Best Public Schools in Zip Code 97215

ZIP code 97215 has three public schools serving grades K–8 — two elementary schools and one middle school — with no high school in this data set, all within Portland School District 1J, which is itself a strong district (#12 of 141 in Oregon, 5 stars). Total enrollment across the three is 1,297: Bridger Creative Science School (K–8, 474 students), Mt Tabor Middle School (6–8, 466), and Glencoe Elementary School (K–5, 357).

Glencoe Elementary School is the clear standout: #10 of 709 elementary schools, 99th percentile, 5 stars, with ELA at 80.6%, math at 75.8%, and science at 64.5% — roughly 22–25 points above district and 34–43 points above state. It has climbed steadily from #45 two years earlier. Mt Tabor Middle School is also very strong at #28 of 371 middle schools, 92nd percentile, 5 stars (ELA 67.0%, math 60.0%, science 45.4%), though its percentile eased from 96 to 92 over two years. Bridger Creative Science School ranks #156 of 709 (78th percentile, 4 stars) and is improving (up from #210), with ELA at 57.3% and math at 50.3% — essentially district average — but science at 34.0%, about 11 points below district.

All three schools have chronic absenteeism below district (32.5%) and state (33.5%) rates, with Glencoe Elementary School lowest at 16.5%, roughly half the state rate. Notably, free/reduced lunch rates (about 41–42%) and per-student spending ($22,306–$22,740) are nearly identical across the three schools, yet outcomes differ sharply — and Glencoe has the highest student-teacher ratio (19.3) despite the best results. Science is the weakest subject everywhere, and in K–5 grades Glencoe Elementary School outperforms Bridger Creative Science School by wide margins, including a 32.6-point gap in 5th grade science.