Portland Public Schools operates 83 schools. Individual school names, addresses, and attendance zone boundaries are available directly from the district.
| Metric | Portland Public Schools | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 48,000 | 3,700 | Much larger than avg |
| Number of Schools | 83 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $17,000/yr | $13,700/yr | ≈ Near avg |
| District Type | Urban | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 6/10 — Average | — | Near average |
About Portland Public Schools
Portland Public Schools serves zip code 97215, covering Portland, Oregon with grades Pre-K – 12th. Whether you’re researching a move, evaluating a home purchase, or preparing to enroll a child, the sections below give you a complete picture of this district’s resources, size, and what its rating means for your family.
Funding and Resources
Portland Public Schools reports per-pupil expenditure of approximately $17,000 per year, placing it 31% above the Oregon state average of approximately $13,000 and above the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Above-average spending generally translates to more instructional resources per student, stronger program variety at the middle and high school levels, and better-maintained facilities. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
With 83 schools, Portland Public Schools operates as a major metropolitan district serving students from Pre-K – 12th. The district enrolls approximately 48,000 students in total. Major metropolitan districts operate dozens to hundreds of schools across wide geographic areas. They often include magnet schools, gifted programs, dual-language academies, and career and technical education pathways not available in smaller systems. Within-district quality variation is significant: a school two miles from your address might be rated very differently from your assigned school.
Understanding the 6/10 Rating
Portland Public Schools has earned an overall SchoolDistrictFinder rating of 6/10, placing it in the average tier. Our ratings are built from NCES Common Core of Data and measure structural factors: per-pupil expenditure, student-teacher ratio, enrollment stability, and school count. They do not incorporate test scores or graduation rates, which are not consistently available across all 13,500+ US districts in the NCES dataset.
Portland Public Schools falls in the middle of the performance spectrum with an average rating. Average districts provide foundational public education with functional academic programs, though they may not match the resource breadth of higher-rated districts in the same region. Many families find that average-rated districts deliver solid day-to-day education, particularly when parents stay engaged and involved. If you're considering this area, look beyond the overall rating: visit schools, talk to current parents, and research the specific school your child would attend. Average districts often have individual schools that significantly outperform the district mean.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 97215
Children in zip code 97215 are assigned to Portland Public Schools for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K – 12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 97215, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Portland Public Schools at (207)874-8100 or visit www.portlandschools.org/. Typical enrollment documents include proof of residency (lease or deed plus a utility bill), your child’s birth certificate, current immunization records, and prior school records. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Oregon districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Portland
School district quality is one of the most consistent factors in residential home pricing. Because Portland Public Schools serves zip code 97215, district assignment still factors into home-pricing comparisons between zip code 97215 and neighboring areas. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Oregon, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Portland Public Schools programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 97215.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Portland Public Schools before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 97215 data.