## Education Statistics
Portland is one of the Pacific Northwest’s major education centers, with a mix of public school districts, private schools, community colleges, and research universities.
### School system overview - **Portland Public Schools (PPS)** is Oregon’s largest school district. - Other districts serving parts of the city or metro area include **David Douglas**, **Parkrose**, **Reynolds**, **Beaverton**, **North Clackamas**, and others depending on neighborhood boundaries. - The city also has a substantial network of private, charter, parochial, and alternative schools.
### Higher education - **Portland State University (PSU)** — major public urban research university in downtown Portland. - **Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)** — nationally known academic health center and medical research institution. - **University of Portland** — private Catholic university in North Portland. - **Lewis & Clark College** — private liberal arts college in Southwest Portland. - **Reed College** — nationally recognized private liberal arts college. - **Portland Community College (PCC)** — one of the state’s largest higher-education institutions by enrollment.
### Educational attainment Widely reported census estimates indicate Portland has a **high share of adults with bachelor’s degrees or higher** compared with the U.S. average, reflecting its university presence and knowledge-economy workforce.
### Literacy and graduation - The United States does not usually publish a single official **city literacy rate** in the way some countries do. - High school graduation rates are typically reported by **district** and **state education agencies**, rather than for the city as a single unified statistic. - For current figures, the most authoritative sources are the **Oregon Department of Education**, **Portland Public Schools**, and the **U.S. Census Bureau** for educational attainment.
### Rankings and reputation - **OHSU** is widely recognized for medicine, biomedical research, and health sciences. - **Portland State University** is known for urban studies, public affairs, sustainability, and community engagement. - **Reed College** has long held a strong national reputation in the liberal arts. - **University of Portland** is well known regionally for nursing, engineering, and business.
### Quick reference table
| Topic | Portland context | |---|---| | Largest K-12 district | Portland Public Schools | | Major public university | Portland State University | | Major academic medical center | Oregon Health & Science University | | Major community college | Portland Community College | | Notable private colleges | Reed College, Lewis & Clark College, University of Portland | | Citywide literacy rate | _Data not readily available for this location._ | | Citywide graduation rate | _Data not readily available for this location._ |
### Research and student life - Portland’s universities contribute to research in health sciences, climate and sustainability, urban policy, and engineering. - The city’s library system, maker spaces, museums, and public lecture culture broaden access to lifelong learning. - Internship and co-op opportunities are supported by local government, health care systems, technology firms, nonprofits, and design-oriented businesses.