Irvington Elementary School vs Woodlawn Elementary School

Irvington Elementary School and Woodlawn Elementary School rank nearly identically among Oregon's 1,226 elementary schools — Irvington at #15 and Woodlawn at #16, with both earning an overall rating of 9.4/10. For Portland parents, the practical question isn't which school is "better" but which school fits their child's specific situation, because these two schools diverge sharply on demographics and academic profile even while sitting at the same tier of state performance.

On academics, Irvington Elementary scores 9.3/10 versus Woodlawn Elementary's 9.1/10 — a slim gap that represents real but modest differences in tested proficiency. Woodlawn edges ahead on growth, scoring 9.8/10 compared to Irvington's 9.6/10, meaning students at Woodlawn are making slightly faster academic progress relative to their starting points. That growth advantage is notable: it suggests Woodlawn's instructional model is moving kids forward at a pace that outpaces even a school with a marginally higher academic baseline.

The demographic contrast between the two schools is the most substantial difference a family will encounter. Irvington Elementary serves 235 students with 26% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, while Woodlawn Elementary enrolls 299 students with 64% qualifying — more than double the economic disadvantage rate. Irvington's student-teacher ratio is 15.7:1 versus Woodlawn's 16.6:1, a difference of roughly one additional student per class. Woodlawn's stronger growth score in the context of a higher-need population signals effective, equity-focused instruction.

The grade structure differs as well: Irvington Elementary serves kindergarten through 5th grade, while Woodlawn Elementary adds a pre-kindergarten program, giving families with 4-year-olds an earlier entry point at Woodlawn. Both schools sit 2.4 miles apart within Portland, making direct comparison straightforward for families in neighborhoods that feed either school.