Arthur Academy

• Woodburn School District, OR
• K-5

• B-

• 162 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Summit Community College High School

• Estacada School District, OR
• 9-12
• 9 reviews

Junior: The early college program allows ready students to pursue college credit while still in high school. The program is free and opened to the majority of students, it’s diverse and accepts different cultures and ideas.
Read 9 Reviews

• B-

• 305 Students
• — Student-Teacher Ratio

Reynolds Arthur Academy

• Reynolds School District, OR
• K-6

• B-

• 194 Students
• 20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio