Our family is very happy with our experience at MLC. This school is an experiential learning…read morefocused Portland public alternative school. The kids learn in a more interactive way than a traditional school environment. If you want your child to enjoy learning and be cared and nurtured while they're at school than MLC might be for you! The school welcomes families and community members to participate in the learning process. It takes a village to raise a child and MLC is a wonderful village.

My kids have attended MLC for years, and I can honestly say it's more than a school -- it's a…read morecommunity. When I first walked into my daughter's classroom 12 years ago, I didn't expect to find a home here. But I did. MLC (Metropolitan Learning Center) has been around for over half a century, and it has always stood out for its creativity, inclusiveness, and deep sense of connection. The teachers care deeply about their students, and the families are involved in a way that makes the school feel alive. It's a place where kids are encouraged to think critically, express themselves, and grow as whole people -- not just test-takers. Like any community, MLC has its ups and downs, and right now it's smaller than it used to be. But the heart of the school -- its students, staff, and parents -- remains strong. What makes MLC special is that everyone has something to contribute, whether that's art, language, or simply showing up and helping out. If you're looking for a school where your child can be known, supported, and inspired to be their best self, MLC is truly one of a kind.

Cathedral School has been an exceptional experience for our family. We've lived in 12 different…read moreplaces over the past 15 years, and our kids have attended a variety of schools -- so we have quite a bit to compare it to. When we moved to Portland, our children were already preteens and teenagers, and we knew we couldn't afford to get this decision wrong. Cathedral has been exactly what we were hoping for (and my high schooler is a bit upset he was never able to attend). The environment is both energetic and welcoming. The teachers are professional, genuinely caring, and excellent at what they do. The elementary and middle school years are all about building a strong foundation, and that's exactly what students receive from day one. Every child is truly seen, known, and supported, due to the small class sizes. Teachers understand their students not just academically, but personally -- and that kind of attention makes a lasting difference. Academically, the program is both thoughtful and rigorous. While it may not specifically market itself as STEM-focused, there's a strong and consistent emphasis on critical thinking, problem-solving, and preparing students for high school -- it honestly feels more STEM-driven than it claims. At the same time, the arts and music programs are fantastic and add so much depth to the overall experience. The teachers are true professionals in their respective fields, bringing both expertise and passion to the classroom. Graduates leave confident and exceptionally well-prepared, going on to outstanding Catholic and independent high schools, as well as advanced programs within public schools. Just as important is the culture. The school community is safe, respectful, and grounded in kindness and accountability. There is very little tolerance for bullying -- something we've unfortunately experienced elsewhere -- and issues are handled appropriately and proactively. Character development isn't just talked about; it's part of daily life. Although rooted in Catholic values, Cathedral is welcoming and inclusive of families from a wide range of faith backgrounds. The location truly can't be beat. Yes, it's downtown, and like many urban areas there have been a few challenging years -- but the school prioritizes safety at every level. Security is strong, and any concerns (which, thankfully, have been minimal to none) have always been addressed quickly and appropriately. We've consistently felt that student safety is taken seriously and handled with care. Lastly, my high schooler is now in advanced classes (high school), and I've noticed that many of his classmates also came from Cathedral. That says a lot. The foundation they're building there clearly sets students up for long-term success -- the school must be doing something very right. If you're looking for a PK-8 school where your child will be challenged academically, supported emotionally, and truly known by dedicated teachers, Cathedral School is an outstanding choice.

As a parent of a new 6th grader, we're having a really positive experience at Cathedral school…read more Starting somewhere new can be a big adjustment, but my daughter has felt supported both academically and socially. The academics are challenging and students are held to high standards. Behavior issues are addressed directly and thoughtfully, and while middle school naturally comes with some social ups and downs, concerns like bullying are taken seriously and handled appropriately from what I've seen. Communication from teachers and staff has been great; I appreciate being kept in the loop, even about small things like when a student isn't paying attention, because it shows how engaged and attentive the teachers are. The teachers! Absolutely top notch and very hard working. No one is checked out. I also love that 6th-8th graders have the chance to be part of a leadership program and are encouraged to serve their school and the wider community. It's been wonderful to see students given real responsibilities at school events. Overall, it feels like a supportive, structured environment where priorities revolve around academics and student success.

It's a hostile environment for kids who aren't part of the "in" crowd. My kid was bullied in class…read moreby another student and the teacher turned a blind eye. This was in an IB class.

My son, who attends LHS for the IB program, has been making his homework and generally likes all…read morehis teachers -- a completely new situation for me. We moved to Portland from the Netherlands, where he did little or nothing, and I am so happy to see him enjoying school, making new friends (whom I all like when I meet them), attending the Iron Chef Wednesday lunches, and thinking about his future and what he really wants to do with his life. When we attended the parent/teacher conferences together in October, he received one compliment after another from his teachers. Already encouraged by Ms. Chapman, the Principal, who answered my emails personally, and the really nice staff at LHS, who helped with documents and requirements for the IB and regular high school attendance, I realized that in real terms LHS has meant so much more for us. It was the base from which we chose our home and has helped determine our location and views on Portland. We like, no make that love, weird!!! Thank you Lincoln and thank you Stumptown.

We live in a very dog-friendly community, thus resulting in a plethora of off leash parks, dog…read morefriendly restaurants, stores and the like. However, school grounds are maintained by the parents of children who attend those schools. The school playground should be a safe, welcoming and well manicured place for children to play. Period. It's not a dog park. Whether dog owners agree or not, there is a large population of society that has a fear of dogs. Children and their parents should be able to play on a playground without fear of an off-leash dog running in their direction. There is a reason we still have leash laws in Oregon, which I find more and more people breaking every time I go to a neighborhood park or walk my own dog down the street on his leash. Please do not use Ockley Green as your local dog-park. It is a place where children should feel welcome and safe any time of day; whether school is in or not.

This school sucks ass. People are super racist homophobic and sexist. People get into fights all…read morethe time and classes are interrupted by yelling. The lunch schedule also sucks, we can only eat for like ten minutes and it stresses me the hell out. Im so tired by the end of the day. A lot of kids come to school just to socialize and it pisses me off. We get substitutes way to much but thats kind of a plus in some classes. Mrs. Halbigs great though and art classes are fun but thats it.

Best school ever for developing strong women leaders of tomorrow. Also, the Cleanest men's…read morerestrooms I have ever seen in a high school. Always spotless.

Lady Blues, show your pride!…read more Yes, I am an alumnus of the great St. Mary's Academy (SMA)--the only all-women's college preparatory school on the West Coast--class of 2003. I think it's safe for us all to say that we have memories from our golden years, whether they be good or bad. Thankfully, 98.6 percent of my memories of good ol' SMA are very fond. From the spirituality of the Encounter retreat (ask me sometime!) to Ms. Gorman's STD slideshow (the cauliflower penis scarred us all) and falling off the Ark, those four years were great. I remember Sister Linda (the Prez of Student Affairs) would walk through crowded SMA dances, and separate girls from their dates who were dancing too provocatively, telling them to leave room for the Holy Spirit. And if you were caught again, you were taken to the cool-down room, where Mr. Hemmen (a religion teacher) would kindly lecture you. Obviously, *I* never made it that far. For a full list of SMA oddities, just check out the Facebook group [http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2230163620]. While SMA wasn't the school for everyone (i.e., the extremely boy crazy, and the ones whose parents forced them to go there), I thought it was the perfect place for me. It definitely fostered my growth as an intelligent and well-rounded person, and the teachers and staff never treated us like kids, even though we were in our teens. And I have to say that I feel I received an A++ education that TOTALLY prepared me for university. I mean, when I went to college, I had LESS homework than during SMA, and my classes were way EASIER than my high school ones. Pow! Take that! They taught me how to stand up for myself and how to get involved and ask questions. When I went to college, I was surprised to see that not many people were vocal like I was. Oh, and St. Mary's does not have uniforms (common misconception), and last time I checked they have the most liberal dress code of all the Portland private schools. Yes, you can wear flip-flops (Central Catholic doesn't allow that)! And SMA is right downtown. I took Tri-Met to school every day for four years! And because it's not a huge campus, you can leave the grounds for lunch after your freshman year. AWESOME. The teachers rock, the students rock, and they offer good financial aid packages. And I like the aid program they've got going on: For every $100 they give you in aid, the student has to do one hour of service work. It totally got me involved during my time. Oh, and no one's mascot has anything on SMA's (Laura N....that means your poet, too!): It's a blue music note. Ha! I've got nothing but love for this place. Send your baby girls here.

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!

People working there seems very nice and friendly. This review is for its accessibility. There is…read moreno enough visitor parking and it's full every time I go there. Bad location for street parking also. So hard to find an available spot. If you don't want to be late for your appointment, prepare to arrive early. If there is no receptionist at the front desk, use a phone to make an internal call or directly go to the person you are expecting to see, otherwise you will be told that you are late to the appointment as I was.

Love this school! Our son started middle school there this year. We went there for the strong…read moreEnglish program that focuses on building critical thinking and writing skills. They're delivering. We also went for differentiated math. Delivering. And our son loves doing tap for PE. Who would have thought it? On top of that, the school is very well run.

Our son attends The Carl and we couldn't be happier!…read more From the respectful manner in which the teacher speaks to the kids, to the daily outside playtime in their private playground. From the vivid and expressive way teacher Elizabeth reads at story time (which draws even the most energetic child to the rug), to the messy and wonderful different crafts the teachers provide. They are a play-based preschool that listens to your child's opinions and gives them structure while allowing them to develop their growing autonomy. Love this school! They are really accommodating to people wanting to check out the preschool day as well. Worth checking out for sure!

Our daughter has attended The Carl Preschool since we moved to Portland a year and a half ago. The…read moreexperience has been amazing - especially as a new family to the community. We felt instantly welcomed as a family and our daughter has blossomed. She will attend Kindergarten in the Fall but is already talking about going back to visit teacher Elizabeth whenever she can. Elizabeth is magical. She engages the children and sparks their imaginations through play, cooking, baking, nature walks, farm visits and conversation. Her love and presence has been a gift to our daughter who will move onto "big school" with confidence, a love of learning and a strong foundation as a loving, charitable and spiritual person. I love this school and what it has given my daughter. And I will forever be grateful to teacher Elizabeth. Thank you Carl Preschool! Go check it out - your child will love it.