Frequently Asked Questions

Elementary Schools

• Forest Hills: 1949
• Hallinan: 1979
• Lake Grove: 1949
• Palisades: 1961
• Oak Creek: 1990
• River Grove: 1968
• Westridge: 1979
• Uplands: 1961 

Middle Schools

• Lake Oswego Junior High: 1955
• Lakeridge Middle School: rebuilt 2021

High Schools

• Lake Oswego High School: rebuilt in 2005
• Lakeridge High School: 1971

The district does not have any schools or facilities not in use. Currently Uplands is being used as the home of our Community School preschool/pre k program and is earmarked to house schools under construction, should the bond pass.

The decision to renovate or construct a new school building is a complex process. Variables include needs of local students, budget, finances, and significance of the building, to name a few. LOSD has conducted several thorough assessments of facility condition and educational adequacy to determine the feasibility of our school buildings. River Grove and Lake Oswego Junior High have consistently ranked two of the worst in those assessments. The cost benefits of constructing a new building outweigh the limitations of renovating a building with low feasibility.

Large-scale construction projects similar to those in this bond proposal can have many positive impacts on the local economy. A typical new school construction project will employ thousands of people during the design and construction phases.

Additional indirect benefits to the economy can come from increased patronage to local restaurants, stores and service providers. School construction projects also provide fee revenue for the city as well as systems development revenue for use by local jurisdictions to make necessary improvements to community-wide resources such as roads and utilities.

According to a 2013 realtor.com survey, nearly 91 percent of prospective home buyers said that school boundaries were important in their search. Additionally realtor.com reports that, “Consumers have shown a willingness to sacrifice certain things to live in the right school district. Having safe, welcoming, and high quality schools is a major factor to determine the vitality and desirability of a community. The more people who want to live and raise their families in the area, the higher the  demand and existing market values.”

Communities with good schools can impact home values, encourage people to stay and invest in the local area, and can supply the local economy with better skilled workers. Our new buildings are being constructed to a seismic immediate occupancy standard, which could provide emergency shelter in the event of a major seismic event.  Additionally, good schools can improve community pride, connections, and a sense of belonging.

A community with good schools can positively affect home values, area pride, business attractiveness and help shape the future workforce. Students can go on to be skilled workers and engaged citizens that contribute to the local economy and community in various ways. 

School facilities provide community organizations gathering spaces for sporting activities and various events. Additionally, our facilities may serve as shelters in the event of an emergency.

The new bond rate would be 92 cents per $1,000 of a home’s assessed value our community paid last year. For a home assessed at $420,000, the added cost would be $385 per year. 

The property tax rate to pay off the bonds is currently calculated using estimates of assessed value and estimates of actual interest rates when the bonds are sold. Currently, we are planning to sell the bonds next spring, when the interest rates and bond payments will be locked in. Therefore the first actual rate will start in property taxes due and payable in November 2022. The Clackamas County Assessor will calculate the actual property tax rate needed to make the first year's payment on the bonds if the bond measure passes on November 2, 2021. The first year and every subsequent year after that the Assessor will make that actual rate calculation based on the actual assessed property values of Lake Oswego School District and the bond payments that are due in that particular year. If the current estimates for assessed value and bond payments vary each year from the actual numbers, then the rate could stay the same, decrease or increase.

Planning for this second phase of the bond program began in 2019 after the successful analysis of the district’s facility and educational adequacy needs assessment and development of the updated Long Range Facility Planning Committee’s Strategic Plan. In early 2021 a task force of 15 parents, teachers and staff members came together to review options and help finalize the path the district should take for the future of our facilities. Additionally, the district conducted three voter polls and met with parent groups, community organizations, and neighborhood associations to gather feedback on the bond program.

In planning the bond, the district took into account the new steel tariffs and used cost estimates aligned with construction industry standards. The district is committed to addressing every project identified in the bond proposal. If the bond is approved by voters, the state will provide an additional $4 million in grant funds that ensure project needs can be met.

The district has a facilities maintenance plan that provides guidelines and maintenance schedules for our schools. Our district maintenance team has a strong track record in keeping buildings in working order to serve the needs of our students.

For the past several decades the district has commissioned bi-annual demographic and enrollment projections. Ten year enrollment projections are included in our report produced by the Population Research Center at Portland State University.

Lake Oswego School District continuously ranks the number one district in Oregon, and among the top districts in the country. All of our schools, from elementary to middle and high schools, are ranked in the top of their level, which means all families who choose to live in Lake Oswego have access to the best schools from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Our graduation rate has been over 95 percent, and currently nearly 100 percent of our students are on track to graduate. The state graduation rate is currently at 74 percent.

Each taxpayer will have to make their own decision about whether they feel investing in their school facilities is a good investment. Based on the Lake Oswego School District’s long track record of fiscal responsibility and conservative management our borrowing rates are low. Each year the district invites the community to multiple budget meetings to review and understand exactly how the district manages resources and operations.