Atkinson Elementary School

5800 Southeast Division Street

School District

Portland 1j
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:17
Type

public

School Map for Portland School District 1j

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on August 16, 2023

This small neighborhood school is working hard to provide a strong community for all of its students. Most of the teachers have been at Atkinson for many years and are working hard despite boundary changes and administrative turnover. The PTA is engaged and working hard to become a more equitable and supportive organization. They provide cultural events, mutual aid, teacher appreciation activities, and classroom supplies.
Submitted by other on June 05, 2023

This has been an absolutely wretched experience for my entire family. DO NOT send your child to Atkinson unless you want them to be misunderstood, left out, and beaten up by other kids. The teachers and other staff are barely any better than the children with severe behavioral issues. I wish I was exaggerating. When I reached out to the PPS system to complain they appeared to understood, but days later they came back with "Atkinson says..." and dropped the issue. Your complaints will not be heard. I repeat: Do not send your children to this school.
Submitted by other on February 27, 2022

I went to this school for one year and did not feel supported at all. I learned nothing in the entire year I went there. In fifth grade, they taught us things that were easily ment for third graders. I did not experience any bullying, but many of my friends did. I say this as a gifted kid, but I hated that school. If you have a kid who learns above grade level, don’t send them here.
Submitted by parent on August 06, 2019

The teachers are working hard in a broken PPS system. The PTA is wonderful and so is the community, unfortunately neither can improve the classrooms or the PPS experience. We regularly receive emails asking for printer paper and miscellaneous supplies, under-funded much?
Submitted by parent on May 16, 2019

Atkinson Elementary is a very capable neighborhood school with involved parents and programs from Learning Garden to Running Club and Amigos... both of our kids enjoy going to school here. We would recommend Atkinson to other parents in the neighborhood. Overall, there could be more support for Arts, Music and Sports but that is more a difficulty with PPS structure.
Submitted by parent on May 14, 2019

My son loves Atkinson. He looks forward to school each day. And I'm impressed with his level of learning both academically and socially. He began signing and learning some Spanish in the neighborhood program as well.
Submitted by parent on April 22, 2018

Wish we had never gone. Stayed because of the walk able distance, neighborhood friends, very good aftercare program Vermont Hills, the learning garden, one time music program (retired MS. Heron) and multicultural character and events. Sadly these were all not enough the experience overall was extremely bad to the point that my child has trauma. My advise is if you experience anything like bullying or poor student support from faculty of any school move on ASAP.
Submitted by parent on May 15, 2017

This is a great neighborhood school! Great teachers & principal. We love the learning gardens and the music program. They have a Spanish immersion program alongside the neighborhood program, so there is diversity among the students.
Submitted by parent on December 17, 2016

My kids have attended multiple elementary schools in different states. Atkinson is by far the best. It may not be the best facilities but it blows the teachers and administration at their previous schools out of the water. The teachers are engaged, caring, and they seem to be happy. At the previous schools they have attended the teachers were more like disgruntled, burned out, robots. At Atkinson the principal greets my daughter by name at the front door every day. We love Atkinson.
Submitted by parent on August 17, 2014

We've been at Atkinson for 5 years and it's been a great experience for our son. It's a diverse community and the teacher's are very committed. PPS needs to give all schools better funding and more modern facilities, but I think Atkinson makes the most of what they have to work with. I would highly recommend this school for your child.
Submitted by parent on February 12, 2014

Both of our children attend Atkinson Elementary school. I was skeptical at first but after a short time have come to love this school. The teachers are amazing and work so hard to empower every single child. The support services such as speech, ESL are amazing. Our children have PE, and music twice a week plus library once a week. In addition our kids get to work in the vegetable garden which is a fantastic experience. Parent involvement is absolutely amazing - we love our school
Submitted by parent on December 05, 2013

Our son is in 4th grade and our daughter is in 1st - both are in the Spanish dual immersion program. Their teachers are excellent - both are getting lots of science in addition to the reading, writing and math. Our 4th grader has learned a ton about Lewis & Clark this year. They both love the music program and PE. We are so lucky to have full time Music and PE teachers. The new interim principal is providing great leadership and is very responsive and accessible.
Submitted by parent on December 01, 2013

A great community with wonderful opportunities for kids to participate in several language, garden and after school programs. Great support from parents and the community at large in a diverse and caring setting.
Submitted by parent on October 27, 2013

This school has gone through many changes in the last three years, and is stronger than ever. Whole programs have been implemented (in years when funding allows) and a laser focus placed on early and successful interventions with struggling learners. It's paying off! The new core curriculum standards are being well integrated and the children are thriving. Test scores are up, though that is only one measure of success. Overall a nurturing environment with great diversity. The parent community is awesome, too. Tremendous volunteerism, and a PTA that really delivers.
Submitted by parent on October 27, 2013

A lovely school made even better by Principal Debbie. We were so sad to see her go! Congrats to her on her promotion. I hope the next principal continues with Debbie's great vision for the school. This school has excellent teachers, a great garden, and an awesome PTA.
Submitted by parent on August 07, 2013

We like Atkinson. The newer teachers and some of the older ones are energized by the new principal and her ways and my kid has been really benefiting from some new teaching approaches. Some grades at Atkinson are overcrowded and I think we are now around the size we're supposed to be. Weird personal reviews aren't going to make the enrolment go up. I don't think test scores are everything and saw one teacher work pretty hard on test taking, but I've been to a coffee where testing was covered and scores are up. Anyway you can check scoring on the PPS site for yourself.
Submitted by parent on June 14, 2013

Numbers don't lie. Since 2010 enrollment is DOWN 10% compared to other area schools that are UP 10% on average. Parents and students are leaving in droves. PPS may intervene to stop the bleeding but it is going to take years before the damage is repaired fully.
Submitted by parent on April 18, 2013

Tons of involved parents, teachers that care about their students and children that love their school. I am happy with Atkinson for my son's elementary school experience.
Submitted by parent on September 06, 2012

We've been at Atkinson for a few years now and think its a great school. But change is hard, and I do understand how some parents want to blame the fairly new principal. Our school previously had things in place that were ducking around district policies and they had to be changed, but they felt like big losses to our community. Some changes have required more of the teachers, but there seems to be more support for them, and the school seems to be moving in a very positive direction that helps all the students. I've questioned some decisions, but there is (almost!) always good answers with research and information behind them. Really, most of the pain we've felt has come from district cuts, so we should really blame the weak tax structure that pays for our public schools. Atkinson is doing so many great things with less, but I feel like we need to invest in all our public schools.
Submitted by parent on September 04, 2012

There are some great and dedicated staff at Atkinson, but the principal who came here two years ago has really sucked the life and culture out of this formerly lovely school. I realize there are tough choices to be made when funding is short, and there are lots of competing priorities, but the principal doesn't seem to hear parents when we speak up and express what's important to us. She seems to have her own well-focused agenda and is not very open to hearing opinions, exploring other options, and getting creative in order to preserve the character and culture that made this school special.