Schools and Child Care

Portland Public Schools: Placement at a public school is determined by the location of your residence in Portland. However, exceptions are occasionally made for individual circumstances. It's important to bring school transcripts so you can have your child placed into the appropriate grade level.

For more information about enrollment, school schedules, and district maps go to the Portland Public Schools website.

Portland Private Schools: There are over 200 hundred private schools in the metro area. Check out Private School Review, for a comprehensive listing.

General division of grade levels is grouped into clusters. The following are typical grade ranges for each level.

Preschool: Children under the age of 5 can attend a Preschool program. Preschool is not required by law, but it is widely used as a preparatory method for children entering Kindergarten.

Elementary School: Kindergarten through 4th, or up to 8th grade. Grade levels depend on school districts (usually ages 5 though 11)

Middle School/Junior High: 5th through 8th grade (usually ages 10 through 13)

High School: 9th grade through 12th grade (usually ages 14 through 18)

The state requires evidence of immunizations before your child can attend classes unless you provide medical or religious exemption.

This law is intended to protect students from vaccine-preventable diseases. A full list and description of required vaccines can be found on the Oregon Department of Education immunization document.

If your child has received immunizations in your home country please bring evidence of this with you when you go to the school to enroll them.

Healthy Starts Children Center 

OHSU employees and students are eligible for priority enrollment and discounted tuition rates at Healthy Starts Children Center, a state-of-the-art childcare center located at the South Waterfront, next to the Center for Health & Healing. Children's Creative Learning Centers (CCLC) owns and operates Healthy Starts.  Visit CCLS's web page for more information on center operations and to request enrollment information. To schedule a tour, contact the center at 971 230-2342.

KinderCare Learning Centers

OHSU affiliates, are eligible for a 10% discount with the largest network of early childhood education programs in the U.S. This discount applies to care for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old at participating KinderCare Learning Centers and Champions Before-and-After-School programs.

Care.com also provides a great listing for care providers for your child (including nannies, babysitters, and tutors).

Disclaimer: This list is provided as an information service only. It is not an exhaustive list of services or companies and is not an endorsement by OHSU of any company listed.