Abernethy Elementary School

The Tucker Maxon educators seem incredibly competent and the grounds are fantastic. However, the administration is abysmal. They do not support staff, or respond to concerns by parents. They immediately shut down anyone who has an issue. They have incredibly disorganized communication processes and make frequent mistakes regarding tuition, enrollment paperwork, or other special circumstances. It truly feels like all of the problems are centered around administrative functions.

We feel incredibly fortunate to have found ISP and enrolled our daughter in the Chinese track since kindergarten year—she is absolutely thriving! Every day, she’s excited to go to school, deeply connected to her classmates and teachers, and learning so much across all subjects. Before joining ISP, she attended other preschools, including a well-regarded Montessori school in the Portland area. However, she never truly felt at home in her previous school. Despite our active efforts with the teachers and administrators, she didn’t seem like herself at school compared to how she was at home, leaving us concerned during her preschool years.After extensive research, including attending many school open houses, tours, and speaking with other Portland parents, we decided to give ISP a try—and the difference was immediate. Within the first couple of weeks, we noticed a big change. The Chinese teachers at ISP are warm, attentive, loving, and fun, while also providing a rich and engaging learning experience. Our daughter absolutely adores her teachers and friends and is excited about every subject—not just Chinese and Math, but also Music, Gym, and Art. While learning Chinese is a wonderful bonus, what matters most to us is that our child grows into a well-rounded person with a strong foundation in wellbeing, learning, and social connections. ISP stands out for its experienced, caring teachers, dedicated staff, and top-notch educational quality in all subjects.Logistics were another important factor in our decision. Commute time, in particular, was a concern for us after reading online reviews about ISP’s car line. Thankfully, significant improvements have been made since the summer of 2024, following a construction project that streamlined the drop-off and pick-up process. These days, we can usually drop off our child in under 5 minutes and pick her up in under 10 by car. We also commute by bike a lot, and ISP’s campus is very bike-friendly and accessible.Overall, we highly recommend ISP!