7.5 avg / 10

Best Schools in Portland, Tennessee

10 schools · 5 Elementary · 2 Middle · 3 High

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 8

Private: 2

Districts: 1

Avg Rating: 7.5/10

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Portland?

Use this page to compare every school in Portland by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Explore the map How we rate schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

High. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Elementary · Sumner County. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Portland for 2026 are Highland Academy (8.4/10), Clyde Riggs Elementary (8.2/10), and Watt Hardison Elementary (8.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 8 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Top-Rated Schools in Portland

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 of 10). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	Highland Academy	8.4 / 10	High	—	99th
2	Clyde Riggs Elementary	8.2 / 10	Elementary	—	86th
3	Watt Hardison Elementary	8.1 / 10	Elementary	—	84th
4	Portland West Middle School	8.0 / 10	Middle	—	82th
5	J W Wiseman Elementary	7.6 / 10	Elementary	—	74th
6	Portland East Middle School	7.5 / 10	Middle	—	72th
7	Portland Gateview Elementary School	6.6 / 10	Elementary	—	52th
8	Portland High School	5.6 / 10	High	—	31th

See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 7.5/10
Median household income: $77,684
Median home value: $273,200
Bachelor's degree or higher: 14%
Avg commute: 30 min
Owner-occupied homes: 75%

How Portland compares

Tennessee rank

#19 of 182

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

+1.1

above Tennessee avg (6.4)

Median household income

$78k

120% of Tennessee median

Schools in this city

8

About Schools in Portland, Tennessee

Portland, Tennessee is home to 10 schools, including 8 public schools and 2 private schools. The city's schools span 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools.

With an average rating of 7.5 out of 10, schools in Portland perform strongly on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

The highest-performing school in Portland is Highland Academy with a composite score of 8.4/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Portland is served by 1 school district: Sumner County. These districts collectively serve 30,661 students.

Portland's community shows 14% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $77,684. The poverty rate in the area is 10.6%.

Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.

Filter by Level: All Levels (10) Elementary (5) Middle (2) High (3)

Filter by Type: All Types (10) Public (8) Private (2)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (10) Academics (7) Growth (7) Diversity (7) Resources (7)

Filter by ZIP: 37148 (10)

Elementary Schools

5 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Clyde Riggs Elementary 319 students · Kindergarten–5th	319	Kindergarten–5th	8.2
2	Watt Hardison Elementary 425 students · Kindergarten–5th	425	Kindergarten–5th	8.1
3	J W Wiseman Elementary 386 students · Pre-K–5th	386	Pre-K–5th	7.6
4	Portland Gateview Elementary School 570 students · Pre-K–5th	570	Pre-K–5th	6.6
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	Portland Montessori Academy Private 23 students · Kindergarten–6th	23	Kindergarten–6th	—

Middle Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Portland West Middle School 495 students · 6th–8th	495	6th–8th	8.0
2	Portland East Middle School 406 students · 6th–8th	406	6th–8th	7.5

High Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Portland High School 1,179 students · 9th–12th	1,179	9th–12th	5.6
2	Sumner County Middle Technical College High School at Portla 25 students · 11th–12th	25	11th–12th	—
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	Highland Academy Private 100 students · 9th–12th	100	9th–12th	8.4

Schools in Portland

Portland, Tennessee · 10 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$77,684

Median Home Value

$273,200

Median Rent

$1,082/mo

Population

25,421

College Educated

14%

Homeownership

75%

Avg Commute

30 min

Poverty Rate

10.6%

Community Profile

Portland has a median household income of $77,684. It is a community where 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $273,200, with a median rent of $1,082/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.6%. The average commute for residents is 30 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: Tennessee
Elementary: 5
Middle: 2
High: 3

Resources

🔍 Google "Portland schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Portland 📊 Niche Portland Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School District

Sumner County

52 schools · 30,661 students

Nearby Cities

Cottontown (1 school)

5 mi

Cross Plains (2 schools)

10 mi

Bethpage (2 schools)

10 mi

Gallatin (20 schools)

13 mi

White House (11 schools)

11 mi

Hendersonville (24 schools)

18 mi

Westmoreland (4 schools)

16 mi

Ridgetop (2 schools)

18 mi

Goodlettsville (6 schools)

20 mi

Greenbrier (3 schools)

19 mi

Old Hickory (5 schools)

23 mi

Madison (12 schools)

24 mi

Mt. Juliet (13 schools)

25 mi

Springfield (14 schools)

21 mi

Hermitage (5 schools)

27 mi

Other Major Cities in Tennessee

Top metros statewide by school count.

Memphis 242 schools Nashville 167 schools Knoxville 116 schools Chattanooga 72 schools Clarksville 51 schools

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Portland, Tennessee

How many schools are in Portland, Tennessee?

Portland has 10 schools, including 8 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Portland, Tennessee?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Portland is 7.5 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

What is the top-ranked school in Portland, Tennessee?

The top-ranked school in Portland on MySchoolScout is Highland Academy with a composite score of 8.4/10.

What is the best elementary school in Portland, Tennessee?

The top-ranked elementary school in Portland on MySchoolScout is Clyde Riggs Elementary with a composite score of 8.2/10.

What is the best middle school in Portland, Tennessee?

The top-ranked middle school in Portland on MySchoolScout is Portland West Middle School with a composite score of 8.0/10.

What is the best high school in Portland, Tennessee?

The top-ranked high school in Portland on MySchoolScout is Highland Academy with a composite score of 8.4/10.

How many school districts serve Portland, Tennessee?

Portland is served by 1 school district: Sumner County.

What is the education level in Portland, Tennessee?

According to Census data, 14% of adults in Portland have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Portland, Tennessee?

The median household income in Portland is approximately $77,684 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Portland, Tennessee?

Yes, Portland has 2 private schools alongside 8 public schools. The top-rated private school is Highland Academy with a score of 8.4/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Portland, Tennessee?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Portland is 13.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Portland, Tennessee?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.