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Excellent

#123 of 1,226 schools in OR

Top 10% in state

Sellwood Middle School

Middle School · Portland SD 1J

8300 SE 15th Ave, Portland, OR 97202

Enrollment

567

Student-Teacher

21.8:1

Score

8.7

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Oregon schools

#123 of 1,226

In Portland

#53 of 148

public schools

In district

#42 of 85

Portland SD 1J

Academic performance

9.6 / 10

Excellent

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Sellwood Middle School

8.7/10

Middle School in Portland · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Llewellyn Elementary School

9.6/10

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

Portland Waldorf School

7.2/10

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

About Sellwood Middle School

Sellwood Middle School is a public middle school in Portland, OR, part of Portland SD 1J. Sellwood Middle School serves approximately 567 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 21.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Sellwood Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #123 of 1,226 schools in OR.

Structured state assessment records for Sellwood Middle School show 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 80% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.7 pts above district
  • This school 8.7 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.0
  • OR avg 6.1

What Parents Should Know

Sellwood Middle School runs 21.8:1 students to teachers, above the national average. That often means bigger classes. Ask how the school supports kids who need extra help, and whether there are teaching assistants or small-group time.

33% of students at Sellwood Middle School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.4Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-1.2 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics9.6Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency65.7% (2025 OSAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency71.3% (2025 OSAS)
Math vs. State Avg+33.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+28.3 pts
Overall Proficiency69% (2025 OSAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)49% (model expectation from 2025 OSAS)
vs. Expected+20.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile94th
Resources & Environment6.3Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio21.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$20,800
Chronic Absenteeism32.5%

Sellwood Middle School — Students at Sellwood Middle School score 68% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 49%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

16.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores OR OSAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 69.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
31.8% (2025 OSAS)
ELA Proficiency 79.8% (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

→ Stable

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

2009
Math
81%
ELA
80%
2010
Math
75%
ELA
87%
2011
Math
77%
ELA
87%
2012
Math
75%
ELA
85%
2013
Math
76%
ELA
87%
2014
Math
62%
ELA
83%
2015
Math
69%
ELA
78%
2016
Math
69%
ELA
76%
2017
Math
68%
ELA
81%
2018
Math
66%
ELA
77%
2019
Math
66%
ELA
77%
2022
Math
49%
ELA
68%
2025
Math
65.7%
ELA
71.3%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.4/10.

How Sellwood Middle School Compares

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

Overall Score
8.7/10
90th percentile in OR
Academic
9.6/10
Excellent
Growth
9.4/10
Excellent
Environment
6.3/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
17%
Teaching Staff
22:1 student-teacher ratio
26 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
32.5%

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

8300 SE 15th Ave, Portland, OR 97202

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Sellwood Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Riverdale Grade School (rated 9.7/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Llewellyn Elementary School (rated 9.6/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Winterhaven School (rated 9.5/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Portland, see our Portland schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Llewellyn Elementary School Portland 1.0 mi 9.6
PORTLAND WALDORF SCHOOL Milwaukie 1.3 mi 7.2
Duniway Elementary School Portland 1.1 mi 8.6
Riverdale Grade School Portland 1.6 mi 9.7
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC SCHOOL Milwaukie 1.5 mi 7.9
Milwaukie Academy of the Arts Milwaukie 1.6 mi 4.6
Milwaukie High School Milwaukie 1.6 mi 3.9
Milwaukie El Puente Elementary School Milwaukie 1.6 mi 4.2
Ardenwald Elementary School Milwaukie 1.3 mi 6.9
HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL Portland 1.4 mi 6.4
PUDDLETOWN SCHOOL Portland 1.5 mi 7.3
L'ETOILE FRENCH IMMERSION SCHOOL Portland 1.5 mi 7.0
TUCKER MAXON SCHOOL Portland 2.0 mi 7.4
Winterhaven School Portland 2.2 mi 9.5
Grout Elementary School Portland 2.1 mi 9.0
WHOLE CHILD MONTESSORI CENTER Portland 1.8 mi
Lewis Elementary School Portland 1.8 mi 8.6
Riverdale High School Portland 1.7 mi 9.5
The Cottonwood School of Civics and Science Portland 2.3 mi 8.0
Cleveland High School Portland 2.5 mi 8.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 97202 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$100,353

Median Home Value

$684,800

Median Rent

$1,674/mo

Population

44,107

College Educated

64.7%

Homeownership

50.6%

Avg Commute

24.4 min

Poverty Rate

9.9%

Median Age

37.4

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Hosford Middle School Portland, OR 8.7
Hood River Middle School Hood River, OR 8.6
Mt Tabor Middle School Portland, OR 8.6
Beaumont Middle School Portland, OR 8.8
Gray Middle School Portland, OR 8.8
Jackson Middle School Portland, OR 8.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Sellwood Middle School

What grades does Sellwood Middle School serve?

Sellwood Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Sellwood Middle School?

Sellwood Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 567 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Sellwood Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at Sellwood Middle School is 21.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Sellwood Middle School rank in OR?

Sellwood Middle School ranks #123 of 1,226 schools in OR.

What is Sellwood Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Sellwood Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 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 Sellwood Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Sellwood Middle School has 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 80% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Sellwood Middle School a charter school?

No, Sellwood Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Sellwood Middle School a Title I school?

No, Sellwood Middle School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Sellwood Middle School?

16.8% of students at Sellwood Middle 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
87 Very Walkable
Transit Score
44 Some Transit
Bike Score
99 Biker’s Paradise

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
567
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
26
Free/Reduced Lunch
16.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Multnomah County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
32.5%

District

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

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