The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in English language arts. The lowest is 18% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Bilquist Elementary School
Bilquist Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Milwaukie, a suburb of Portland that retains its own civic identity while functioning as part of the larger metro area. The school is part of the North Clackamas School District 12, which covers a mix of older suburbs, unincorporated areas, and newer developments in the eastern part of Clackamas County. Bilquist sits on a residential street in a neighborhood setting, typical of the district’s elementary schools.
The student body is moderately sized for a K–5 school and reflects a predominantly white enrollment, with a notable share of students who identify as Hispanic or as two or more races. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a population with significant economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the provided records, so the support structure around those groups is not clear from this account.
On the state’s 2024–2025 assessments, Bilquist’s proficiency rates across math, English language arts, and science fall well below the average for elementary schools in the county. When compared with other districts in Clackamas County, the school’s overall proficiency index sits in the bottom quartile. In third grade, roughly a quarter of students met the state benchmark in ELA, while math proficiency was lower. Fourth-grade ELA results were stronger, reaching just over a third proficient, but fifth-grade proficiency dropped in both ELA and math. Science results, tested only in fifth grade, also show a low share of students reaching proficiency. Only one year of data is available, so there is no trend to examine. These numbers suggest that academic performance is an area a parent would want to discuss with the school’s staff and principal to understand the specific instructional approaches and interventions in place.
The community context of Milwaukie offers a mix of assets and constraints. The city has a somewhat walkable downtown anchored by the MAX Orange Line light rail, a farmers market, and notable employers such as Dark Horse Comics and Bob’s Red Mill. Housing values in the area are above the state median, reflecting its position in the Portland metro, and rents are also elevated relative to incomes, which may add pressure on families. The city’s population has been roughly flat in recent years, though planning efforts focus growth near transit stations. For families living in Milwaukie, the school is part of a district that has recently made a number of visible changes. A new high school opened in the eastern growth area in 2021, and a district-wide shift to later start times for middle and high schools took effect in 2024–2025. The elementary literacy curriculum was updated in 2023 to align with the science of reading. More notable for the near term: voters defeated a capital construction bond in late 2024 that would have funded facility upgrades, leaving significant unmet needs that may affect building conditions and capacity for the next several years.
Bilquist Elementary is a neighborhood school serving a community with moderate to high economic need. Its academic results on state tests are low relative to other districts in the county, which warrants a closer look by any family weighing enrollment. The district is actively working on curriculum and scheduling changes, but facilities funding remains a question. For a family that values a familiar, local elementary in a suburb with transit access and its own downtown character, Bilquist fits that description, though the academic profile is a key part of the decision.
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