151 public K-12 schools in Portland from NCES Common Core of Data: enrollment, grade span, demographics, and Civil Rights Data Collection statistics for every active campus.
151 public schools ranked by quality score. NCES CCD 2022-23 data.
Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions families make. This page ranks every public school in Portland, OR using a composite quality score based on student-teacher ratios, counselor access, gifted program availability, and attendance rates. All data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data for the 2022-23 school year.
151
Schools
74,789
Students
—
Avg Quality
17.6:1
Avg Class Size
How the Portland Public-School Landscape Breaks Down
Portland, OR enrolls 74,789 students across 151 public schools reporting to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, 11 are charter schools, giving families genuine alternatives to the traditional neighbourhood assignment model. The average student-teacher ratio across the city is 17.6:1, Schools must report at least five campuses in a city to appear in this listing, which is why very small towns may redirect to the broader county or state view.
The highest-ranked campus in Portland is David Douglas High School, scoring 48/100 (D) with 2,756 enrolled students at the high level. Families should treat any single ranking as a starting point rather than a verdict — a school serving fewer at-risk students or offering more AP classes will score higher on resource-based composites even if individual teachers or programs elsewhere are stronger. The quality score framework is transparent and rebuilt from raw NCES and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) inputs, so each component can be inspected on the individual school pages linked in the table below.
Portland schools sit within multiple district boundaries, which matters for property taxes, redistricting votes, and bond measures. Each district files its own NCES F-33 financial return, meaning per-pupil spending can vary noticeably even between neighbouring campuses in the same city. Use the table to sort by enrollment, level, or district, then click any school name for campus-level demographics, Title I status, counselor and nurse staffing, AP courses, chronic-absenteeism rates, and district per-pupil spending. The sidebar links also connect Portland housing costs, wage data, and crime statistics — context many parents weigh alongside test-adjacent school signals when relocating.
Portland school enrollment varies 6.0× across entities
Portland school enrollment ranges from 457 students (lowest) to 2,756 students (highest), a spread of 2,299 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous school portfolio for a city this size. Per-school staffing, programme depth, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same city based on enrollment shape — a 200-student magnet runs a different operational model than a 2,000-student comprehensive high school.
Portland operates 6 school districts — among the most fragmented governance structures in the country
Each school district has independent budgeting, hiring, and service delivery authority. The fragmentation reflects historical patterns of inter-municipal boundary lines that pre-date modern city growth — students in different parts of the same city can attend different districts with different per-pupil spending, calendars, and graduation requirements. Per-region variation is largest in fragmented systems because each school district sets its own budget, contracts, and priorities without higher-level coordination above the regulatory floor.
Portland student-teacher ratio is 17.6:1 — near the typical range (US average ~16) — aligned with the U.S. average of approximately 16:1
student-teacher ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE classroom teachers against total enrollment — push-in specialists, English-language aides, special-education co-teachers, and counselors are not included in most reporting Variation between sub-units within Portland is typically wider than the Portland-aggregate figure suggests.
The top-rated school in Portland is David Douglas High School with a quality score of 48/100. There are 151 public schools in Portland with 74,789 total students.
How many schools are in Portland, OR? ▼
Portland has 151 public schools with a total enrollment of 74,789 students. 11 are charter schools. Average student-teacher ratio: 17.6:1.
Data from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22. Quality scores based on student-teacher ratio,
counselor access, gifted programs, and attendance. Schools must have 5+ in the city to be listed.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
