2023 Best Schools in the Portland Area

• Portland, OR•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.48 out of 5  103 reviews

Parent: Catlin Gabel has been an incredible educational community for my children. It is inclusive and diverse. The strong academics bring out curiosity, critical thinking, and have prepared my children very well for college. Teachers are incredibly supportive of the students to help every child be successful. As a parent, I've loved being involved with the Catlin Gabel community as much as my children. We love this school!... Read 103 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 783

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Portland, OR•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.24 out of 5  101 reviews

Parent: As a parent, I have been super impressed with the intentional efforts by OES that goes in to creating a sense of community and belonging. Teachers are experts in their subject areas but more importantly they are experts in knowing their students. Small class sizes and gathering together has empowered my child to feel safe and known and because of this they are more inclined to try new things, ask questions and step out of their comfort zone. And that’s where real learning happens. Thank you OES!... Read 101 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 870

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Portland, OR•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.24 out of 5  272 reviews

Senior: Don’t let the four stars dissuade you from applying or attending! Jesuit High School’s motto is “Men and Women for Others;” in other words, community comes first. After four years, I’m not sure I could’ve have picked a better high school to go to; you will meet people who are passionate, driven, and caring. Though competitive and rigorous, Jesuit offers learning opportunities every minute you are there. Their response to the coronavirus pandemic has been quick and professional, and the teachers, which are one of the highlights of the school have been flexible and positive. A mostly traditional school, Jesuit does not offer many opportunities for hands-on learning, with the exception of a few classes including visual arts, journalism, and environmental science, to name a few. Yet even with a more structured curriculum, Jesuit excels in making students feel welcome and worthwhile.... Read 272 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,284

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Portland, OR•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.68 out of 5  28 reviews

Senior: Northwest Academy has really strong art, music, theater programs and does a great job preparing students for college. It's tiny though!... Read 28 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 261

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Lake Oswego School District, OR•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  253 reviews

Senior: The academics are phenomenal all around. A lot of access to technology and equipment relative to most schools. The community is not very diverse though, and it shows. A lot of people in this school seem the same. White, rich, and athletic. Athletic and art funding is not balanced. The school is making improvements on social issues. But the social issues are mainly a cause of the people in the community, not the school itself.... Read 253 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,251

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Portland, OR•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.35 out of 5  329 reviews

Sophomore: I love this school! All my teachers have been great, everyone is really nice for the most part and I really enjoy the all-girls environment. I feel like I am challenged but the classes aren’t super hard and all my classmates care about school and engage in class. I can definitely see how it is not for some people but the atmosphere works perfectly for me. I am non-religious and though it is a catholic school, I’ve never felt like they were pushing it on me. Our theology classes cover a lot of topics besides Jesus and Christianity and the teachers are more focused on your interpretation instead of the religion itself. The only thing I would have to complain about is the dress code and the competitiveness. Though the teachers and staff try to not put an emphasis on grades/college, the average St Mary’s student will most likely be putting a lot of pressure on themselves and overloading with classes and extra curriculurs.... Read 329 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 660

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Lake Oswego School District, OR•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  209 reviews

Senior: Lakeridge High School is an open and inclusive environment, to a point. The student body of the school is composed of many individuals from affluent families. Although the school has clubs and societies for minority students to find people they can resonate with such as the Asian American Pacific Islander Club, Gay Straight Alliance, and Black Student Union, many students still feel that it is hard for them to resonate with people outside of those clubs. However, Lakeridge still has a predominantly positive student culture. Many students care about doing well. We have a culture of over achievement, and many AP classes for those that wish to take it. Our music and arts department is stellar. Our plays are near professional in quality. However, as with many schools, football seems to a lot of attention from the school district, which is a little ironic, because Lakeridge has a reputation for being an artsy high school.... Read 209 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,254

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• West Linn-Wilsonville School District, OR•

• 4-8

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  2 reviews

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 2 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 111

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Beaverton, OR•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.83 out of 5  6 reviews

Senior: This is an amazing school that teaches the students morals and real life skills! You are taught faith based learning, entrepreneurial skills and problem solving skills! They let your God given gifts shine and don’t try to fit students in a box! They are cheered on for their differences and loved very much by the teachers! This school is changing lives and helping break generational curses!... Read 6 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 215

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Beaverton School District, OR•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  569 reviews

Alum: Very diverse school with generally great academic opportunities and enthusiastic teachers that work very hard to give students a good experience. Lots of AP courses are offered, but it's unfortunately pretty lacking in regard to Computer Science education, at least when I graduated in 2020. As a current Software Engineering/ CS major, I would have definitely liked to have more applicable experience than outdated HTML web design. Some teachers are absolute gems and do a great job of keeping you engaged or otherwise leave a memorable impression, but like all schools experiences can vary between teachers. STEM education is about par for the course overall; there are definitely better schools available if that's your interest.... Read 569 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,366

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Lake Oswego School District, OR•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  5 reviews

Parent: Lake Grove Elementary is the #1 public elementary school in the #1 school district in the state for so many reasons. The quality and demeanor of the teachers, leaders, and staff are incomparable. The teacher to student ratios are excellent, the learning programs raise the bar for academic standards, and emphasis on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) as well as diversity and inclusion is helping to shape our children to become better people. The parents, families, and community is highly involved and supportive beyond the PTA to include volunteerism, support for sports and art/theater programs, and all around pride in the look and feel and experience of the school. GO COUGARS!... Read 5 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 346

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Beaverton, OR•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  78 reviews

Senior: I first started at Valley Catholic as a freshman and overall, I think that it is a great school. Because it is a college prep school, the education is outstanding and has really prepared me for college next year. The class sizes are fairly small, so that means that there is a lot more opportunities for one-on-one interactions with the teachers if you have any questions or concerns. The community is what really makes Valley Catholic special, however. As well as a high school, Valley Catholic also has a middle school, elementary school, and an early learning school, so a lot of the kids who grew up going to Valley Catholic also graduate from high school here. This gives older students opportunitues to help the younger students if they need it because we are all on the same campus. Because we are a Catholic school, the nuns come over from the church fairly often to help us not only grow intellectually, but spiritually as well. Valley Catholic is a great school and I highly reccomend it.... Read 78 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,055

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• West Linn-Wilsonville School District, OR•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  331 reviews

Alum: I loved experiencing all the typical events you would during high school - football games, spirit week, pep rally’s, and other fun events! My high school hosted tons of activities to get the community involved and it truly was a blast. Also was a part of choir performances and track meets.... Read 331 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,887

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Beaverton School District, OR•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  155 reviews

Alum: The International School of Beaverton offers students a well-rounded education that promotes critical thinking skills that can be applied to other aspects of the student's life. In addition to this, students are welcomed into an environment that encourages their students to showcase their own cultures and identities while also promoting understanding between cultures. This is done with a lens of compassion and understanding. This is a great school for those students looking to find an environment of academic rigor, however, a downside to this is that most to all subjects are taught at a very fast rate, accompanied by a heavy workload which makes students feel overwhelmed. This results in many students leaving the school for another. However, in recent years the school has helped more students with this aspect of student's life by providing more mental health checks and options to mitigate stress and anxiety levels.... Read 155 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 867

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Lake Oswego School District, OR•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 4.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Parent: The staff try very hard. There are A LOT of students, however, so it seems like a lot to manage and the classroom environment can become chaotic. There is a no homework policy for the youngers which some could see as good or bad. I feel that disciplinary tactics are lacking and that too soft an approach can lead to entitled brats....... Read 2 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 525

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Lake Oswego School District, OR•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: We are so grateful to be a part of this wonderful school and community, I wouldn't want my son to be anywhere else (and neither would he!)... Read 1 review

• grade A

• Students 422

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Lake Oswego School District, OR•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 2.67 out of 5  3 reviews

• grade A

• Students 526

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Lake Oswego School District, OR•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 3.25 out of 5  8 reviews

Parent: My kids had wonderful experiences at Lake Oswego Junior High School. I can't say enough about the wonderful teachers, counselors, principal, and front office. My kids thrived in the amazing Spanish department led by Profe, the teacher that fosters a love of Spanish in all children. The after school drama productions are amazing. The architecture club recently won first place in an international competition. Community service is heavily encouraged, and last year an eighth grader started an amazing not-for-profit organization which continues to expand. There is something for everyone at Lake Oswego Junior High School, which makes it a perfect place for students to learn, prepare for high school, and also discover their interests and passions. My children were challenged academically and felt extremely prepared when moving on to Lake Oswego High School.... Read 8 reviews

• grade A

• Students 859

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Beaverton, OR•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.86 out of 5  42 reviews

Parent: The education we wish we had received! We just completed our first year at St Stephens with three of our kids and we were blown away. Everything from the exhaustive approach to English grammar/writing/phonetic learning, to the emphasis on character, to the Latin that begins in 4th, to the teachers who are loved and respected…all of it was beyond. Our children memorized more in one year than most do in their entire lives. They started debate in 4th grade that just blew me away with their super early ability to use rhetoric. The music and art programs are off the charts. I just think of the word “abundance” when I think of our school. We feel the foundation this school gives (classical education is something I only learned of through attempting to homeschool for a year and fell in love with it) is necessary and beautiful. Our children in one year have increased in knowledge, wisdom, knowledge of God’s word, and creatively as well. Can’t wait to see what the future holds!... Read 42 reviews

• grade A

• Students 299

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Lake Oswego School District, OR•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 3.38 out of 5  8 reviews

Parent: As a school district administrator myself, I am selective about where my children attend, and I am so pleased with Hallinan. The teachers are professionals, the administration calm and responsive, the community is supportive, and the facilities upgraded in the latest bond to include a focus on safety. As is life, being a student at an elementary school can have challenges, but this school has responded very well to my child’s needs.... Read 8 reviews

• grade A

• Students 395

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Vancouver, WA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.32 out of 5  25 reviews

Senior: The students and teachers truly care about you and want you to succeed. Teachers notice when you are missing, and students always try to include everyone. The academics are wonderful and rigorous. My experience has taught me many things, both academic and social. I have grown confident in myself, what I have to offer, and my own knowledge.... Read 25 reviews

• grade A

• Students 188

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Portland Public Schools, OR•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.72 out of 5  317 reviews

Junior: The best part about Lincoln High School is definitely the community. The vast majority students and staff have a desire to make real positive change everywhere, which is inspiring and uplifting for everyone. The teachers are very involved and connected with the school culture and the students. Most of them are kind, understanding, and have a strong commitment to giving students a good education. Lincoln High School is an IB school, and while there are cool and beneficial aspects the global-minded nature of the program, it leads to a very competitive environment. Students try to take the most rigorous IB course load and everyone is constantly trying to start clubs and lead this and lead that. The obsession with getting perfect grades to get into the best college is not always healthy. People are constantly discussing and comparing test scores, unfortunately causing a culture of academic toxicity.... Read 317 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,482

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Lake Oswego School District, OR•

• K-5

• grade A

• Students 413

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Riverdale School District, OR•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  44 reviews

Junior: I am a current junior at RHS who transferred in for the last trimester of my sophomore year. My only regret is not being able to attend for my entire high school experience. The teachers are amazing; they truly care about students and their personal troubles. The students are engaged, enthusiastic, and thoughtful. I am beyond proud to be a Maverick.... Read 44 reviews

• grade A

• Students 221

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Portland, OR•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.13 out of 5  239 reviews

Senior: I am a senior at Central Catholic High School and when I say I made the right choice to attend cchs, I MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE. CCHS is such a welcoming community and invites everyone with open arms. I do not regret my decision to attend Central Catholic. At Central, I learned so much about myself and about my culture and about other people's cultures. Central has such a great community that everyone is part of the Ramily, as we are the Central Catholic Rams! The teachers and staff at Central are very helpful and amazing! As a person of color, the teachers make sure to support events we have as diversity groups and they remind other students to join the events. I really do love the school and the people there.... Read 239 reviews

• grade A

• Students 816

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1