Portland is one of the leading education centers in Oregon, with major universities, community colleges, public school systems, private schools, libraries, and specialized training institutions.
Notable institutions include:
- **Portland State University** — A major public urban research university in downtown Portland. - **Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)** — A nationally recognized health sciences university, medical center, and research institution. - **University of Portland** — A private Catholic university in North Portland. - **Lewis & Clark College** — A private liberal arts college and graduate school campus in southwest Portland. - **Reed College** — A highly regarded private liberal arts college in southeast Portland. - **Portland Community College** — Oregon's largest community college, with multiple campuses serving the city and region. - **Multnomah University** — A private Christian institution in the Portland area. - **Pacific Northwest College of Art** — An art and design institution associated with Portland's creative education landscape.
Public K-12 education is provided by several districts, most prominently:
- **Portland Public Schools** — The largest school district in Oregon. - **David Douglas School District**, **Parkrose School District**, **Reynolds School District**, **Centennial School District**, and others serve parts of the city or nearby areas.
Selected well-known schools and education resources:
- **Lincoln High School** - **Grant High School** - **Benson Polytechnic High School** - **Cleveland High School** - **Portland Japanese Garden's cultural education programs** and museum-affiliated programming contribute to informal education, though they are not schools. - **Multnomah County Library** — A major public library system serving Portland and surrounding communities.
Portland is also known for alternative education, arts programs, vocational pathways, language immersion schools, and strong public debate around school funding, facilities, and equity.