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Very Good

#317 of 1,226 schools in OR

Top 26% in state

Emerson School

Elementary School · Portland SD 1J

105 NW Park Ave, Portland, OR 97209

Charter

Enrollment

134

Student-Teacher

19.1:1

Score

7.6

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Oregon schools

#317 of 1,226

In Portland

#81 of 148

public schools

In district

#59 of 85

Portland SD 1J

Academic performance

8.9 / 10

Excellent

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Emerson School

7.6/10

Elementary School in Portland · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Northwest Academy

8.4/10

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Urban Ed Alternative School Outside in School

5.6/10

0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Emerson School

Emerson School is a public elementary school in Portland, OR, part of Portland SD 1J. Emerson School serves approximately 134 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Emerson School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10 and ranks #317 of 1,226 schools in OR.

Structured state assessment records for Emerson School show 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 83% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.7 pts below district
  • This school 7.6 · Very Good
  • District avg 8.3
  • OR avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

At 134 students, Emerson School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

Emerson School is a charter school: publicly funded, but run with more independence than a traditional district school. Many charters are built around a specific model or focus, so it's worth understanding this one's mission, how enrollment works, and how it differs from the district schools nearby.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.4Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-2.73 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.9Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency54.8% (2025 OSAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency66.7% (2025 OSAS)
Math vs. State Avg+23 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+23.7 pts
Overall Proficiency61% (2025 OSAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)54% (model expectation from 2025 OSAS)
vs. Expected+6.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile83th
Resources & Environment8.4Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio19.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$20,800
Chronic Absenteeism29.9%

Emerson School — Students at Emerson School score 61% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 54%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores OR OSAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 73.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
31.8% (2025 OSAS)
ELA Proficiency 82.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
43.0% (2025 OSAS)

Based on 26 test records from OR state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
92%
ELA
92%
2010
Math
92%
ELA
97.5%
2011
Math
97.5%
ELA
97.5%
2012
Math
92%
ELA
97.5%
2013
Math
92%
ELA
97.5%
2014
Math
77%
ELA
82%
2015
Math
57%
ELA
77%
2016
Math
62%
ELA
72%
2017
Math
67%
ELA
82%
2018
Math
62%
ELA
77%
2019
Math
62%
ELA
77%
2022
Math
52%
ELA
62%
2025
Math
54.8%
ELA
66.7%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.4/10.

How Emerson School Compares

See how Emerson School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.6/10
74th percentile in OR
Academic
8.9/10
Excellent
Growth
6.4/10
Average
Environment
8.4/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
19:1 student-teacher ratio
7 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
29.9%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

105 NW Park Ave, Portland, OR 97209

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Emerson School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Irvington Elementary School (rated 9.5/10, 1.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Ainsworth Elementary School (rated 9.2/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF PORTLAND (rated 8.7/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Portland, see our Portland schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.2 mi
School Distance Rating
NORTHWEST ACADEMY Portland 0.5 mi 8.4
URBAN ED ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL OUTSIDE IN SCHOOL Portland 0.6 mi 5.6
ST JAMES CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER Portland 0.6 mi
PORTLAND CHINESE SCHOOL Portland 0.8 mi 1.8
Lincoln High School Portland 0.7 mi 7.8
CHILDPEACE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Portland 0.9 mi 7.2
Metropolitan Learning Center Portland 0.7 mi 8.1
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF PORTLAND Portland 1.2 mi 8.7
Harriet Tubman Middle School Portland 1.2 mi 9.3
BRIDGES MIDDLE SCHOOL Portland 1.3 mi 5.6
CEDARWOOD WALDORF SCHOOL Portland 1.6 mi 6.5
Ainsworth Elementary School Portland 1.4 mi 9.2
Boise-Eliot Elementary School Portland 1.7 mi 4.2
Chapman Elementary School Portland 1.4 mi 6.3
Kairos PDX Portland 1.9 mi 7.2
Buckman Elementary School Portland 1.5 mi 7.3
CLASS ACADEMY Portland 1.6 mi 5.4
VILLAGE FREE SCHOOL Portland 1.5 mi 6.4
Irvington Elementary School Portland 1.7 mi 9.5
The Cottonwood School of Civics and Science Portland 2.2 mi 8.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 97209 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$84,059

Median Home Value

$573,700

Median Rent

$1,669/mo

Population

21,727

College Educated

66.3%

Homeownership

21.7%

Avg Commute

21.1 min

Poverty Rate

17.9%

Median Age

36.6

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Canyonville School Canyonville, OR 7.6
Sweet Home Charter School Sweet Home, OR 7.6
Gladstone Center for Children and Families Gladstone, OR 7.5
PILGRIM LUTHERAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Beaverton, OR 7.5
Haines Elementary School Baker City, OR 7.7
ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC SCHOOL Bend, OR 7.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Emerson School

What grades does Emerson School serve?

Emerson School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Emerson School?

Emerson School has an enrollment of approximately 134 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Emerson School?

The student-teacher ratio at Emerson School is 19.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Emerson School rank in OR?

Emerson School ranks #317 of 1,226 schools in OR.

What is Emerson School's MySchoolScout rating?

Emerson School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Emerson School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Emerson School has 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 83% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Emerson School a charter school?

Yes, Emerson School is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.

Is Emerson School a Title I school?

No, Emerson School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
100 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
93 Rider’s Paradise
Bike Score
98 Biker’s Paradise

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
134
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
7
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Multnomah County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
29.9%

District

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

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