PORTLAND, Ore — The list of Oregon's Top 50 Elementary Schools is out, and looks a little bit different than our 2019 roster.
That is, the differences from last year's top elementary schools tally stem from our inclusion of both public and private schools that, according to Pittsburgh-based researcher Niche.com, will shine in 2020. That includes such institutions as Catlin Gabel and Oregon Episcopal that offer classes past the fifth grade level.
Given that, the geographic breakdown of the 2020 Top 50 Elementary Schools goes like this:
SLIDESHOW: Oregon's top 50 elementary schools for 2020
Niche.com derives its rankings from marks in five categories. Whereas many schools in the top 50 received the same grade, Niche.com ranked them according to the weight of each mark.
The five key categories in the rankings are:
- Academics, which comprise 50 percent of the grade, based on how proficient students are in state assessment tests and student and parent survey responses.
- Teachers, a category that comprises 20 percent of the grade. The score is based on salaries, absenteeism, state test results and survey responses on teachers from students and parents.
- The overall district grade, which comprises 15 percent of the overall mark. The figure stems from a "rigorous analysis of academic and student life data along with millions of reviews from students and parents."
- Culture and diversity, which comprises 10 percent of the grade and is based on racial and economic diversity and survey responses on school culture and diversity from students and parents.
- Parent and student surveys, in which responses are scored on a 1-5 scale "regarding the overall experience of students and parents from the school." The surveys account for 5 percent of the grade.
Click through on the slide above above to ascertain whether your local elementary school, among 1,089 rated in the state, ranks among Oregon's top 50.
The Portland Business Journal is a KGW News partner.
