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.

Pipster Prep was great--until it wasn't. We were one of the first families when the school opened…read morein May 2023 with just two classrooms, and stayed through April 2025 as it expanded to eight. Unfortunately, the quality of care and leadership didn't grow with it. While many of the teachers were kind and well-meaning, the majority were very young, newly trained through online programs, and often promoted with minimal hands-on experience. This inexperience showed, especially when it came to basic safety and communication. We raised several safety concerns over our time there: loose screws left in classrooms, unsecured furniture, choking hazards like popcorn and whole grapes on the snack menu, and toys with loose button batteries. Water beads--another well-known risk--were even used in class. We, and other families, were repeatedly brushed off or met with defensiveness when we brought these issues up. Our daughter has severe food allergies and had multiple reactions at school. Instead of ensuring a safe shared environment, the school had her eat meals alone at a table--at just 2 years old--while other students with allergies had entire foods banned from their classrooms for their safety. Even with discussions with their owner, Tessa, they don't seem to actually have a cohesive set protocol for handling allergies at their schools. Our daughter's school stored EpiPen was also allowed to expire by three months, only discovered when they went through medications for a state inspection scheduled the next day. There's only one classroom in the entire building with windows to the outside. The outdoor space is tiny, surfaced with hot rubber bark from recycled tires that stains clothes and skin when wet--definitely not designed with young children in mind. Multiple complaints and suggestions from parents were made over the two years we were there but nothing happened. Communication with the director, Jessica, was one of the most frustrating aspects. She often went weeks or even months without replying to emails, was rarely present during school hours, and didn't seem to support or equip teachers to navigate concerns with families. When we did hear from her, responses were often dismissive or defensive rather than collaborative. Eventually, we were blamed for "teacher burnout" simply for raising ongoing concerns about safety and our daughter's well-being. We appreciated the daily photos, but it often meant that teachers spent significant time on iPads instead of actively engaging with the children. For the high tuition we paid, our daughter frequently spent playtime drawing on a whiteboard with dried-out markers or sharing a single marker among many kids. In March 2025, we were suddenly told our family would not be allowed to return in the fall because our occasional concerns were"too much for Jessica's mental health". This came without any prior indication of issues or feedback. A few weeks later, we were immediately expelled from the school and received an email accusing us of "disruptive and inappropriate behavior." We had picked out daughter up early that day for a Doctor's appointment... Shockingly, Jessica sent an email to the entire school community sharing private details about our daughter's medical history, and invited other parents to "come into her office" to learn more about our family--something that was not only unethical, but a serious privacy violation. We were wowed by the newness of the school but should have done more due diligence as organizationally, it doesn't seem equipped to handle its rapid growth. Despite Jessica's experience as a preschool director, her lack of openness to feedback, poor communication, and disregard for legitimate safety concerns are deeply troubling. Since leaving, we've heard similar stories from other families and former staff. If you dig past the solicited 5-star reviews, you'll find more parents speaking up about the same issues. Advocating for your child's safety should never be treated as a threat or burden. That should have been our biggest red flag of all.

Pipster Prep has been a blessing! The teachers feel like members of the family and our children…read morecanot wait to come back each day! With actual teachers leading the class, our children are learning a lot in a very structered way! Thank you, Pipster Prep!

My daughter attended Childroots for 3.5 years and it couldn't have been a better experience. The…read moreteachers and staff became like family. We've recommended it to several friends. The kids learn through experience and the teachers do a really great job working w the kids. I bit hippie - but we love that!

I have returned to working for ChildRoots for the last two years. Since my return, I have had a…read morewonderful experience. I started back again as a Teacher then moved into the role of Specialist. Management has the best interests of the teachers in mind and strives to improve working experience daily. The main reason I have decided to work with ChildRoots is a) the management and b) the philosophy. I truly believe that children learn best through hands-on experience and exploration of their own interests. Many of the staff are some of the best people I have ever worked with (shout out to the amazing, dedicated team). I will shortly be leaving to continue my education, but I would stay if I could continue working with these amazing teachers and admin. As they say, "You don't quit a place. You quit your boss," and that's why I have returned and have dedicated myself to continue working with ChildRoots until I return to school.

This is a great pre school. It's very safe, the staff is joyful and caring, the programming and…read morelesson plans are thoughtful and communication with parents is excellent. We always recommend it to friends and family.

I would strongly recommend that families consider other options until there is new leadership at…read morethis school. During our experience, school administration provided inaccurate or misleading information during the enrollment process. This included representations about the gender composition of incoming classes and the grade levels typically offered. Although the school is listed as serving K-8, enrollment has not historically supported consistent offerings across the upper grades. The school also lacks adequate training, policies, and structural support for a diversity of learners. Families whose children require accommodations or flexibility--including those supported by physician documentation--may find that exceptions to stated policies are not respected, even when based on medical need. Overall, the gap between how the school presents itself and the day-to-day reality was significant. In our experience, this environment was far less supportive and far more rigid than local public school options, including Portland Public Schools.

When I first drove by this odd little building across from Montgomery Park, I never would have…read moreguessed that one day it would become like a second home for our family. I can't say enough good things about the teachers, staff and families that make up the CLASS community. The small, age-blended classes allow the teachers and staff to truly understand and cater to the needs of each student. More importantly, the teachers and staff truly care about each student and are highly dedicated to their success. I'm truly amazed at the job they have done fostering our son's emotional and academic development. They've helped instill a sense of confidence in him that I never thought would be possible. Most parents are also very involved in the school (and several of the teachers/staff have kids at the school) which helps create a true sense of community. As the saying goes, "it takes a village to raise a child" and our family is extremely grateful that our village is the CLASS Academy community.

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.

ISP creates joy…read more Happy and educated children is what I see at ISP whenever I'm on campus. The combination of language immersion and IB education (inquiry-based) is amazing. These children come out with a global mindset treating others with respect snd care. We looked at a number of schools in Portland and ISP is the best. Seeing 5th graders graduate fully fluent in Spanish, Japanese or Mandarin is amazing. And hearing stories of ISP graduates in college and beyond who use the skills and language they learned at ISP daily, reaffirms why we believe this is the best school in Portland. Additionally, the location makes school accessible to families living all over Portland. Being centrally located (near public transit, bike paths, highways, etc.) means the students learn about city and have easy access to museums, theater, and more for field trips. An ISP education builds a strong foundation to help the next generations follow their dreams.

Where else in Portland can a monolingual household, like ours, send a child to school at age 3 and,…read morewithin a few years, watch her become fluent in another language? Not only does our daughter speak Spanish fluently like a native speaker, she can write proficiently in both English and Spanish. Our now seven-year-old child has achieved something neither of her parents have managed, which has been a huge confidence booster. Before enrolling her, we were concerned about whether she could succeed in learning a foreign language at such a young age and whether she might fall behind in other subjects. However, our fears were unfounded. She, along with her classmates, quickly picked up Spanish. Additionally, attending a diverse school where Spanish, Mandarin, and Japanese are predominantly used has allowed her to appreciate and celebrate different traditions and cultures. If you are looking for true diversity, you will have trouble finding more of it at any other school in the area. Remarkably, she and many of her classmates significantly outperform state averages in reading in English and math as evidenced by standardized test scores, demonstrating that language immersion has not hindered her overall academic progress. The inquiry-based learning process of the school's International Baccalaureate program has fostered her curiosity, creativity, and independent critical thinking. In one of her classes students can volunteer to present "mini-lessons" on topics of interest. Recently, she presented a lesson on DNA, displaying an impressive understanding of a complex subject that I didn't learn about until high school or college. I've also been impressed with the quality of her art classes. Unlike the simple arts and crafts of my childhood, she has learned about art history and various artists. When we visited a Frida Kahlo exhibit, she provided insightful commentary on Kahlo's background and influences. Similarly, she recognized the influence of Vincent Van Gogh in a painting by Edvard Munch, showcasing her knowledge and keen eye for art. The small class sizes not only provides more personalized attention from the teachers, it also fosters a culture of kindness (her class this year had a 12:1 student-teacher ratio, about half of what it is at area public schools). While the school is located in downtown Portland, it's a bit hidden. It's a safe oasis on a quiet dead-end street, easily accessible by bike, streetcar, MAX, bus, and car due to its central location. When we lived in The Pearl District, I could bike my daughter to school on dedicated bike paths for most of the route. If you are looking for a truly differentiated education for your child that will lay a foundation for them to thrive in a shrinking global community & economy I'd encourage you to check out the International School of Portland.

OCP is an incredibly warm and welcoming learning environment. Everything Erin and Diane do--whether…read moreit's the daily journal log or baking a snack or gently teaching my son how to write his name--is done with so much thought and care. My son is both able to access curriculum at his own pace and prompted with a safe and appropriate level of challenge, the perfect balance for him to learn and grow safely.

We have nothing but wonderful things to say about Overlook Collaborative. Our 5 and 3 year olds…read moreattend and look forward to their days. The communication from Erin, Diane, and Darin is transparent, consistent, and clear. We receive daily newsletters with pictures from the day, the kids love reading them with us and sharing about their day. I so appreciate their empathy, patience, and creativity.