The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in English language arts. The lowest is 16% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Earl Boyles Elementary
Earl Boyles Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in the David Douglas School District, located in southeast Portland. The school sits within Portland’s east-side residential fabric, an area of the city characterized by commercial corridors, single-family homes, and multi-unit buildings, a stretch of the city that lacks the dense street life of the downtown core but remains connected by transit. Portland itself is Oregon’s largest city, a major Pacific Northwest metropolitan center with an economy driven by technology, athletic and outdoor brands, shipping, healthcare, and craft industries. The city has seen a slight population decline since 2020, and housing costs have risen significantly in recent decades due to gentrification pressures, with a recent local news report noting that residents feel the impact of growing cost-of-living pressures.
The school is comparatively small for a elementary school, a size that allows for a more contained environment where families might find it easier to engage with staff.
Earl Boyles is a high-poverty school. A substantial share of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. The student population is diverse. The largest groups are Hispanic students and white students, each making up roughly a third of enrollment. Asian students, students identifying as two or more races, Black students, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students together account for the remainder. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learner status was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the extent of special education services and language support.
On Oregon’s state assessments, administered in spring 2025, proficiency rates at Earl Boyles were notably low. In math, the share of students meeting the state bar was below the midpoint among schools in Multnomah County. In English language arts, proficiency rates were higher than in math but still sat well below state averages. Science results, tested only at fifth grade, also fell low. These figures represent a single year of testing, which makes it impossible to determine whether performance is improving or declining, but the results are a clear soft spot. A parent should discuss what academic interventions and supports are in place with the school.
Because the school serves only through fifth grade, there are no graduation rates to report. There is no data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or staffing, so gaps remain in understanding the overall school climate and adult-to-student ratios. The district brief notes that David Douglas School District implemented a district-wide Multi-Tiered System of Supports framework beginning in the 2021-2022 school year. This framework coordinates academic interventions, behavioral supports, and social-emotional learning across three tiers, from universal supports for all students to targeted and intensive supports. The district also made the David Douglas Online Academy, a fully online K-12 learning option launched during the pandemic, a permanent alternative for families.
A parent considering Earl Boyles Elementary should expect a diverse, high-poverty school where state test scores are below the midpoint for the county. The district’s MTSS framework suggests a structure for addressing academic and behavioral needs, and the online academy offers an alternative should in-person instruction not fit. The data gaps around special populations and school climate mean that direct questions to the school office would be worthwhile before making a decision.
See more original research from School Decision →