The top reported proficiency rate is 66% in English language arts. The lowest is 45% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Arthur Academy
Arthur Academy is a K-through-5 public charter school in Portland, Oregon, operating under the David Douglas School District. It sits in the Lents neighborhood on the city's east side, an area of residential streets and commercial corridors. At about the size you would expect for a single elementary school, it serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade, with a small, grade-level cohort that gets a little smaller as students move from the early grades to the older ones. A substantial share of students come from households that qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
The student body is racially and ethnically diverse, a mix that reflects the broader Portland area's growing variety. White students make up the largest single group, followed by Asian students, then students who are Black, Hispanic, and of two or more races, with a small number of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. Information on the proportion of students with disabilities or those learning English as a new language was not available, which a parent may want to investigate further with the school.
This school is not part of the Portland Public Schools system, the city's largest district. Its authorizer is David Douglas School District, a separate entity serving Portland's east side. That district has made a couple of lasting changes that affect how families experience the school. It implemented a district-wide Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework, a coordinated approach to academic interventions, behavioral supports, and social-emotional learning. It also created the David Douglas Online Academy during the pandemic and made it a permanent option for families who prefer fully online instruction.
Arthur Academy is a charter school, so it operates with some autonomy from the district but must meet the terms of its charter. Its academic performance on state assessments provides a clear picture. In English language arts, performance sits well above the midpoint among tested schools in Multnomah County. A strong majority of fourth and fifth graders meet the state's proficiency bar. Third graders show a lower rate, which is not uncommon in schools where students are still building foundational skills. In math, the story is more uneven. Fourth graders post a solid result, but third and fifth graders show a lower proficiency rate. Science, tested only in fifth grade, lands at a level that is about even with the state average. Overall, the school's combined proficiency across subjects and grades places it in the top quarter among its county peers. Parents looking at these results will see a school where reading and writing are a clear strength but math attainment is more of a mixed picture, and they may want to ask how the school differentiates math instruction across grades.
Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and no chronic absenteeism data was present in the available records. These are not missing measures of quality for this grade band; they simply do not apply.
Portland, the city around the school, is Oregon's largest and most urbanized city, with a downtown core that has a walkable grid, an extensive light rail and bus system, and a well-known bicycle network. The broader Portland economy is anchored by healthcare, technology, athletic and outdoor brands, and the port. The city's population has declined slightly since 2020, but the metro area continues to grow. Housing in the city is expensive, and housing costs in the surrounding area have risen significantly. The school's specific location in east Portland puts families in a residential part of the city with access to commercial corridors and parks.
Arthur Academy offers a small, academically focused elementary environment in a diverse urban setting. For a family considering it, the English language arts results are a strong signal, while the math results invite a closer look at how the school addresses that subject. The charter structure means the school has its own identity within the larger David Douglas District, and the district's MTSS framework provides a system of layered support that affects every student in the building.
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