The top reported proficiency rate is 20% in Science. The lowest is 15% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Margaret Scott Elementary School
Margaret Scott Elementary School is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in northeast Portland, part of the Reynolds School District. It operates as a neighborhood elementary school within one of Oregon’s most urban and economically complex cities. The student body is diverse: the largest groups are Hispanic students, followed by White, Black, Asian, students of two or more races, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native. A very high share of students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of the surrounding community. The school’s enrollment is moderate for an elementary school, with each grade from kindergarten through fifth roughly balanced in size.
State assessment results from the 2024–2025 school year show consistently low proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science across grades three through five. In math, only a small minority of students met the proficiency standard, with fourth-grade proficiency lower than third and fifth. In English language arts, fifth-grade proficiency was slightly higher than the lower grades but still limited. Science, tested in fifth grade only, also showed a small share of students reaching proficiency. Owing to the availability of data for only a single year, no trend can be established, but across all tested grades and subjects the school’s overall proficiency was well below the midpoint when compared with districts in Multnomah County—placing it among the lowest in that comparison set.
Several pieces of information that families often rely on were not available in the data reviewed. There were no reported figures on the share of students receiving special education services or those identified as English learners. Data on discipline incidents, chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, and course access were also absent. The school is not a charter or magnet school, and its Title I status was not provided. Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to examine.
Portland, where the school is located, is Oregon’s largest city and a major Pacific Northwest metropolitan center. The city’s economy is anchored by technology, athletic and outdoor brands, healthcare, shipping, and craft industries. Portland has a walkable downtown grid, extensive public transit including light rail and buses, a strong bicycling culture, and a network of parks and civic spaces. The city has experienced rising housing costs and gentrification pressures since the 1990s, and its population has declined slightly since the 2020 census. Portland operates an urban growth boundary that directs development inward. Housing in the area is expensive relative to national benchmarks, with home values and rents having moderated only slightly recently. The cost of living in Portland has been a growing concern for residents.
The Reynolds School District, which encompasses Margaret Scott, had no recent major public developments such as bond measures, curriculum changes, or policy shifts reported in the period reviewed. That leaves the school’s academic performance and demographic profile as the primary information for a family to weigh.
Given the current test results, a parent considering Margaret Scott may want to speak directly with the school about what academic supports are in place, how the school works with students who are below grade level, and what enrichment or intervention programs exist. The school serves a highly diverse and economically disadvantaged population in a major city with a dynamic housing market and strong transit access. For a family that values a neighborhood school with a broad demographic mix and is prepared to engage actively on academic progress, Margaret Scott may be worth exploring, but the data alone do not signal strong academic outcomes at this point.
See more original research from School Decision →