Fair Housing notice: Under federal Fair Housing law and NAR guidelines, real estate agents cannot recommend or steer buyers toward or away from any neighborhood, city, or area based on the characteristics of local schools. This article provides publicly available school data as a research resource only. Where you choose to live is entirely your decision. If you have questions about which schools serve a specific property, contact the district directly or use the official PPS School Finder.

School district information is among the most-searched topics for families relocating to the Portland area. This guide compiles publicly available data from third-party ranking services and official district sources so families can conduct their own research efficiently.

Families researching Portland schools often compare a handful of districts in and around the city. Portland Public Schools notes that it is one of six school districts within the city of Portland. Many relocating buyers also research nearby suburban districts such as Lake Oswego, Beaverton, West Linn–Wilsonville, Riverdale, and Tigard–Tualatin. This guide covers all six. School assignment always depends on the exact property address — not the neighborhood name or zip code.

Sources Used in This Guide

This guide combines official district information with third-party ranking tools including Niche, SchoolDigger, and PublicSchoolReview. Those ranking systems can be useful for initial research, but they are not official state or federal accountability determinations and should be treated as one input among several — not a final judgment. Budget and enrollment data comes from official district sources and news reporting from OPB and KOIN. Enrollment figures are sourced from each district’s official website and carry the date or phrasing used by the district itself.

Districts at a Glance

The table below uses official enrollment figures from each district’s website and Niche grades from Niche’s 2026 Oregon school district rankings. Niche grades are third-party scoring models, not state report-card results.

District	Niche 2026 Grade	Geographic Area	Enrollment (Official Source)
Portland Public Schools (PPS)	B+	City of Portland	More than 46,000 students (PPS district map, 2025–26)
Lake Oswego School District	A+	City of Lake Oswego (~10 mi south)	Approx. 6,800 students across 11 schools (LOSD official site)
Beaverton School District	A−	Beaverton, parts of Hillsboro & Aloha	36,959 students enrolled (BSD district statistics page)
West Linn–Wilsonville SD	A	West Linn, Wilsonville	More than 9,000 students (WLWV official site)
Riverdale School District	A+	Dunthorpe/Riverdale enclave, adjacent to Lake Oswego	Approx. 600 families (small independent district)
Tigard–Tualatin School District	A−	Tigard, Tualatin	Nearly 11,000 students (TTSD official site)

Sources: Niche 2026 Oregon rankings; PPS District Map 2025–26; LOSD About page; BSD District Statistics; WLWV About page; TTSD home page

Portland Public Schools (PPS)

Portland Public Schools is Oregon’s largest school district and, according to the official PPS district map for 2025–26, one of six school districts serving the city of Portland, educating more than 46,000 students. Niche assigns PPS a B+ overall grade for 2026.

According to PublicSchoolReview.com, Portland public schools average a math proficiency score of 39% (Oregon average: 31%) and a reading proficiency score of 50% (Oregon average: 44%). The average school in the district places in the top 30% of Oregon public schools by that measure. Individual school outcomes within PPS vary considerably, and district-level figures should not be used as a proxy for any specific school’s performance.

High Schools Within PPS

Lincoln High School is the highest-ranked PPS high school in Niche’s 2026 Oregon public high school rankings, earning an overall Niche grade of A with a reported 96% graduation rate. It is located in the Southwest Hills area of Portland. Grant High School (NE Portland) and Cleveland High School (SE Portland) both hold A− grades from Niche. Cleveland offers an International Baccalaureate diploma program at the high school level. These rankings are third-party scoring models; families should review each school’s Oregon Department of Education report card for official performance data.

Elementary and Middle Schools Within PPS

According to PublicSchoolReview.com, the highest-ranked elementary schools within Portland by combined test score data include Findley Elementary, Winterhaven School, and Alameda Elementary. West Sylvan Middle School is highly ranked among Oregon middle schools in multiple third-party data tools. These figures reflect a single ranking methodology and should be cross-referenced with official state data.

Focus Option and Magnet Programs

PPS operates a range of focus option and magnet programs open to students across the district by application rather than by attendance boundary. Programs include language immersion, arts integration, gifted/talented, and STEM pathways. Winterhaven School and Le Monde French Immersion are frequently referenced examples. Enrollment is not guaranteed — spots are competitive and subject to application outcomes. Families interested in focus options should contact PPS directly at 503-916-5770, as program availability is subject to change under the district’s ongoing budget process.

PPS Budget Context: 2025–2027

2026 context: PPS is navigating its third consecutive year of significant budget reductions. The figures below come from the official PPS 2026–27 budget page and recent reporting. Where specific figures come from journalism rather than official sources, that is noted.

The PPS 2026–27 budget process page confirms a $50 million shortfall for the 2026–27 school year and documents the multi-year reduction pattern: $30 million in 2022–23, $10 million in 2023–24, $15 million in 2024–25, $40 million in 2025–26, and a projected $50 million for 2026–27.

According to OPB reporting from March 2026, Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong announced the district may need to close between 5 and 10 schools by fall 2027, driven by the $50 million shortfall and an additional $10 million mid-year gap for 2025–26.

KOIN reported in January 2026 that preliminary budget recommendations included reducing approximately 288 positions, split between school-level and central office staff. These figures were described as preliminary and subject to community input; families should check the PPS budget process page for the most current information, as specifics may have changed since that reporting.

The district attributes the shortfall to declining enrollment (PPS has lost approximately 5,000 students since the pandemic), rising operating costs, and reduced state and federal funding. Portland State University’s Population Research Center projects enrollment will continue declining through at least 2035.

The following changes are either underway or under active discussion for 2025–2027:

• Attendance boundary changes: PPS has been redrawing school attendance zones to rebalance enrollment. The school assigned to a given address today may differ in future years. Verify the current boundary using the PPS School Finder and confirm directly with the district whether changes are planned for that zone.
• Program reductions: The IB program at the elementary level is being eliminated. Language access support services are being reduced. Families relying on specific programs should call PPS enrollment at 503-916-5770 to confirm current availability.
• Classroom blending: Some elementary schools are introducing combined-grade classrooms as a cost-reduction measure.
• Possible school closures: According to recent local reporting, a list of schools under consideration for closure may be released in late 2026, with a board vote to follow. No official timeline has been confirmed on the PPS budget calendar at the time of writing. Monitor the PPS website for updates.

For any PPS address: Because boundary assignments, program availability, and individual school data all vary significantly within PPS, district-level grades are a starting point only. Research the specific school assigned to the address, verify that assignment directly with PPS, and review the school’s official Oregon Department of Education report card alongside any third-party ranking.

Lake Oswego School District

According to the LOSD official about page, the Lake Oswego School District serves approximately 6,800 students across 11 schools. The district’s own website notes that Niche ranks LOSD #1 among all Oregon school districts for 2026, with an A+ overall grade. SchoolDigger places it #2 out of 140 Oregon districts with a 5-star rating.

The district includes elementary, middle, and high school programs. Both Lake Oswego Senior High School and Lakeridge High School are highly regarded in third-party school data tools. The district states it graduates the highest percentage of career- and college-ready students of any comprehensive public district in Oregon.

Lake Oswego is a separate incorporated city located approximately 10 miles south of downtown Portland. Enrollment in LOSD schools requires a residential address within the district’s geographic boundaries. Current market data for Lake Oswego is covered in our separate Is Lake Oswego Worth the Premium guide.

Beaverton School District

According to the BSD official district statistics page, the Beaverton School District has 36,959 students enrolled across 34 elementary schools, 9 middle schools, 6 high schools, 5 option schools, and 2 charter schools — 56 schools total. Niche assigns BSD an A− overall grade for 2026, placing it 5th among all Oregon school districts in that ranking system.

Two BSD high schools appear among the highest-ranked public high schools in Oregon in Niche’s 2026 statewide high school rankings: Westview High School and Sunset High School, both earning overall Niche grades of A. Both offer IB and AP programs. Exact statewide position numbers for these schools shift across ranking update cycles; refer to the linked Niche pages for the current placement.

Per the BSD statistics page, district-wide math proficiency is 37% (Oregon average: 31%) and reading proficiency is 48% (Oregon average: 44%). The district also offers 33 Career Technical Education programs.

The Beaverton School District serves Beaverton and parts of Hillsboro and Aloha in Washington County, west of Portland. Boundary and school assignment information is available through the district’s official website.

West Linn–Wilsonville School District

According to the WLWV official about page, the West Linn–Wilsonville School District serves more than 9,000 students across 9 primary schools, 4 middle schools, and 3 high schools. Niche assigns the district an A overall grade for 2026, placing it among Oregon’s top-ranked districts in that system. Third-party data tools also place its average school testing performance in the top 5% of Oregon public schools.

West Linn High School is noted in third-party data for its academic programs and performing arts facilities. The district’s enrollment has remained relatively stable compared to larger urban districts.

West Linn and Wilsonville are located approximately 15–20 miles south of central Portland. Travel times to Portland vary by destination and time of day.

Riverdale School District

The Riverdale School District is a small, independent district — separate from PPS — serving approximately 600 families in the Dunthorpe and Riverdale area, located roughly 7 miles south of downtown Portland adjacent to Lake Oswego. Because it is an independent district, enrollment requires a residential address within its geographic boundary.

Riverdale High School is highly ranked in Niche’s 2026 Oregon public high school data, and the district as a whole earns an A+ from Niche. Exact statewide placement figures for Niche rankings are updated periodically; refer to the linked pages for the current figures. The district’s geographic boundary is small, and residential inventory within it is limited. Current market data can be verified through Multnomah County Assessor records and public MLS listings.

Tigard–Tualatin School District

According to the TTSD official home page, the Tigard–Tualatin School District serves nearly 11,000 students across two high schools, three middle schools, ten elementary schools, and several alternative education options. Niche assigns TTSD an A− overall grade for 2026. The district serves the cities of Tigard and Tualatin in Washington County. School assignment information is available through the district’s official website.

How to Verify School Assignment for Any Address

Third-party district rankings provide a general research starting point. The specific school assigned to any individual property is determined by official district boundary maps, not by neighborhood name, zip code, or any third-party source. Boundaries can also change as districts respond to enrollment shifts.

Before drawing conclusions about school assignment for any specific address:

• Use the official PPS School Finder for addresses within Portland city limits. This tool looks up attendance boundaries by address and is the authoritative source for PPS zone assignments.
• Contact the district enrollment office directly. PPS: 503-916-5770. For other districts, contact information is on each district’s official website. Ask about the current boundary assignment for the specific address and whether any changes are planned.
• Review data for the specific school assigned to the address on GreatSchools, Niche, and the Oregon Department of Education report card system. Within PPS especially, school-level outcomes vary significantly from one building to the next.
• Attend school information sessions. Most Portland-area districts hold open houses or enrollment events for prospective families. These give direct access to school leadership and current program details that no third-party data source can fully reflect.

Focus option note: PPS operates several district-wide focus option and magnet programs — including language immersion, arts, and gifted/talented pathways — open by application to any student in the district. These are not assigned by address boundary, and enrollment is competitive. Contact PPS directly for current availability, as program offerings are subject to the district’s ongoing budget process.

Summary: Third-Party Data by District

The table below draws on Niche’s 2026 Oregon school district rankings and official district enrollment sources. Niche grades and ranking positions are third-party model outputs, not official state accountability results, and are updated periodically. Enrollment figures reflect official district sources as noted in the earlier district sections.

District	Niche 2026 Grade	Official Enrollment	Selected Third-Party Data Points (Niche 2026 unless noted)
Portland Public Schools	B+	>46,000 (PPS map, 2025–26)	Highest-ranked PPS HS: Lincoln (Niche A); district avg. top 30% in OR (PublicSchoolReview)
Lake Oswego SD	A+	~6,800 across 11 schools (LOSD site)	Niche #1 district in OR; SchoolDigger #2 of 140 OR districts
Beaverton SD	A−	36,959 enrolled (BSD statistics page)	Niche #5 district in OR; Westview & Sunset HS highly ranked in Niche OR HS list
West Linn–Wilsonville SD	A	>9,000 (WLWV site)	Niche top-6 district in OR; avg. school in top 5% of OR (third-party data)
Riverdale SD	A+	~600 families (small independent)	Riverdale HS highly ranked in Niche OR HS data; small boundary, limited inventory
Tigard–Tualatin SD	A−	~11,000 (TTSD site)	Two high schools; multiple elementary and alternative programs

Sources: Niche 2026 Oregon School District Rankings; PPS District Map 2025–26; LOSD About; BSD District Statistics; WLWV About; TTSD Home; PPS Budget 2026–27

How I Can Help With School Research

As a licensed real estate agent, I cannot recommend areas based on school quality or steer buyers toward or away from any community based on school characteristics. What I can do is run the official boundary lookup for any address under consideration, provide district contact information, and make sure the school assignment is confirmed before you proceed with an offer.

If you’re in the research phase, the Portland Relocation Guide on our site covers neighborhoods, costs, commutes, and other practical factors families typically research alongside schools. Reach out any time with questions about a specific property or area - 971-443-1770.