The top reported proficiency rate is 79% in English language arts. The lowest is 75% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Glencoe Elementary School
Glencoe Elementary School is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Portland’s Southeast, part of the Portland SD 1J district. It sits in a residential neighborhood east of the Willamette River, in a city known for its walkable grid, extensive public transit, and a mix of dense commercial strips and older single-family homes. The school’s grade band means no graduation or high school course data exists, and no multi-year test trend is available yet, only a single year of state assessment results.
Academically, Glencoe posts strong proficiency rates across the subjects it tests. In math, reading, and science, the share of students meeting state standards is high in every tested grade, and the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the top quarter among Multnomah County’s elementary schools. That is a clear strength. Because the data covers only one school year, a parent would want to watch for consistency over time, but the initial picture is of a school where most students are performing well above the county midpoint. Science results are especially solid.
The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic, Black, multiracial, and Asian students. About a fifth of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, giving the school a moderate level of economic diversity. Enrollment by grade is roughly even across K through 5, typical for a neighborhood elementary. The school does not report counts for students with IEPs or English learners, so that information is not available in the data. A parent with a child receiving special education services or language supports would want to ask the school directly about those programs.
The neighborhood around Glencoe is part of Portland’s east side, an area with mature housing stock and commercial corridors. Housing values in the zip code are well above the national median, and rents have been rising. Portland itself has seen a small population decline since 2020, though the metro area continues to grow, and the city manages development through an urban growth boundary that limits sprawl. The economy is broad, with major employers like OHSU, Nike, and Intel in the region, and the city has a strong network of parks, transit, and civic amenities.
The district, Portland Public Schools, has been navigating notable changes. A large capital bond measure was on the November 2024 ballot to fund facility upgrades and safety work. At the same time, the district has faced declining enrollment since before the pandemic, leading to a Long-Range Facility Plan and a consolidation process that proposed closing or merging some schools. How that might affect Glencoe’s attendance boundaries or program offerings is not specified in the available materials, but the district’s ongoing realignment is something a family moving into the area should follow.
Glencoe is a high-performing elementary in a city neighborhood with all the advantages and pressures of an urban setting. It fits a family who prioritizes strong academics in the early grades, who is comfortable with a school that serves a mostly white but economically mixed student body, and who can navigate Portland’s higher housing costs and district-level transitions. The missing data on special populations and the lack of any trend line mean some questions can only be answered by visiting the school and talking with staff.
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