State of Schools

When it comes to schools, we all draw from the experiences we've had as students, parents and community members. Yet the education landscape in Oregon is completely different than it was even for those who graduated as recently as five or ten years ago.

Here’s the Situation

We know Oregon’s kids are just as bright as kids anywhere in the nation. Yet they’re consistently ranking at the bottom of the pack when it comes to knowledge. Oregon’s educators have a solid plan for how to address this gap. But we also want to hear from you. What matters most to you? Oregon’s students are our future leaders, neighbors and citizens. What should their education encompass?

Don’t get this mixed up with funding. For too long, we’ve defined Oregon’s education system by what we can afford. We’re asking that you dream bigger. Imagine no limits. What would you have benefited from as a student? What do you wish for today’s kids?

1 in 5 Oregon Kids live in Poverty.
Annie E. Casey Foundation, Oregon Kids Count Profile 2015

Oregon students are ranked #38 in the nation for performance, which is not at all surprising given our investment in schools ranks at #39
Source: OregonLive US School Performance Rankings, June 2015

Funding is about 25% below what an expert, non-partisan committee on quality education in Oregon says it would take to help 90% of Oregon students graduate.
Source: Oregon Quality Education Commission 2014

1 in 4 Oregon students – that’s 10,000 kids – fails to graduate from high school on time.
Source: Oregon Department of Education, 2014-5 four-year cohort rates for students entering HS in 2011-12

Share Your Thoughts

This survey is intended to collect the dreams Oregonians have for our students and their schools. We estimate the survey will take you 5-7 minutes.

About Oregon Rising

Oregon Rising is a public outreach effort about what Oregonians want for their children and their schools. At the heart of our work is the prompt to dream big. In the first phase, we ask that you describe the education Oregon students would receive, if it were up to you.

Oregon Rising refers to one thing we find most people agree upon: When our children are successful, we are all successful. Thus, our tagline: Great Schools, Great State. Because we believe great schools are the foundation for a great State of Oregon, and a great state of our economy, our communities and our future.

The aspirational nature of the name is intentional. You’ll note that Oregon Rising is more about dreams, and less about practicalities such as funding. The decision to largely remove the funding element from the equation wasn’t out of naiveté or because it’s not a real challenge. But we find that as soon as the conversation turns to money, aspirations are tempered. Oregon Rising wants to know not just what schools could be, but what you think they should be.