Readers Respond: Rating your local school district

Your Oregon News asked readers how happy they are with their current school districts.

About 52% of respondents said they are involved in their local school district as a parent, and 25% as an educator. Another 23% said they formerly were involved, but are no longer, 13% are grandparents or volunteers, and 8% said they are not involved in their local school districts.

Nearly 90% of respondents are involved in public school districts; 4% in private schools; 3% homeschool; and 3% online school.

Of Your Oregon News reader respondents, 33% said their school district is great and they are very happy with it. About 20% said their school district is somewhat bad; 17% said theirs is awful. Another 14% said theirs is good, and 14% said theirs is average.

Here’s what Your Oregon News readers have to say about their school districts. Did you weigh in?

BEAVERTON

“It is good. The option school my daughter is attending is wonderful. It’s a 6-12 with international curriculum and great teachers. The downside is that the Beaverton School District doesn’t care much about options schools and facilities are left aside.” — Maria Belen Calderon, parent

“Beaverton is average. Since they hired the newest superintendent it has really gone down hill and we are losing long term administrators and teachers. It used to be a good district but has changed and not for the better. Kids are disrespectful and district office does not support staff.” — Educator

“They are trying to do the impossible: teach all students in mainstream classes, without support, so all students suffer, particularly in the lower grades. There is nothing being done to support a teacher who has a runner, or one who constantly yells bad language. The other students are not getting what they need!” — Linda Talluto, volunteer, parent and retired teacher

“Awful. They don't teach reading, writing, or math any more, only how to feel. They aren't learning, they are being brainwashed.” — Formerly involved

“Great. Communication can always get better. I see how dedicated teachers are to supporting all students with sometimes not enough time to do so. Good things are happening in this district and they are working to greater improvement. Better funding from the state would help.” — Substitute and volunteer, former parent and educator

Canby

“It is good. It would be better if I could just teach my students to read, write and do math, with none of the other garbage I have to do.” — Parent and educator

“It is great. They communicate so well with this community. Recognize both students and staff for the great work they are doing. Lots of positive vibes.” — Formerly involved

“It is great. Fiscal responsibility to this point has been very good. community supports bond measures. We need visionary leadership to continue progress towards improving schools further.” — Parent

Crook County

“Excellent teachers and administrators. Outstanding application of educational mandates. Unfortunate that red-neck, narrow-minded folks continue to pressure staff.” — Parent

“Average. The district lacks rigor in the classroom and frequently loses the standards to pass kids along. Half of the elementary kids have no access to music, a subject area known to improve students’ cognitive abilities.” — Sue Green, Prineville

Estacada

“Administration claims to be pro-CTE, but lays off great teachers, closes programs after taking the state's funds to remodel facilities, and breaks promises to community.” — David Richards III, Eagle Creek

“The Estacada School District has been striving to be transparent and focused on educating our youth. I couldn't be more proud of our district.” — Parent

“It is somewhat bad. Teachers are not teaching to an acceptable level. Teachers need continuing education. English teachers need to be able to construct a sentence using proper grammar and spelling. That said, teachers need more money so we can attract teachers that are not on the bottom half of the national pool. We also need more teachers. Mass expenditure on physical buildings, and extracurricular activities are a waste if the teaching element is sub par.” — Ross MacKae, Estacada

Eugene

“Great. It has dedicated administrators, teachers and support staff.” — Suzanne Cusick, educator and parent

Forest Grove

“Great. The teachers have been incredible, the school board is doing great things for kids, the teachers are being compensated well, the district brought back a school resource officer this year, the bond was passed and new facilities are being built, the high school has great athletics programs and facilities, the administration is supportive and quick to act, the career and technical education courses are robust and preparing kids for careers, I could go on and on!” — Forest Grove parent

“Awful. Too much focus on DEI topics, primarily disgusted with the upper elementary. Schools are locked down so. Or even parents can come into the building.” — Forest Grove parent

Gervais

“Outstanding leadership and dedicated educators. The community support is amazing!” — John Ogden, Molalla

Gresham

“Somewhat bad. Not enough support for students.” — Parent

Hermiston

“Hermiston is great. The focus of the district is on quality education and work hard to bring all staff the expected product. The difficult part is working with the unions who hinder and slow the ability to implement effective changes quickly.” — Educator and parent

Hillsboro

“Somewhat bad. The focus is DEI rather than academic rigor. If a student fits an oppressed class opportunity is offered. If a student does not fit an oppressed class a student is left to navigate school without support. School facilities are run down and left to deteriorate.” — Parent

“My experience is as a parent in elementary only; I pulled all my kids out four years ago for the following reasons: No resources for gifted children, way too much reliance on computers or iPads; zero instruction in basic foundational things like penmanship and phonics, zero instruction in history, geography, civics and barely any instruction in science, laughably bad music and art programs. Very inappropriate sex ed and gender nonsense curriculum in all grades with many teachers forgetting to inform parents who want to opt out their kids. Talk a good deal about bullying but when students are actually being bullied they are ignored by staff. Students punished for needing the bathroom—one of my kids was kept in at recess multiple times for using the bathroom "too long", another came home multiple times in pants that weren't hers because her teacher wouldn't let her use the bathroom when she needed despite a documented medical condition discussed over and over with that teacher. So many staff utterly incompetent, arrogant, far more interested in pushing so-called social justice agendas on children than actually teaching them anything of value or even treating children and parents like individual human beings. My kids hated it there and homeschool was the best decision I ever made for them.” — Formerly involved

“Somewhat bad. Lack of behavior expectations. Lack of academic rigor.” — Educator and parent

Jefferson County

“Teacher pay is highest in the region, administrator support is great, and the district works well with the teacher’s union to provide the best solutions for everyone.” — Educator

Lake Oswego

“Riverdale is mediocre. Lake Oswego is great. Riverdale caters to special needs kids so much that neurotypical kids don’t get opportunities to go ahead. There are so many disruptions in class to take care of tantrums of ten year olds and all the regular kids have disrupted education. Loss is much better about that.” — Former student parent

“Great because it is well-funded, and well-run for high achievement for all students.” — Formerly involved

“Somewhat bad. Drag show for kids at local High School is inappropriate. The show was intended as a fund raiser for a worthy cause—to stop teen suicides. Originally canceled because of community outcry, but eventually held without public notice or advertising. More funds could have been raised if they'd used less offensive entertainment and more advertising to draw a larger audience.” — Grandparent

“Love the teachers who interact with my kids. no faith in the district board and administration after their Lake Grove bait and switch. Disappointed in poor leadership who let that happen. People have been going to private schools in increasing numbers because of the way the leadership treats the community that elected them.” — Parent

Molalla River

“It is good. Hearts are in the right place. Academically and with building upkeep, we could do better!” — Gretchen Gingerich, parent

Newberg Dundee

“Awful because the previous school board did irreparable damage to our district. The budget shortfall is criminal.” — Michael Griffiths, Newberg

“Somewhat bad because the DEI, can’t hold the students accountable. Wasting taxpayers money.” — Forest Grove educator

North Clackamas

“North Clackamas Schools offers a wide range of both college preparation and career preparation. Their educators are skilled, caring, and committed to serving students. My [now adult] children received a first-rate education that included Multiple Intelligence learning, Career-Technical learning, advanced science courses, and rigorous International Baccalaureate classes. They were well-prepared for college. They had amazing extra-curricular activities like Model United Nations, Marimba Band, and Orchestra.” — Leslie Robinette, Milwaukie

“North Clackamas is great. It engages and informs community about events, budget, bond projects. Spent bond money appropriately to upgrade all schools. My children's K-12 education was great and my property value is a direct reflection of this district.” — Formerly involved

“It is great. We love the CTE program. We've had a good experience with the special educational teams at each school as we transitioned through elementary to high school. There were a few teachers along the way that didn't seem to contribute to our students success early on, but overall we appreciated the staff and sites.” — Former student parent

Ontario

“Somewhat bad. Ran as a dictatorship. One person seems to know better than parents. Sports are horrendous.” — Eric Evans, parent

Oregon City

“Having served as a volunteer at both Gaffney Lane and John McLoughlin Elementary schools in our district this past school year, I have been extremely impressed with the amount of resources that our district provides for our elementary schools, both in personnel and materiel in order to help each and every student have an enjoyable elementary school experience and to help each and every one of them succeed.” — Howard M. Fish, Oregon City volunteer

“Awful. Hidden agendas by the administration. Top leaders force resignations of changemakers. In other words, if you can’t stand the heat, they kick you out of the kitchen. Also, administration is getting top heavy with additional positions created by the superintendent.” — Educator and parent

“Great outreach and engagement, diverse board.” — Formerly involved

“It still doesn't make sense to me that we travel through Gladstone to pick up students in Jennings Lodge to bring them back to Oregon City for school. Seemed silly then, and it’s still silly. Don’t even get me started on Beavercreek and Redland.” — Adele Smith, Beavercreek

Oregon Trail

“Somewhat bad. Curriculum for elementary is math and reading. No art. No science. No social studies. Kids are behind.” — Parent

“We have really awesome building admins, teachers and support staff. District office Administration could be better.” — Parent

Portland

“Average. Funds are low, PAT works to help itself and not the teachers or students.” — Parent

“Somewhat bad, because of PAT.” — Parent

Rogue River

“Awful. This government school is following the Oregon agenda of indoctrinating children in Critical Race Theory, DEI segregation and gender dysphoria. The district is expanding its facilities and implementing an government contracted medical and daycare facility on campus.” — Community member

Scappoose

“Great. Community doesn't support education with regards to facilities but the teachers and staff at Scappoose have been amazing in the 14 years I have had kids in the district. I am sure everyone will keep complaining about facilities, then complain about the cost to fix it. One reason we will be leaving this community. All the complaining but no action to fix it.” — Mitch Neilson, Warren parent

Silver Falls

“Awful. Bad leadership and making a big fuss about bad leadership and doing nothing about it.” — Parent and educator

Tigard-Tualatin

“So many positive things about TTSD! We have had amazing teachers, built an awesome community. It’s frustrating that our school board isn’t the most transparent and communicative with parents, and that discipline (especially at the middle schools) still seems to be an issue. But the cons are outweighed by the incredible experiences we’ve had our schools.” — Brittney Mast, Durham parent

“Great. Just about everyone I’ve met in the schools and district office really care about kids, and work hard to help all kids learn.” — Volunteer

“The School Board is horrible. They push a woke agenda. Superintendent was so bad she was forced to retire by a parent group. School Board hired a poor replacement with a terrible track record in Salem. We're so glad we only have one year left in this terrible district!” — Parent

West-Linn Wilsonville

“Drug use, bullying, violence, principal not responding to violence in a satisfactory way.” — Not involved

“West Linn school district is awful because of critical race theory and pornography in schools.” —Sandi Adam, West Linn

“Awful because there is no discipline action for behavioral kids.” — Parent

“Getting more woke every day and not happy about it.” — Parent

“Inclusion is great in theory… not great for all. Possibly implementing inclusion in specials, not main targeted learning goal areas would be better.” — Parent

“Good arts programs and also athletics. Great teachers. Lots of resources.” — Parent

“Average. Academics are ok. Superintendent is inflexible and not doing enough to protect Jewish kids from hate.” — Carl Zaragoza, parent

“Good to great rankings within the state.” — Cheryl Wyborny, homeowner in West Linn

“The district strongly favors some programs like dual language and full inclusion while putting zero effort into supporting gifted students. It also royally messed up the substitute contract and had to retroactively pay substitutes who worked half days full day pay this school year. It cost the district 3 million dollars. No information on who is being held accountable has been shared. Many staff have lost their jobs who had nothing to do with the error.” — Parent, educator

“In comparison to other Oregon schools it’s highly ranked, but Oregon schools are ranked one of the lowest states in the country.” — Amanda, West Linn

Woodburn

“Good. Woodburn has had some challenges over the past few years. Specifically transitioning from four small high schools to one large school community. However, we've also seen a lot of resilience from students, staff, and our community.” — Educator

“We have incredible students supported. by amazing families achieving a wealth of success as literary superstars. Students are consistently winning regional and national contests as well being published by organization like The Pulitzer Center, Literary Arts, and 826 National. Our students perform at the Portland Book Festival and have opened at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in front of 2000. Our students routinely present at regional and national conferences.” — Charles Sanderson, Salem educator

“Awful. Gangs, lack of dress code, lack of corrections or anything at all discipline. Superintendent that lacks leader ship and transparency.” — Educator