Best Schools in Portland Area (Beaverton, Hillsboro: home, neighborhoods, buy)

[Ophelia42008]

What are some of the best public school for kids in the Portland area? Are they inner city or outside of Portland (Beaverton, Hillsboro, etc)?

[figmalt]

This is a very, very, very common question on this forum, and the answer is not a simple one. Where is your job located? What kind of neighborhoods appeal to you? Do your kids like sports? Are they the creative types? "Best" is a very subjective term, and a school that may be "best" for your family is not "best" for another.

You can go to the state department of education to see test scores, ethnic make up, number of students, etc.

I went to three different school districts in my education, and aside from the one in Idaho when I was a kid (which by the way was almost vastly superior to anything I've seen out here--go figure), they've all been fine.

Lake Oswego always gets high marks because it's a wealthy suburb with a lot of community and parent involvement. The only downside is you'd have to live in Lake Oswego (just kidding, sort of). Beaverton usually gets pretty good marks as well. As a student there, I went to good schools (Five Oaks and Westview). Hillsboro has good schools, but has had funding issues in the past, largely the result of the superintendent who is no longer superintendent. There are good schools in Portland too.

Find a neighborhood you like, a commute you like, and a school with have decent scores, be an involved parent, encourage your kids to be respectful, dutiful students, and you will have a good educational experience almost regardless of what school it is.

[Ophelia42008]

Thanks for the information. This is just for future reference only. I am thinking of moving to Portland from San Antonio and hope to have a child starting school at that time. I am hoping that he or she will want to be involved in sports and the outdoors and be creative as well!! ha ha (I have high hopes) Thanks again for the info.

[Nell Plotts]

Keep in mind that schools change, particularly in a large district, because of the need to adjust to enrollment and budget issues. When my kids went to Lincoln team sports - except for Lacrosse (vs swimming, tennis for example) were not strong. When I attended (ancient times) we played for the State basketball championship. Academically Lincoln has always been very strong and as a result a student who is not an academic high achiever can get lost. I wouldn't buy a home based on the high school a child not yet born might attend. Look for neighborhoods that share your educational values.