The top reported proficiency rate is 23% in English language arts. The lowest is 18% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Clark Elementary School
Clark Elementary School is a regular public elementary school in Portland, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of Portland Public Schools, the largest school district in Oregon. The school sits in a residential area of southeast Portland, within the city's east-side neighborhood grid.
The student body of about that size for an elementary school is diverse across multiple racial and ethnic groups. Asian and White students each make up roughly a fifth of the enrollment, Black students another fifth, Hispanic students about a sixth, and the remainder identify as two or more races, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, or American Indian or Alaska Native. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a higher-needs population. Information on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the data reviewed, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about these supports.
State testing results are available for the most recent school year, 2024-2025, in math, English language arts, and science. Across all tested grades, proficiency rates are low. In math, the share of students meeting the state standard is below a third in each grade, with a particularly weak showing in fourth grade. In English language arts, the pattern is similar, with the highest rate in fifth grade but still below a third of students proficient. Science, tested only in fifth grade, also shows proficiency below a fifth of students. Overall, Clark's proficiency across subjects places it in the bottom quarter relative to other schools in Multnomah County. Parents looking at these results may want to discuss with the school what academic interventions or supports are in place and how the school is working to raise achievement. Only one year of data was available, so no trend can be assessed.
The school's immediate neighborhood sits within the broader context of Portland, a large city with a mix of dense commercial districts, residential neighborhoods, and a strong identity around sustainability and urban planning. The city has a walkable downtown grid, extensive public transit, and a nationally recognized bike network. The economy is driven by technology, healthcare, athletic and outdoor brands, and shipping. Housing costs in the area are elevated, with home values and rents above national medians, consistent with Portland's gentrification pressures since the 1990s. The city's population has declined slightly since 2020, but the metro area continues to grow.
Portland Public Schools, the parent district, is navigating a period of enrollment decline, which has prompted a long-range facility planning process and proposals to close or merge schools. The district also placed a large capital construction bond on the November 2024 ballot, the largest school bond measure in Oregon history, to fund facility improvements, seismic retrofits, and safety upgrades. The outcome of that bond and the consolidation process will affect school facilities and property taxes for families in the district. For a family considering Clark, it is worth understanding how these district-level changes might affect the school's future, including potential boundary adjustments or program changes.
Clark Elementary is a neighborhood school with a diverse student body and a high proportion of students from lower-income households. Its academic proficiency rates are low, and the school's position in the county's bottom quartile for overall performance is a clear signal that a family should investigate the school's instructional approach, intervention programs, and any recent initiatives to improve outcomes. The broader Portland housing market is expensive, and the district is undergoing significant structural changes. For families who value a diverse, urban setting and are willing to engage closely with the school on academic support, Clark may be a fit, but the test results warrant a thorough conversation with the school leadership.
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