Portland Elementary
A Ballard Zone / Choice Zone resides elementary on Northwestern Parkway with a 9:40 a.m. start
Resides and choice school · Grades K–5 · Ballard Zone / Choice Zone
- Grades: K–5
- How to get in: Address assignment or zone choice
- School day: 9:40 a.m.–4:20 p.m.
Portland is a west Louisville Choice Zone elementary in the Portland neighborhood, not a Traditional magnet. If School Finder assigns this address here, that is the resides school and families register.
3410 Northwestern Parkway, Louisville, KY 40212 · West Louisville / Portland
Official starting points
- Official Portland Elementary site(opens in a new tab)
- JCPS student assignment and apply(opens in a new tab)
- Current Choices Guide(opens in a new tab)
- JCPS School Finder(opens in a new tab)
- KDE School Report Card(opens in a new tab)
School Choice:(502) 485-6250schoolchoice@jefferson.kyschools.us
What this school is
Portland sits at 3410 Northwestern Parkway in 40212 — west Louisville / Portland / Ballard feeder and Choice Zone Network 3. Hours 9:40–4:20. Title I Yes. K–5. Michelle Perkins is principal. AP: Sheri Kiser. Counselor: confirm with school. FRC: Michelle Cox. MHP: Jacquelyn Bainbridge.
Portland appears as a Choice Zone / west-Louisville option in both the Atherton and Ballard printed zone lists, with Atkinson, Breckinridge-Franklin, and Byck. Confirm assignment in School Finder. Zachary Taylor is closed. Norton shares Choices Guide page 22 with Portland — do not import Norton's Blue Ribbon / French / Art Festival package into this profile.
Who runs the building
Principal Michelle Perkins
The current directory lists Sheri Kiser as AP, a counselor to be confirmed with the school, Michelle Cox as FRC, and Jacquelyn Bainbridge as mental-health practitioner. Confirm names on the day you tour — staff pages move.
School details
- Address
- 3410 Northwestern Parkway, Louisville, KY 40212
- Phone
- (502) 485-8313
- Official JCPS site
- jefferson.kyschools.us/o/portland(opens in a new tab)
- Title I: Yes
- Ballard Zone / Choice Zone
- Listed capacity: 272
- 9:40 a.m. start
How families get in
If School Finder assigns Portland Elementary to the address, register rather than submitting a magnet application. Families seeking another eligible Ballard Zone / Choice Zone option use the School Choices section.
- Register first if the child is new to JCPS or entering kindergarten.
- Returning students who have not moved do not need to reapply to stay.
- Use School Finder to confirm the resides school, zone, and later school path.
- Complete Transportation Verification and confirm the current stop.
2027–28 application window
- November 2–December 18, 2026
- Confirm dates with JCPS before applying
Resides students use the regular elementary transportation system. Eligibility can change; confirm the route and the household plan for the 9:40 a.m. bell.
Who it tends to fit
A good match when
- Portland is your resides or preferred school and you will use FRC and school support services as part of the plan.
- The 9:40 a.m. start works for your household.
- You want small-class-size programming, UofL Signature Partnership, a STEM Lab, and the published activity list on a 9:40 west Louisville campus.
Think twice when
- You need a 7:30 a.m. campus instead of the 9:40 a.m. start here.
- You need a Traditional uniform culture or a districtwide theme magnet.
- You are choosing mostly on test-score rankings — current bands sit below JCPS elementary averages (27% reading P+D and 13% math P+D).
- You assumed a Shawnee high-school path is automatic — JCPS lists Portland in the Ballard feeder pattern and Choice Zone Network 3; confirm in School Finder.
Students
The Oct. 1, 2025 file counted 287 students against a listed capacity of 272, about 106% of listed capacity. The Choices Guide used 291. Counts change during the year.
Diversity index
55%
Calculated from the Oct. 1, 2025 file. Portland is majority-Black (61%), not a one-group campus. The index is a snapshot of mix, not a grade.
| Group | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Black / African American | 175 | 61% |
| White | 74 | 26% |
| Other | 32 | 11% |
| Hispanic / Latino | 6 | 2% |
Gender: Confirm with school (use current office count)
- Economically disadvantaged: 94.4%
- Multilingual learners: 14 students (about 5%)
- Title I: Yes
Academics
Use the current Kentucky School Report Card first and confirm the testing year before comparing schools. The live JCPS Portland homepage banner posts these bands.
- Reading: 20% proficient and 7% distinguished; 27% displayed combined P+D.
- Math: 11% proficient and 2% distinguished; 13% displayed combined P+D.
- Both bands sit below JCPS elementary averages (about 37% reading / 31% math) in the guide review.
Awards and recognition
Personalized environment
Fully personalized environment tailored to emotional, cultural, and academic needs, with a small-class-size option.
STEM Lab and specials
Art, PE, library, STEM Lab, and Compassionate Schools Project.
UofL Signature Partnership
UofL Signature Partnership supporting innovative classroom practice, plus a virtual learning lab.
Guidance and community partnership
Comprehensive guidance and mental-health programming through in-school and community partners, including Northeast Christian Church. Activities: girls' and boys' basketball, cheerleading, piano lessons, soccer, LVA, and an annual talent show.
Location and daily life
The campus is on Northwestern Parkway in the Portland neighborhood, 40212, west Louisville. Test the commute during the actual 9:40 a.m. arrival window.
Enrollment was over listed building capacity (about 106%) in the source snapshot. Ask which grades currently have space.
Recent news, in context
Current directory: Michelle Perkins, principal; Sheri Kiser, AP; counselor to be confirmed with school; Michelle Cox, FRC; Jacquelyn Bainbridge, MHP.
Kennedy and Maupin are currently listed choice schools; the original guide listed King before its closure.
Compare before you commit
- Atkinson / Breckinridge-Franklin / ByckOther Choice Zone west campuses listed with Portland. Norton shares page 22.
- Kennedy / MaupinCurrent listed choice schools in the same network.
- Carter Traditional ElementaryA separate address-eligible Traditional magnet path with uniforms and no assumed magnet bus.
Questions to ask on a tour
- 1.Is Portland my resides school, or a Ballard Zone / Choice Zone option I have to rank?
- 2.What does a third-grade reading block look like, in minutes, not slogans?
- 3.What do social-emotional supports and the published activity list look like in a third-grade day?
- 4.What before- and after-care exists on this 9:40–4:20 campus?
- 5.How long is the Northwestern Parkway car line around 9:20?
- 6.If the building is over listed capacity (287 of 272), which grades currently have space?
- 7.If we want a Ballard-path high school later, what middle does this address actually feed?
What to do next
- 1.Run School Finder and record the resides school, zone, middle school, and high school.
- 2.Register first if the child is new to JCPS or entering kindergarten.
- 3.If Portland is resides and you have not moved, you do not need to apply to stay — still complete transportation verification.
- 4.Tour at late-bell reality and ask about current grade-level space.
- 5.Apply during the November 2–December 18, 2026 window only when choosing another eligible option.