Opal School (K-5) of Portland Children’s Museum is an elementary school that is chartered by the Portland Public School District. Opal’s teaching and learning approaches are influenced and inspired by the early childhood schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy.

"The child has a hundred languages, a hundred hands, a hundred thoughts, a hundred ways of thinking, of playing, of speaking…and a hundred, hundred more."
- Loris Malaguzzi

Opal School strives to support the hundred languages children use to think and communicate. Opal continually receives “exceptional” ratings from the Oregon Department of Education. What is more telling than high numbers on standardized tests is the results seen in the student work. Opal students demonstrate the creative capacity to think, imagine, wonder, invent and design.

Admission to Opal School

Opal School students are selected through an open lottery process. The lottery opens March 1 and closes March 31.  Applications are available March 1 online, at the front desk of the Museum or from the Opal School office at 503.471.9917. 

Any child who lives within the Portland Public School District may enroll in the Opal School lottery.  Out-of-district applications are considered only if there are fewer PPS applicants than spaces available.  No priorities are given except to children enrolled in the previous year, or to siblings. Opal School follows the Portland Public School District grade-level eligibility cutoff date of September 1.  To enter the Opal School Kindergarten in the fall of 2011, a child must be 5 years of age by September 1, 2011.

Please note: Due to the large number of applicants to the Opal School, tours are only given in May to families who are offered spots in the school after the lottery is run.

Learn more about Opal:

Our Image of Children:

The work of Opal School begins with a strong image of all children as competent, resourceful, intelligent, creative, imaginative and full of curiosity about the world around them. With this image before us, we pay attention and plan to co-construct with children. We strive to create a learning community of children and adults where our image of children and the thinking of students is visible to children, teachers, parents and the public.

For questions regarding Opal Charter School, please leave a message at 503.471.9917 or download the following informational brochures: