Lewis Elementary School vs Markham Elementary School

Markham Elementary School ranks #23 of 1,226 Oregon schools, placing it 12 spots ahead of Lewis Elementary School at #35. Both schools sit in the top 3% of the state, but Markham's overall rating of 9.3/10 edges past Lewis's 9.1/10 — a gap that looks narrow until you consider how compressed rankings are at that tier. These are two of the strongest elementary schools in Portland, and the meaningful differences lie beneath the headline numbers.

On academics, Lewis Elementary School and Markham Elementary School are dead even at 9.4/10. Where Lewis pulls ahead is on growth: Lewis posts a 9.6/10 growth score versus Markham's 9.4/10, suggesting Lewis is generating measurably stronger year-over-year academic gains relative to student starting points. That two-point growth edge is worth noting for families whose children enter below grade level or who prioritize progress trajectory over absolute performance.

The demographic profiles diverge significantly. Markham Elementary School enrolls 402 students compared to Lewis Elementary School's 297, and Markham serves a substantially higher share of economically disadvantaged families — 64% free/reduced lunch versus 29% at Lewis. Markham's student-teacher ratio is also tighter at 16.1:1 compared to Lewis's 18.6:1, meaning each teacher at Markham covers roughly 2.5 fewer students. That staffing advantage may help explain how Markham achieves equivalent academic scores while serving a higher-need population.

Both schools cover the same grade span, kindergarten through fifth grade, and sit 5.5 miles apart within Portland. The choice ultimately turns on what a family weighs most: Lewis's higher growth score signals exceptional instructional momentum in a smaller, less economically diverse setting, while Markham's stronger state rank, tighter student-teacher ratio, and success with a broader range of socioeconomic backgrounds reflect a school that performs at an elite level under more demanding conditions.