Enrollment
896
Oregon · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Portland, OR
Benson Polytechnic High School
Federal NCES profile for Benson Polytechnic High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 411004000956
👥 S:T ratio 39
📚 AP courses 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 40
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Benson Polytechnic High School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 71% of Oregon schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Oregon schools.
- #6 of 16
- high schools in Portland · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.2:1
- small classes for Oregon
- 64.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Benson Polytechnic High School has class sizes smaller than 71% of Oregon schools. Computed live against every Oregon school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Benson Polytechnic High School ranks #6 of 16 high schools in Portland, OR.
School address
District: Portland Sd 1j · Oregon
NCES ID 411004000956 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
59.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.2:1
vs 17.6:1 Oregon avg
-14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
64.8%
vs 52.8% Oregon avg
+23% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Benson Polytechnic High School compares with Oregon and U.S. medians
What stands out at Benson Polytechnic High School
Benson Polytechnic High School is a higher-need, large high school in Portland, Oregon, enrolling 896 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 15.2:1 puts it in the smaller third of Oregon schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 64.8% lands close to the Oregon typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Oregon, bigger than 93% of state schools at 896 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,273 scored Oregon schools.
Against 81 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #22.
Its student body is led by White (45%) and Hispanic or Latino (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 70/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 9 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 299 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 45.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Portland's high schools, it stands alongside David Douglas High School (2,756 students): Benson Polytechnic High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.2:1 vs 19.1:1).
Portland Sd 1j also operates Grant High School (2,149 students) and Franklin High School (1,807 students) alongside Benson Polytechnic High School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Benson Polytechnic High School compares
Benson Polytechnic High School on the metrics families compare, against Oregon and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Oregon | Oregon avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.2:1 | ▼ 14% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 64.8% | ▲ 23% | 52.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 896 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.2:1
Leaner classes than 45% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
896
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
64.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% above the Oregon average of 52.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.2:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 29% in Oregon - lower ratio than 71% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
45.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$18,429
per pupil, district-wide
- above Oregon avg of $18,086
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 299 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 38 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 45.0%
Hispanic or Latino 26.4%
Two or More 12.4%
African American 10.0%
Asian 5.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 45.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.0, Benson Polytechnic High School is more mixed than the Oregon school average of 47.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 9
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Portland Sd 1j, which includes Benson Polytechnic High School.
$18,429
Per student
+2%
vs Oregon
Avg $18,086
+11%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 57.4%
State 33.4%
Federal 9.2%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Benson Polytechnic High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Franklin High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Leodis V. Mcdaniel High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ida B. Wells-Barnett High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lincoln High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Benson Polytechnic High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,149
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,807
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,681
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,650
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,611
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Similar high schools in Portland
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
David Douglas High School
Standard public school
2,756 students 19.1:1 students per teacher
Westview High School
Standard public school
2,423 students 22.4:1 students per teacher
Grant High School
Standard public school
2,149 students 21.3:1 students per teacher
Sunset High School
Standard public school
1,812 students 21.3:1 students per teacher
Franklin High School
Standard public school
1,807 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
Leodis V. Mcdaniel High School
Standard public school
1,681 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Oregon, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~896 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Benson Polytechnic High School's federal record.
- Compare Benson Polytechnic High School against another school. Compare schools
- Portland Sd 1j's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Benson Polytechnic High School
How many students attend Benson Polytechnic High School?
Benson Polytechnic High School has 896 students enrolled. It is a high school in Portland, OR.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Benson Polytechnic High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Benson Polytechnic High School is 15.2:1, which is 14% lower than the Oregon average of 17.6:1 and 3% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Benson Polytechnic High School?
64.8% of students at Benson Polytechnic High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Oregon average of 52.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Benson Polytechnic High School?
The largest demographic group at Benson Polytechnic High School is White at 45.0% of enrollment, in Portland, OR. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Benson Polytechnic High School?
Benson Polytechnic High School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Benson Polytechnic High School rank among high schools in Portland?
By Resource Investment Index, Benson Polytechnic High School ranks #6 of 16 high schools in Portland, OR. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Portland on the city page.
Is Benson Polytechnic High School a good school?
Benson Polytechnic High School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 71% of Oregon schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Oregon schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Portland Sd 1j?
Besides Benson Polytechnic High School, Portland Sd 1j also operates Grant High School (2,149 students), Franklin High School (1,807 students), and Leodis V. Mcdaniel High School (1,681 students). See the Portland Sd 1j district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.