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Excellent

#34 of 1,226 schools in OR

Top 3% in state

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School

Elementary School · Portland SD 1J

4906 NE 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97211

Enrollment

305

Student-Teacher

13.9:1

Score

9.1

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Portland

#21 of 148

public schools

Oregon elementary schools

#31 of 689

In district

#21 of 85

Portland SD 1J

Academic growth

9.9 / 10

Exceptional

About Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School serves 305 students in prekindergarten through fifth grade in Portland, Oregon.

Its composite score of 9.1 out of 10 earns an Exceptional label — and the data behind it is hard to ignore. The school ranks 34th among 1,226 public schools statewide, outperforming 97% of Oregon schools. Among Portland's 148 public schools, it places 21st.

Growth is where this school separates itself most sharply. A growth score of 9.9 out of 10 puts it at the very top of its peer group — meaning students here gain ground at a rate that few Oregon elementary schools match. That kind of trajectory, regardless of where students begin, is one of the clearest signals of effective day-to-day teaching.

Academic achievement comes in at 7.4 out of 10, a solid floor that the growth numbers suggest will keep rising. The student-teacher ratio of 13.9 to 1 keeps class sizes workable across all grade levels. For a regular public elementary school, that ratio gives teachers the room to respond to individual students rather than manage the room.

Parents comparing elementary options in Portland will find few schools that pair strong academic output with this level of consistent student progress.

What's said publicly about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School

Sources: Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026. Reviewed for accuracy.

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School Museum of Contemporary Art (KSMoCA) is a contemporary art museum and social practice art project located at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, which is part of Portland Public Schools in Portland, Oregon 2 . Founded in 2014 by artists and Portland State University professors Lisa Jarrett and Harrell Fletcher, the museum was formerly known as the King School Museum of Contemporary Art 2 . The program facilitates daily interaction between elementary school students and contemporary art and living artists through various initiatives 2 . These activities include exhibitions, workshops, lecture series, one-on-one mentorships, and other KSMoCA programs 2 . The museum aims to teach students how a real art museum functions from the inside and encourages them to co-create its activities 2 . Students participate in different initiatives such as creating works with artists, curating exhibitions, organizing art fairs, designing posters, and writing press releases 2 .
Sources (1)
  1. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.9Exceptional50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+3.69 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendImproving
Academics7.4Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency34.5%
Reading/ELA Proficiency39.3%
Math vs. State Avg+2.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-3.7 pts
Overall Proficiency37%
Expected (poverty-adj.)31%
vs. Expected+6.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile61th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.6Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,309

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School — Students at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School score 37% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 31%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

72.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores OR OSAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 26.3%
School
State
31.8%
ELA Proficiency 34.4%
School
State
43.0%

Based on 6 test records from OR state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
7.5%
ELA
22%
2022
Math
37%
ELA
42%
2025
Math
34.5%
ELA
39.3%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.9/10.

How Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School Compares

See how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
9.1/10
97th percentile in OR
Academic
7.4/10
7.4/10
Growth
9.9/10
Above average
Environment
9.6/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
73%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
22 teachers

Location

4906 NE 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97211

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Woodlawn Elementary School (rated 9.4/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Irvington Elementary School (rated 9.4/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Chief Joseph Elementary School (rated 9.1/10, 1.9 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Portland, see our Portland schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.9 mi
School Distance Rating
ST ANDREW NATIVITY SCHOOL Portland 0.1 mi 7.7
Kairos PDX Portland 0.7 mi 7.1
Sabin Elementary School Portland 0.7 mi 8.4
Jefferson High School Portland 0.6 mi 6.0
HOLY REDEEMER CATHOLIC SCHOOL Portland 0.9 mi 6.4
Vernon Elementary School Portland 0.8 mi 8.9
Boise-Eliot Elementary School Portland 1.0 mi 7.5
Woodlawn Elementary School Portland 1.2 mi 9.4
Irvington Elementary School Portland 1.3 mi 9.4
THE MADELEINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Portland 1.2 mi 5.3
Harriet Tubman Middle School Portland 1.4 mi 9.4
The Ivy School Portland 1.1 mi 7.6
Ockley Green Middle School Portland 1.2 mi 8.3
Alameda Elementary School Portland 1.3 mi 8.7
TRINITY ACADEMY Portland 1.5 mi 8.0
Beach Elementary School Portland 1.3 mi 8.9
Faubion Elementary School Portland 1.5 mi 7.7
VILLAGE FREE SCHOOL Portland 2.3 mi 6.4
Beverly Cleary School Portland 2.0 mi 8.6
Chief Joseph Elementary School Portland 1.9 mi 9.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 97211 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$109,604

Median Home Value

$616,800

Median Rent

$1,818/mo

Population

33,713

College Educated

56.4%

Homeownership

64.3%

Avg Commute

23 min

Poverty Rate

9.5%

Median Age

38.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School has a median household income of $109,604. It is a well-educated community where 56% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $616,800, with a median rent of $1,818/month. The local poverty rate of 9.5% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Chief Joseph Elementary School Portland, OR 9.1
Lewis Elementary School Portland, OR 9.1
Riverdale Grade School Portland, OR 9.1
Skyline Elementary School Portland, OR 9.1
Stanfield Elementary School Stanfield, OR 9.1
Winterhaven School Portland, OR 9.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School

What grades does Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School serve?

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School?

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School has an enrollment of approximately 305 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School?

The student-teacher ratio at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School is 13.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School rank in OR?

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School is ranked #34 out of 1,226 schools in OR.

What is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School's MySchoolScout rating?

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School has a composite rating of 9.1 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School has 26.3% math proficiency and 34.4% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School a charter school?

No, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School a Title I school?

No, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School?

72.8% of students at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
88 Very Walkable
Transit Score
48 Some Transit
Bike Score
96 Biker’s Paradise
City Safety
High (6,288/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Portland). Data >1 year old.

Compare This School

How does Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School stack up?

Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School
9.5
Woodlawn Elementary School
9.4
Lent Elementary School
9.3
Compare Selected →

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
305
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
22
Free/Reduced Lunch
72.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Multnomah County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Portland SD 1J
District Enrollment
44,039
Schools in District
86
Per-Pupil Spending
$20,800
District Rank
#21 of 85

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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