The top reported proficiency rate is 26% in English language arts. The lowest is 19% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Gilbert Park Elementary School
Gilbert Park Elementary School sits in the David Douglas School District on Portland’s east side, serving children from preschool through fifth grade. The school is a regular public, non-charter elementary. Its enrollment is moderately sized for an elementary school in a major urban district.
The student body is diverse. More than two-fifths of students are white, roughly a fifth are Hispanic, and the remaining share is split among Asian, Black, multiracial, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which places the school in a higher-poverty context. This economic reality is something a parent considering the school would want to be aware of, as it often correlates with additional supports and also with resource constraints.
In terms of academic performance, the state assessment results from the most recent testing year show a clear soft spot. Proficiency rates in English language arts were below the midpoint of proficiency rates across tested subjects and grades for schools in Multnomah County districts. In math, the rates were lower still, and in fifth-grade science, about a fifth of students met the state standard. The overall proficiency index was below the midpoint of all Multnomah County districts that reported results. The data available represents a single year of tests, so there is no trend to compare it against. A parent may want to discuss with the school what specific academic interventions are in place and how the school monitors student progress.
Because the school serves only elementary grades, it does not have a graduation rate. Information about chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, and discipline rates was not available in the record, so those areas remain unexamined here.
The district, David Douglas SD 40, has made a few publicly reported changes of note. It implemented a district-wide Multi-Tiered System of Supports framework, which coordinates academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support across all schools. It also made the David Douglas Online Academy, a fully online K-12 program launched during the pandemic, a permanent option for families. These are structural changes that families in the district may factor into their thinking.
Portland itself is the large, urban setting for this school. The city has a walkable core and extensive transit, though Gilbert Park is located in a residential east-side neighborhood rather than downtown. Portland’s population has seen a slight decline since 2020, and housing costs have risen. The local housing market in this zip code shows home values near a level that is affordable compared to some city neighborhoods but still a significant stretch for many households, especially given the school’s high free-and-reduced-lunch rate. The economy relies on technology, healthcare, and the athletic and outdoor brand sector. The neighborhood around the school is a mix of single-family homes and multi-unit buildings, with a commercial corridor typical of east Portland.
For a family, Gilbert Park is a diverse elementary school in a higher-poverty urban setting where state test results are well below the midpoint of the county’s districts. The school itself is a straightforward neighborhood option within a district that has invested in universal support systems and now offers a permanent online alternative. A parent looking closely at this school should seek direct information about academic interventions, class sizes, and how the school supports students who are behind grade level, since those details are not in the public record here.
See more original research from School Decision →