This is a wonderful school and community with incredible teachers. If you are looking for an…read moreeducation that is deeply invested in children's imagination, embodiment, nervous system regulation, compassion, care, and creativity, I highly recommend checking this school out. Our family has been part of the school since my children began in the outdoor kindergarten, and over the years I've found it to be such a grounded, nourishing way for them to learn. They've developed strong social skills, a deep relationship with nature, and the ability to co-create with others through joy and play. The school beautifully nurtures their way of seeing and being in community, service, and connection. Not only do they cultivate curiosity, but children also learn musical instruments, work with their hands, dance and move, study Japanese language and culture, and engage in rich practices of storytelling and listening. We've participated in amazing field trips to places like Ekone Ranch, the Salmon Ceremony at Oxbow, service trips to the food bank, and more. The kids also participate in Nature Immersion Fridays, where they build and explore in creeks, rivers, and forests--co-creating with friends while learning practical outdoor skills and environmental identification. This is truly a beloved school, and one I highly recommend visiting to see if it's the right fit for your family.

Our family has had children at Shining Star for the last 10 years. Our oldest attended from 1st…read morethrough 8th grade and is now a thriving sophomore at a local public high school. We also have a 5th grader and a 7th grader currently at the school. We love the small size of the school--every teacher knows every student--and the way that the children interact across grade levels. Our children have experienced kind, caring teachers, engaging, hands-on learning, and have maintained their love and excitement for learning across the grades. They have experienced a wide-array of classes including strings, band, handwork, folk dance, Japanese and many different art classes. They love how much time they spend outside every day and how deeply they know and are known by their main lesson teachers. We also appreciate that Shining Star provides quality Waldorf education at an affordable price.

This is our 4th year at Holy Redeemer and are so grateful we found this community! I heard many…read moregreat things prior to applying and felt the sense of camaraderie from our first interactions. Our daughter's Kindergarten year was so amazing we enrolled our other child there as well. Their personalities are quite different, but each has been supported in the way they needed and have thrived. The staff seem to love what they do, which shows in the way the carry themselves, their creativity, but most of all, their commitment to the students. When the COVID-19 Pandemic started, it became clear their commitment and standards were WAY above others. The level of detail, leadership, immense planning, investment in equipment, and willingness to consider suggestions from parents has been immeasurable. I honestly don't know how our family could have gotten through the last year without the supports received from school staff AND other families. It takes a village and they've proven themselves worthy. Their before and aftercare staff have become extended family. For us, with no family here locally, this has been the icing on the cake. As difficult as 2020-2021 has been, I'll always have fond memories for their vision, perseverance, creativity, and dedication to their students. Not to mention the diversity, learning opportunities, and amazing music and art staff! They're one of a kind and have had such an impact on so many. I'm proud our children are Holy Redeemer Wildcats and strongly encourage you to consider them. And one last thing. Their principle, Mrs. McPheeters, has been a breath of fresh air. Her inaugural year as principle threw more curveballs than I can count. While I know it's had to be stressful, she's never shown it. Her leadership, what seems to be unshakable faith, and deep roots to the community have made her the perfect fit during these unprecedented times.

From the owner: We offer a robust academic program for Preschool through 8th Grade, combining critical thinking,…read morecreativity, and faith-building experiences. Our students engage in meaningful exploration, hands-on learning, and rich discussion. They grow not only as scholars, but as thoughtful, faith-centered individuals. In true Holy Cross tradition, we call our students to a life of service: to their classmates, their families, and the wider community. Through service projects, social outreach, and daily acts of compassion, they learn what it means to put faith into action.

This is James John Elementary. It's a decent school with generally nice and helpful staff. For some…read morereason it scores low on rating web sites and I'm not sure why because its not a 1 out of 10 school for sure. Out of the 2 st John's elementary schools I'd rather my children go here for sure. The school was just updated over the summer and is being made ADA accessible with the addition of a new elevator. The playgrounds are nice and the school over all has a happy feel as you walk the halls. While I wouldn't rate this school the best ever I do think it deserves more than the 1 it gets on the school rating web sites. Perhaps more like a 7 or 8

Well my boys are now in their second year at Cascadia and it is the best investment I have made on…read moretheir behalf. They are both so excited about research and learning and my middle school son is loving all the field study trips - unheard of in public school! I appreciate that they are accepted and celebrated for their uniqueness, the dedication of the teachers and staff, and knowing that they feel enlightened and enthusiastic at the end of each day!

Cascadia has provided an alternative to the factory/test driving approach public schools use to…read moreteach children. Being Montessori based, the school focuses on the whole child, which after years of attending public schools has allowed my boys to again love learning. The teachers pay close attention to what makes my children "tick" and the space to make their own discoveries. In doing so, the teachers are giving them the skills to be hard working innovative thinkers in a collaborative environment while still incorporating the state education standards. This school is what school is should be.

Check your calendar when you're in Portland, and if you happen to be there at the right time, grab…read morea blanket, some wine and cheese, and head to Chapman elementary school about an hour before sunset to view the swift migration. An exceptional display of wildlife to say the least. Since we seem to be annihilating birds In this country at a record pace, you best get here soon because they will probably be gone in 20 years. But in the meantime, you can enjoy the site with several hundred other Portlandites that are in the know. You will not be disappointed. Volunteers and scientists are on site to help interpret what you're seeing. Be sure to go and visit them. Parking is decent, and there are multiple places to visit afterwards to process your experience with good drink and food. Enjoy nature while you've got the chance.

Chapman Elementary School is more than just a Portland Public Schools neighborhood elementary…read moreschool. It also doubles as a temporary home for migrating vaux swifts for about three weeks in each September. Each year, thousands of migrating vaux swifts claim Chapman's old boiler chimney as an evening resting place. During their short stay in Portland, crowds gather around the school at dawn and dusk to watch a black cloud of birds swoop, flutter and funnel into the chimney in graceful frenzy. It's truly a sight to be seen. The presence of lingering predatory hawks who see the swifts as dinner only adds to the excitement. Don't miss this natural wonder come September.

The best teachers and positive, supportive environment. Small school with opportunities for growth…read morefor every child. I would send my child here indefinitely if they had a high school program.

I don't have enough superlatives to truly convey the deep appreciate and regard my wife and I have…read morefor Metro. Our daughter has been in Montessori since she was 3. She is a Montessori kid. And when the time came to leave her upper elementary classroom at her previous school (the super wonderful Sunstone Montessori) - we really struggled. Did we put her in a pipeline school that would allow her to matriculate from her middle school program directly into high school (e.g. OES)? Should we consider Waldorf? In the end, sticking with Montessori for our daughter's middle school years was not only a healthy choice for her growth and development - it was an amazing experience for her whole person. Picture this - after completing her 7th grade year at Metro . . . our daughter disclosed to us, "that was the best year of my life." Wow! I don't know about you - but my Catholic middle school years were DEFINITELY NOT the best years of my life. Thank you, Metro for being such an amazing place of peace, curiosity and compassion. You ROCK!

This is our first year at Lewis and this has been the most pleasantly positive and easy…read moreexperiences. Our kiddo is coming from a Montessori preschool setting, which ended up being very difficult for us. The school has offered us all the support, welcoming staff and families, lots of wonderful programs, that are all wonderful. Lewis promotes diversity-love-support to students & families from all backgrounds (they stand t true to the their word about being inclusive, unlike other schools that just throw the word around, but do not hold true to). All of the kids are so friendly to one another. It definitely has more of an arts feel to it. The facility is very secure, and the classrooms are very clean & full of natural daylight. Our student is also blessed with a 16 student classroom vs 25 students for the school we were slated to go to that us east of here.

an amazing school with great teachers I was a student there and had a great time. Music program has…read morelots of marimba and singing wide range of books in the library and really fun and enjoyable games in PE

We are so grateful that we found Osoberry School! After feeling like a large Kindergarten classroom…read morewouldn't be the right fit for our son we decided to enroll him at Osoberry and are so happy with our choice. He is happy and thriving at school. It is clear that Emily intentionally works to establish a supportive learning community that not only enables our son to learn effectively, but also has fostered his social and emotional growth.

We're so happy that we found Osoberry! Our kid tried Osoberry camp for a week during the summer and…read moreliked it so much that he came home and said "can I go there for school?" And after talking with Emily, we were sold. He has loved his experience there - having a smaller setting has been really great for him as a kid who's on the quieter side. He came out of his shell very quickly and talks a ton about the other kids and teachers. They do so many creative projects and activities, and the approach to reading and math is much more hands on and intuitive than the worksheets he experienced in his kindergarten. He says he really loves the art they do there.

Our daughter started at Little Explorers when she was 18 months old and stayed for over two years…read more During this time, she grew and developed so much, surrounded by love, care, and encouragement from the teachers. We are a vegan family, and the school was always thoughtful and accommodating, making sure she had great options. We are deeply grateful for everything the school has done for our daughter and our family. Highly recommend!

We had the pleasure of sending our son to Little Explorers for a year.  We absolutely loved our…read moretime there and valued the love and care Aarin and her team provided during his time attending.  When our son had a hard time transitioning into school, Aarin graciously received him and always offered him a hug.  My son enjoyed the play space outside, fun art projects, and cooking. Aarin and her husband Quinlin have also created a wonderful community amongst the families. They organize social gatherings at their house, meetups around town, and also go camping as a group. It truly feels like a family. Going to Little Explorers is such a treat. I recommend them over and over!!