Lincoln High School

Cedarwood has been an extraordinary place for our family. What stands out most is the focus on social and emotional learning that actually feels real, not performative. Teachers know the students deeply and meet them as individuals. Our child came to Cedarwood after struggling in another environment and dreading school mornings. Now, we joke that there are “no bad days.” They’re engaged, curious, and genuinely happy to go each day. We really appreciate how Cedarwood has used the foundation of Waldorf to meet the contemporary needs of children today. The curriculum provides art, science, reading, languages,, and music in ways that build confidence, empathy, and intellectual curiosity. Cedarwood feels deeply human. It’s a place where learning and belonging go hand in hand, and where kids can grow into thoughtful, capable people who actually like who they are. The parent community is vibrant and mostly all aligned on how best to raise our children together.

I have two children at Childpeace and my spouse attended Childpeace decades ago when they were in another location. In my opinion this is the best Montessori school in Portland - from the amazing campus and building to the teachers, support staff and fellow parents we've always felt welcome and our children got the best education possible. The curriculum is fantastic - my kids read several grades ahead, they learned math before kindergarten and they love going to school every day.

I would strongly recommend that families consider other options until there is new leadership at this 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.

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!

Cathedral commits to Catholic values through prayer and service opportunities, while also academically challenging, supporting, and inspiring our children. The small student to teacher ratio encourages confidence and engagement.What truly sets Cathedral apart is the sense of community. Families sharing similar values and hopes for their children come together to create a supportive and meaningful community. We highly recommend Cathedral School!