The top reported proficiency rate is 84% in English language arts. The lowest is 54% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Alameda Elementary School
Alameda Elementary School sits in Portland’s vibrant Northeast neighborhood, serving kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school within Portland SD 1J, the city’s largest school district. With an enrollment typical of an elementary school serving a residential urban area, the student body is predominantly white, and the school draws from a neighborhood with significantly higher home values and rents than the state and national medians, reflecting a community with considerable economic resources. The free or reduced-price lunch rate, a common measure of economic need, was not available in the data.
Academically, Alameda posted strong proficiency rates on the state’s Oregon Statewide Assessment System for the 2024-2025 school year. In English language arts, student performance was high across grades three through five, with the overall combined proficiency rate across all grades landing well above the midpoint. Math performance was similarly strong, with the combined proficiency rate also sitting comfortably above the typical range for the district and the state. Science, tested only in fifth grade, showed a more mixed picture; the proficiency rate was markedly lower than in reading and math. A parent may want to ask the school how science instruction is structured and whether the dip in fifth grade results reflects a curriculum gap or a normal testing variation for that cohort. There is only one year of assessment data available, so no trend can be established yet.
Because Alameda serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. Disciplinary data, staffing counts, and attendance figures were also not included in the available information, leaving some gaps in the full picture of school climate and daily operations. When you consider Alameda against the full set of elementary and middle schools across Multnomah County, its overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile of that field, a mark of consistently strong academic performance relative to its county peers.
The school itself does not operate as a charter or magnet, and its Title I status was not reported, which aligns with the pattern of a school in a higher-income neighborhood. Locally, the housing market in the zip code around Alameda is characterized by a median home value well above both the Oregon and national benchmarks, and rents also sit notably above typical U.S. levels. For a family considering a move, this means the neighborhood commands a premium; the estimated monthly costs for homeownership exceed the typical rent, which is a common dynamic in Portland’s pricier eastern neighborhoods.
The larger district context is in flux. Portland Public Schools has seen a notable enrollment decline in recent years, dropping from pre-pandemic levels. In response, the district undertook a Long-Range Facility Plan and school consolidation process in 2024-2025, which included proposals to close or merge a number of schools due to underutilization and budget pressures. Additionally, a capital construction bond, the largest in Oregon history, was placed on the November 2024 ballot to fund facility improvements, seismic retrofits, and safety upgrades. The outcome of that bond vote carries direct implications for school buildings and property taxes district-wide.
As an urban elementary school, Alameda serves its neighborhood children within a district that is adapting to a smaller student population while seeking major investment in its aging facilities. The neighborhood itself, part of Portland’s east side, is known for walkable commercial corridors and a mix of historic homes and newer infill development. Parents considering Alameda will find a school with strong core academic results, in a high-cost housing market, within a district that is actively reshaping its school portfolio. Follow-up questions about the school’s special education and English learner services, as well as its specific program offerings, would round out the picture for any family weighing this option.
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