Scott Elementary School

6700 Northeast Prescott Street

School District

Portland 1j
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:7
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 24, 2024

As of fall 2024 I have a 1st grader at Scott. This is our only child. When we bought our first home in 2015 (about 2.5 years before our kid was born), we were concerned about the “GreatSchools” rating of Scott, which was the school for our chosen house. We even considered way overpaying to be in a ritzier school territory within Portland Public Schools.We are so glad we gave Scott a try! While our kid didn’t win the lottery to be in Scott’s Spanish immersion program, we were so amazed by the English kindergarten program. The teachers, leadership and parent engagement are all top-notch!I’m so glad our kid is in Scott School.
Submitted by parent on September 08, 2021

Please ignore the "rating" on GreatSchools and look instead at what is actually happening at Scott School. I have one kiddo in the English program and one in the Spanish program, and we couldn't be happier with the education, the friendships, the experiences, and the community at Scott. The student body is incredibly diverse--perhaps the most diverse in Oregon--and many families are immigrants and first-generation Americans from all over the world. Administrators, staff, and teachers are committed to supporting all families, and the families take care of each other as well. The principal is dedicated and hard-working and every teacher we've had has been amazing. The kids have specials (music, art, dance, library, PE) every day, and there are opportunities for after-school and extracurricular activities as well. I've met families in the area who never even considered Scott due to its low rating, but they are missing out on a wonderful experience for themselves and their kids.
Submitted by parent on May 08, 2019

I have two children at Scott. One is on an IEP and in an English-speaking neighborhood program. The other is in Spanish immersion. This school is named after Harvey Scott. According to his Wikipedia profile: "Around 1880, he vociferously opposed public high schools in Oregon, especially Portland, stating "the machinery of the schools has grown too cumbrous and expensive a system; that there are too many studies; that the high school is not a proper part of the system of public education;... that those who desire for their children an education beyond the common branches of the old-fashioned common school should pay for it."This quote feels so damaging when I think about it in the context of our school. We have low test scores because half the kids are ESL. We have low test scores because this school is one of the few schools in Portland that's actually ADA-compliant, so there are many, many, students with disabilities at this school (including mine!) in both mainstreamed/contained classrooms who will never test well. We have low test scores because my kid's best friends are perpetually hungry. We have low test scores because some of our students are a bit stressed out about having a parent deported, not having a safe place to sleep at night, and also all the normal stressful kid stuff. If you send your child to Scott School, these children will be your kid's friends. You'll see kids observe racial, cultural, and socioeconomic differences and it will make you have some tough conversations at home, probably sooner than you'd thought you'd have to have those conversations. It's not easy going to a truly diverse school. But it's an amazing school, very much because of your kid's new friends. And your kid's teachers, and Nurse Nicole and Sandra and Judy and so, so, so many others. Also you'll have to meet your kid's friend's parents and they'll be very different than you and you'll maybe speak different languages or have different cultural norms and beliefs but still have to navigate Pokemon fights with them. And then those parents will be friends with other parents and then other parents and suddenly it feels like you have a big extended family that you can pawn kids off to on snow days.For all these reasons and so many more, we gotta ignore the test results and imagine this school as like a decent 7/8 score.
Submitted by parent on May 01, 2018

My daughter is in Spanish Immersion kindergarten and is not learning academics in a second language, she is learning a second culture. I can not express the value of learning in a diverse environment and the different presepectives that teaches.
Submitted by parent on November 15, 2017

I have a third grader at Scott. She started in Kindergarten in the Spanish Immersion program. We have been very happy with her education here at Scott. Her teachers have been strong, prepared and caring. They have high expectations for the students. This is a diverse school community which is one of the strengths of the school. Parents are involved. There is an active PTA. Many field trips and school activities. The staff have been responsive with any concerns we've had, whether a behavior or academic concern.
Submitted by parent on October 31, 2017

We have had a positive experience at Scott. I was nervous about the school based on test scores and reputation, but teacher friends told me that I needed to visit the school and talk to people and not base my fears on a number on a web site. So I did that, and my son is in 1st grade now. I value the experiences he gets at Scott, and I value participating in the Scott community. Numbers don't tell the whole story!
Submitted by parent on October 16, 2017

When we first moved to the Cully neighborhood we had concerns about what we were reading online about Scott School. We enrolled our kindergartener in the Spanish immersion program and figured we'd see how it goes. To be honest, I felt doubtful that this was the right fit for us, but wanted to give it a try. Two years later I can honestly say that we're 100% happy with everything. It has been a great experience for us and our son. Our second child is in pre-K 5 and we cannot wait for her to go to Scott next year as well. We even switched to a 50/50 English /Spanish pre-school to start getting her ready for the Spanish Immersion program at Scott. To Staff and Teachers at Scott School, keep up the good work!
Submitted by parent on October 16, 2017

This is our second year in the Spanish Immersion program at Scott School. Although I was hesitant to send my child to Scott, it has been a wonderful experience. It is a truly diverse school with a warm and welcoming community. Learning a second language is a gift that will serve our children throughout their lifetime. Scott School teaches our children to be thoughtful and considerate global citizens.
Submitted by parent on October 13, 2017

We have had a fabulous experience in the Spanish Immersion program and are so thankful for the wonderful Scott community.
Submitted by other on October 13, 2017

We have been at Scott for 4 years and are so grateful for the opportunity for our son to receive a dual language education taught by native Spanish speakers ¡SOMOS SCOTT!
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2017

We have been at Scott for 2 years now and have had an excellent experience so far. We love the Scott community, teachers and small class sizes. We are thrilled that our kids will be fluent in Spanish and already appreciate cultural diversity at a young age. We feel very lucky that we are able to send our children to Scott, we love it here.
Submitted by parent on September 15, 2017

We have been a Scott School family for 5 - going on 6 years, and will be going there for many more years as our youngest is 7 months old. We're in the Spanish Immersion (2 kids now) and we LOVE this school, great community & great teachers! I honestly don't want my children to go anywhere else.
Submitted by parent on January 25, 2015

We have a kindergartner in the Spanish Immersion program and have had a great experience at Scott. Out daughter'so teacher is fabulous and the kids have already been on two field trips this year. Our daughter is quickly learning Spanish and is beginning to read and write in Spanish and is reading in English. She loves her teacher and is proud of her school. From our experience the school has been working hard to create a safe and caring environment. As a family we feel fortunate to be part of such a diverse community.
Submitted by parent on September 27, 2014

I just found out about this site and was a bit shocked to see some the reviews here. I have my two children at Scott and they are in the Community Classes (not Spanish Immersion). I have seen my children grow as learners and people throughout their time at Scott. I am frankly offended about the characterization that the Middle Schoolers at Scott are out of control and sell drugs. I am at the school often and see a respectful community that is under-resourced and struggling at times, but a community none the less. I feel that there is bullying that happens, but I have had my children at two other schools and guess what there was bullying there also. I might sound defensive, but I feel loyal to a staff that works with very little to give a whole lot. They see my kids for the unique young people that they are and I am grateful for that. The
Submitted by parent on May 15, 2014

We gave Scott a fair shot. We are leaving after two years because for one thing, the teachers don't come to class! Time after time my kids come home saying they had a sub. Well, we all know what that means- goofing off, and very little learning. Certain teachers are constantly gone, so it's hard for some consistency when the teachers dont' seem to want to work. As I type this now, Its the mdidle of May, and it's as if several of my 6th graders teacher have "checked out" for the summer already. Different subs every day. My kid is going to school to play around, because the subs are basically there as babysitters. There is so much learning to be done between now and the end of the year and I just dont see it happening. And then to top it off, a recent field trip was to the movies? why would I even send my child to school to go see a non-educational PG13 movie at a theater?? I kept my child home and did other activities. We can go to the movies on our own time. It's ridiculous. despite all this, there are some teachers who really gave their all. kudos to them. but that is not the majority. it seems like the spanish immersion kinder parents are the only happy ones....
Submitted by parent on May 06, 2014

Scott School is a unique place for Portland and for Oregon. It is a school that is truly multi-cultural and multi-lingual. In my son's class there are students whose familes come from Somalia, Mexico, Tonga and many Central American countries. My son is in the Spanish Immersion Program in first grade. I have appreciated both his teachers. They have been caring and incredibly hard-working. Neither of them allowed my son to not engage with school, even though the beginning of his first grade year was very challenging. I see the staff at the school working very hard to create an environment where ALL children can learn and be active participants in the school community. I also see them working very hard to make sure they can meet all of the students' needs academically. May of the teachers are in school throughout the year and during the summer. Thank you Scott School for your excellent work and commitment to my child and all of the children that attend your school.
Submitted by parent on April 30, 2014

Reviews like the one below (posted April 26, 2014) do not describe the Scott School my child has attended for the past two years. Reviews like that do not serve our school community and most importantly our wonderful kids, teachers and staff. The person who wrote that review has not been part of the Scott School community for nearly 2 years, and yet goes on the record to tear it down? How does rating a school one star possibly do anyone any good? My child has attended Scott for the past two years. I am very involved in the school and have what I consider strong relationships with the Administration and my child's teacher (as well as other teachers). Do I agree with everything they say and do? No. Do I respect them as educators? You bet I do. And when my child has a problem, however minor, they are always willing to listen and work to resolve it. Scott School has such dedicated teachers, staff, and a small but mighty group of parents who are working hard to make our little school a great place to learn. There is always room for growth & improvement! What there isn't room for, however, is negativity and rumor-mongering. Scott School is growing stronger every day and every year!
Submitted by parent on April 26, 2014

Our kids went to Scott for 3 years. We switched schools just prior to Scott's transition to A Spanish Immersion, which would have been a great opportunity. We left because both of our kids were not thriving at Scott & both were unhappy. Mostly their teachers were pretty great & were caring & engaged in their learning. However, there were major problems with bully behavior & violence, a serious lack of parent/teacher/community involvement, & a principal that was so wrapped up in planning her Spanish immersion program that she failed to provide a safe & fun environment for her current students. Even more disturbing was her response to parent complaints, that they simply didn't matter. My daughter was a helper on the playground to assist with younger kids recess & had terrible challenges with trying to stop bully behavior & adults wouldn't help her. In addition there was a sense of dread at every school assembly. The previous principal provided a much safer & more fun feeling at school. We have moved on to DaVinci & Roseway Heights & it's like a breath of fresh air. My kids are excited to go to school!
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2013

Scott is our neighborhood school and I love that it has a Spanish immersion program! I was a little concerned about the school from things I had heard, but I got involved by volunteering and realized that everyone there from administrators, teachers and staff to the parents in the PTA are there for the kids and care about them and their education. My daughter is going into the 1st grade and after one year in the Spanish immersion program she can speak and understand Spanish and can read in both English and Spanish!
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2013

My son was fortunate enough to get in on the ground floor with the very first kindergarten classes for Spanish immersion at Scott. From the very start, when his kindergarten teacher came to visit our home before the school year started, I knew we'd found a special place for our son. Not only did he learn a ton of Spanish in his first year--which he teaches to his younger sister--but his teacher and everyone else at Scott helped him through the big, scary transition into elementary school. Sure, we've also heard the scare stories about the school, but don't believe the hype! There are some amazing things happening at Scott School, and I couldn't be happier that this is my son's school.