Lent Elementary School vs Stephenson Elementary School

Lent Elementary School edges Stephenson Elementary School by 0.3 points in overall rating — 9.3 versus 9.0 out of 10 — but both schools rank among Oregon's top elementary schools. Lent sits at #28 of 1,226 Oregon schools while Stephenson lands at #60, meaning parents choosing between these two Portland schools are comparing genuinely high-performing institutions separated by 7.5 miles and a 32-spot state rank gap.

The academic and growth scores tell an interesting split story. Stephenson Elementary School holds a commanding academic score of 9.9/10, nearly two full points above Lent Elementary School's 8.1/10, indicating stronger measured proficiency on state assessments. Lent flips that advantage on growth: its 9.9/10 growth score outpaces Stephenson's 8.9/10 by a full point, meaning Lent students are advancing at an exceptional rate relative to their starting points regardless of where they begin.

The demographic and classroom-environment differences are the starkest contrast between these schools. Lent Elementary School serves a high-need population — 73% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch compared to just 12% at Stephenson Elementary School — reflecting meaningfully different community contexts. Lent's student-teacher ratio of 13.7:1 is dramatically more favorable than Stephenson's 20.7:1, giving Lent students roughly 34% more teacher access per pupil. Lent also enrolls 273 students versus Stephenson's 310, making it the smaller campus by 37 students.

Both schools serve kindergarten through fifth grade, so families with children at either end of elementary school will find the same grade span. The key structural difference is that Lent's low ratio and high growth score suggest a school that is actively closing gaps for students who arrive behind grade level, while Stephenson's near-perfect academic score points to a school where incoming students are already performing at or above proficiency benchmarks.