Buckman Arts Focus Elementary School

Buckman Arts Focus Elementary School is a neighborhood school, serving an essential educational function for children who live in inner Southeast Portland. However, Buckman is open for admission to all elementary students in Portland Public Schools, through the school district's transfer policy, and the school welcomes students from all parts of the city, all ethnic groups, and all socioeconomic backgrounds. Combining a love of the arts with high academic achievement, Buckman students consistently produce strong results in state-required academic assessments.

All students at Buckman participate in the arts programs at the school. Unlike some magnet or focus-options schools, which operate using a «school-within-a-school» approach, Buckman's arts programs are structured to include every student in the building. Students receive progressive training in dance, music, and theater performance, through a program developed by Buckman staff.

What else is special about Buckman?

• Four widely respected arts specialists (Visual Arts, Drama/Music, Dance) who teach weekly or semiweekly specialized classes in their art field
• Award-winning staff and instructors
• An average class size of 26-30
• Three full-day kindergarten classes
• Buckman student chorus and dance groups, performing at school and public functions
• After-school marimba classes taught by nationally known marimba musician
• Limited kindergarten scholarships for qualifying low-income families
• On-site before and after-school care
• SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) after-school activities and community/family events
• Indoor swimming pool available to all classes
• Dedicated, creative parent/volunteer community (thousands of volunteer hours logged yearly)
• Strong, active PTA
• Strong support from Portland community members, artists, musicians, and civic leaders

Questions? Contact us to learn more...