North Clackamas Sd 12, OR

Original Research by School Decision on North Clackamas Sd 12

North Clackamas School District 12 is one of the larger suburban districts in the Portland metropolitan area, serving a stretch of communities that range from the inner-ring suburb of Milwaukie eastward through Clackamas and Happy Valley to the edge of Damascus. The district covers a wide economic and demographic range, reflected in its housing. Home values in the district’s zip codes show a meaningful spread, from more modest stock in parts of Milwaukie and Portland to notably higher prices in Happy Valley. Rents follow a similar pattern. A parent moving into the district should understand that the character of the schools and the peer environment can differ substantially depending on which part of the district you land in.

The district is a large, comprehensive PK-through-12 system. It operates three traditional high schools, a newer comprehensive high school that opened in 2021 in the eastern growth area, several middle schools, and many elementary schools, along with a handful of alternative and charter options. Enrollment is substantial, with a student body that reflects the area’s diversity: white students make up a little more than half the population, and the district has a significant Hispanic student population, a solid Asian student presence, and smaller but present Black, multiracial, and other groups. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch was not available here, so a reader looking to gauge economic need at the district level would need to check individual school reports.

Academically, the district’s performance on state testing places it above the midpoint among Clackamas County’s districts. That said, the overall proficiency rates across tested grades are modest. In English language arts, proficiency across third through eighth grade hovers in the low-to-mid forties for the lower elementary grades, reaches about half of students by fifth grade, and then drops into the thirties and low forties in middle school. Math proficiency is lower across the board, with rates in the high twenties to low forties, generally declining as students move from third grade into middle school. Science scores in fifth and eighth grade are also below the majority mark. For a family weighing academic performance, these numbers suggest that while the district is a middle performer in the county, it is not a high-attainment district, and a parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand how individual buildings and programs vary.

The district made several notable changes in recent years. Voters defeated a capital construction bond in November 2024 that would have funded facility improvements, safety upgrades, and capacity expansions. The district has identified unmet facility needs, including aging buildings, and the bond's failure leaves those needs unfunded. On the positive side, the eastern part of the district gained a new high school in 2021, which added capacity for the fast-growing Happy Valley and Damascus areas. The district also adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum in 2023 based on the science of reading, a phonics-focused approach, and implemented new school start times starting in the 2024-25 school year, with middle and high schools starting later and elementary schools earlier.

Chronic absenteeism is a soft spot. The district’s chronic absenteeism rate sits above the midpoint among Clackamas County's districts, meaning it is higher than average. This is a metric a parent should be aware of, as it can affect classroom pace and student engagement.

Spending per pupil falls in the middle range, in the lower half of the county’s districts. This is neither high nor low relative to peers, but it is a figure that may inform local tax conversations.

Graduation rate data was not available for this profile, so a full picture of how many students finish high school on time is missing. Given that the district serves high school grades, this is a gap a parent may want to ask the district about directly.

For families looking at this district, the takeaway is that it offers a large, diverse school system with a range of housing options and community types, from more urban Milwaukie to suburban Happy Valley. The academic results are middling for the county, and the district has some real facility needs and a chronic absenteeism challenge. The recent curriculum change and start time adjustments show the district is actively making policy shifts, but the failed bond vote signals that funding those priorities will be an ongoing question. A household should look closely at the individual school their children would attend and how it fits their expectations.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

16,940

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 20%

Black 3%

White 55%

Asian 12%

Two+ 9%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 1%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

22%

51%

Gr 4

23%

54%

Gr 5

35%

57%

Gr 6

19%

46%

Gr 7

27%

45%

Gr 8

17%

39%

Math

Gr 3

22%

48%

Gr 4

19%

46%

Gr 5

18%

35%

Gr 6

14%

34%

Gr 7

13%

40%

Gr 8

33%

Science

Gr 5

18%

38%

Gr 8

10%

29%

Schools in this District

31 schools are officially reported under this district.

Oregon Trail Elementary School

Ardenwald Elementary School

Bilquist Elementary School

Happy Valley Elementary School

Linwood Elementary School

Whitcomb Elementary School

Riverside Elementary School

Lewelling Elementary School

Sunnyside Elementary School

View Acres Elementary School

Rowe Middle School

Clackamas High School

Milwaukie High School

Putnam High School

Sojourner School

Mount Scott Elementary School

Rock Creek Middle School

Spring Mountain Elementary School

Oak Grove Elementary

Clackamas Web Academy

Clackamas Middle College

New Urban High School

Milwaukie El Puente Elementary School

Cascade Heights Public Charter School

Milwaukie Academy of the Arts

Scouters Mountain Elementary

Verne A Duncan Elementary School

Happy Valley Middle School

Beatrice Morrow Cannady Elementary

Adrienne C. Nelson High School

Alder Creek Middle School

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

40%

Grade 3

38%

Grade 4

30%

Grade 5

29%

Grade 6

34%

Grade 7

28%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

43%

Grade 3

45%

Grade 4

51%

Grade 5

40%

Grade 6

41%

Grade 7

34%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

33%

Grade 5

25%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$593,903

Year-over-year change-0.7%

Range across 10 ZIP codes$438K to $690K

vs. state typical1.18x

vs. national typical1.61x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (10 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
97086	Happy Valley	$690K	-1.2%	23.2%
97015	Clackamas	$592K	-1.1%	22.0%
97222	Milwaukie	$497K	-0.1%	21.3%
97267	Portland	$545K	+0.1%	14.8%
97089	Damascus	$676K	-0.9%	8.8%
97045	Oregon City	$605K	-0.3%	7.9%
97206	Portland	$473K	-0.8%	1.3%
97027	Gladstone	$519K	-0.2%	0.5%
97202	Portland	$638K	-0.0%	0.2%
97236	Portland	$438K	+0.1%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,808/mo

Year-over-year change+1.0%

Range across 9 ZIP codes$1,584 to $1,933/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (9 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
97086	Happy Valley	$1,840	+1.4%	23.2%
97015	Clackamas	$1,822	+1.4%	22.0%
97222	Milwaukie	$1,776	+1.0%	21.3%
97267	Portland	$1,723	+0.2%	14.8%
97045	Oregon City	$1,933	-0.1%	7.9%
97206	Portland	$1,794	+3.2%	1.3%
97027	Gladstone	$1,732	+0.8%	0.5%
97202	Portland	$1,623	+2.3%	0.2%
97236	Portland	$1,584	-0.5%	0.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,997/mo

Home price / national median income7.1x

Annual rent / national median income25.9%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$1,189/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$501,661 (-0.7% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.