Summary
- Recent research conducted by H18YC has revealed that Portland stands out as the pinnacle of girl’s education in the state of Oregon bagging a total score of 45.1 .
- Beaverton and Salem follow a close second with scores 44.1 and 42.9 respectively
The data reveals that Portland has the highest percentage of college-educated residents in Oregon and is home to some of the best public schools in the state .
The findings also reveal that Portlan ranks 3rd, Beaverton ranks 7th and Salem ranks 15th in terms of median home price and monthly median rent which also makes its affordable for families to reside in better societies.
To deduce which is the ideal city in Oregon to secure a girl’s future in terms of education and opportunities, the following parameters were taken into consideration:
- Graduation rates of high-school and colleges – Graduation rates are an important indicator of the quality of education in a city or school district. Higher graduation rates mean that more girls will have the opportunity to succeed in college and careers, and contribute to society as educated and informed citizens.
- Rate of Safe and Affordable housing – Safe and affordable housing is essential for students to be able to focus on their education.Safe and affordable housing can help to reduce the risk of gender-based violence. It can help to level the playing field for girls from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Additional – Median home price and rent– Cities with higher median home prices and rent are often better-funded, which can lead to better schools and more educational opportunities for girls.
- Cost of tuition and financial aid availability-Cities in Oregon with lower tuition and higher financial aid availability are more affordable for families, which can make it easier for girls to attend college. Additionally, colleges in these cities are more likely to be accessible to girls from all socioeconomic backgrounds. This can help to level the playing field and ensure that all girls have the opportunity to pursue higher education.
- Rate of Inclusion and Diversity- Cities in Oregon with a higher rate of inclusion and diversity can provide girls with a more supportive and inclusive learning environment. This can lead to better academic performance, higher self-esteem, and a greater sense of belonging. Additionally, girls who are exposed to a diverse range of perspectives and cultures are more likely to be prepared for success in the globalised world.
- Percentage of students with access to extra curricular activities- Cities in Oregon with a higher percentage of students with access to extracurricular activities provide girls with the opportunity to explore their passions, develop new skills, and build relationships with their peers. Extracurricular activities can help girls to develop confidence, leadership potential, and critical thinking skills. They can also help girls to network with other students and adults who can support their educational and career goals.
- Rate of good transporation- In order to deduce the rate of good transportation in each city, these 4 key factors were considered.
- Availability of public transportation: This includes the number of bus lines, train lines, and light rail lines that serve each city, as well as the frequency of service.
- Walkability and bikeability: This includes the number of sidewalks, bike lanes, and bike paths in each city, as well as the overall safety and comfort of walking and biking.
- Safety of the roads: This includes the number of traffic accidents and fatalities in each city, as well as the overall quality of the roads.
- In addition to these quantitative factors, qualitative factors such as the overall perception of the city’s transportation system were also considered. For example, cities with a reputation for having a good transportation system, such as Portland, were given a higher rating than cities with a reputation for having a poor transportation system, such as Klamath Falls.
Data Collection and Sources
Data on the following parameters was collected from a variety of sources:
Graduation rates of high school and colleges:
- Oregon Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics
- CollegeScorecard
Graduation rates for high schools are based on the four-year graduation rate, which is the percentage of students who graduate within four years of entering high school. Graduation rates for colleges are based on the six-year graduation rate, which is the percentage of students who graduate within six years of entering college.
Rate of safe and affordable housing: National Low Income Housing Coalition and Oregon Housing and Community Services Department
Cost of tuition and financial aid availability: Source: Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) College Navigator, a website operated by the U.S. Department of Education
Rate of inclusion and diversity: Percentage of students of color: Oregon Department of Education, 2022-2023 school year
Number of LGBTQ+ clubs and organizations: GLSEN, National School Climate Survey, 2021
- Percentage of students with access to extracurricular activities: Oregon School Activities Association and individual school districts
- Rate of good transportation: The data for each key factor was collected from a variety of sources, including the Oregon Department of Transportation, the US Census Bureau, and local transportation agencies. The data was then normalized so that it could be compared across cities.
Methodology
The rate of good transportation for each city was calculated using a weighted average of the following three factors:
- Availability of public transportation (weight: 40%)
- Walkability and bikeability (weight: 30%)
- Safety of the roads (weight: 30%)
Once the data for each factor was collected, it was normalized to a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being the best score. The weighted average of the normalized scores for each factor was then calculated to obtain the overall rate of good transportation for each city.
Rate of safe and affordable housing– the number of safe and affordable housing units in each city were extracted from the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department.
- the total number of housing units in each city were obtained from the US Census Bureau.
- Then the number of safe and affordable housing units were divided by the total number of housing units and multiplied by 100 to get a percentage.
For example:
Rate of safe and affordable housing in Coos Bay = (1,200 / 2,777) * 100
Rate of safe and affordable housing in Coos Bay = 43%
Extracurricular activities – Data on the number of students enrolled in at least one extracurricular activity in each of the 21 Oregon cities was gathered . This data was obtained from the Oregon Department of Education. Then the number of students enrolled in extracurricular activities was divided by the total number of students enrolled in schools in each city. This gave a percentage of students with access to extracurricular activities. then the cities were categorized based on their percentage of students with access to extracurricular activities, using the following categories: Very High: 95% or more High: 90-94% Medium: 85-89% Low: 80-84% Very Low: 79% or less
For the other parameters, data was extracted from the government website and marks were assigned based on the ranked order and the amount or rate, with higher amounts or rates receiving higher marks. Total marks for every parameter was 10.
Validation of the Data Collected
| City | Affordable housing rate | Rate of good transportation(in %) | Student access to extracurricular activities | Graduation Average | Percentage of Students of Color | Tuition (In-State) |
| Albany | 39.00% | 30 | 81 | 68.95 | 35% | $3,445 |
| Ashland | 35.00% | 0 | 78 | 79.6 | 20% | $3,492 |
| Astoria | 39.00% | 70% | 86.2 | 70.15 | 40% | $3,445 |
| Beaverton | 34.00% | 65 | 92 | 90.4 | 48% | $3,501 |
| Bend | 32.00% | 50 | 85 | 74.25 | 25% | $3,203 |
| Coos Bay | 43.00% | 65% | 87.5 | 68.25 | 15% | $4,992 |
| Corvallis | 38.00% | 55 | 83 | 85.2 | 30% | $9,970 |
| Eugene | 37.00% | 80 | 90 | 74.25 | 38% | $3,235 |
| Forest Grove | 36.00% | 65% | 85.3 | 71.95 | 25% | $3,303 |
| Grants Pass | 42.00% | 35 | 77 | 63.6 | 20% | $5,253 |
| Gresham | 35.00% | 70 | 86 | 66 | 52% | $3,123 |
| Hermiston | 42.00% | -5 | 80 | 68.65 | 35% | $3,873 |
| Hillsboro | 36.00% | 60 | 87 | 72.75 | 40% | $3,501 |
| Hood River | 37.00% | -10 | 74 | 70.65 | 35% | $3,546 |
| Keizer | 40.00% | 25 | 35 | 65.9 | 45% | $3,214 |
| Klamath Falls | 42.00% | -20 | 83.9 | 68.2 | 20% | $8,535 |
| La Grande | 43.00% | 5 | 82.7 | 67.2 | 25% | $3,873 |
| Lake Oswego | 33.00% | 80% | 79 | 87.5 | 20% | $3,426 |
| Lebanon | 41.00% | 60% | 84.1 | 69.05 | 30% | $5,919 |
| McMinnville | 36.00% | 20 | 76 | 81.85 | 25% | $3,378 |
| Medford | 40.00% | 70% | 82 | 67.3 | 35% | $3,492 |
| Milwakie | 39% | 45 | 86.1 | 68.95 | 35% | $3,426 |
| Monmouth | 39% | 55% | 84.8 | 68.95 | 45% | $8,665 |
| Newport | 38.00% | 60% | 72 | 64.1 | 20% | $3,873 |
| Ontario | 43.00% | 50% | 69 | 71.1 | 50% | $4,423 |
| Oregon City | 38.00% | 15 | 75 | 68.55 | 35% | $3,426 |
| Pendleton | 43.00% | 10 | 73 | 67.4 | 30% | $3,873 |
| Portland | 33.00% | 85 | 95 | 68.2 | 58% | $3,501 |
| Radmond | 33.00% | 65% | 87.2 | 71.5 | 35% | $3,203 |
| Roseburg | 41.00% | -15% | 71 | 69.4 | 25% | $3,402 |
| Salem | 38.00% | 75 | 88 | 68.75 | 45% | $3,214 |
| Springfield | 39.00% | 40 | 84 | 69.55 | 42% | $3,235 |
| Tigard | 35% | 75% | 80 | 78 | 35% | $3,501 |
| West Linn | 37% | 70% | 87.9 | 85.7 | 25% | $3,445 |
Calculation of the Points for Each City
| City | Housing Points | Good transportation points | Students with Access to Extracurricular Activities points | Graduation Rate points | Points of students of color | Tuition points | Sum |
| Albany | 3.9 | 3 | 8.1 | 6.9 | 7 | 7 | 35.9 |
| Ashland | 3.5 | 0 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 4 | 7 | 30.2 |
| Astoria | 3.9 | 7 | 8.6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 41.5 |
| Beaverton | 3.4 | 6.5 | 9.2 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 44.1 |
| Bend | 3.2 | 5 | 8.5 | 7.4 | 5 | 7 | 36.1 |
| Coos Bay | 4.3 | 6.5 | 8.7 | 6.8 | 3 | 8 | 37.3 |
| Corvallis | 3.8 | 5.5 | 6.3 | 8.5 | 6 | 9 | 39.1 |
| Eugene | 3.7 | 8 | 9 | 7.4 | 7 | 7 | 42.1 |
| Forest Grove | 3.6 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 7.1 | 5 | 7 | 38.7 |
| Grants Pass | 4.2 | 3.5 | 7.7 | 6.3 | 4 | 10 | 35.7 |
| Gresham | 3.5 | 7 | 8.6 | 6.6 | 10 | 7 | 42.7 |
| Hermiston | 4.2 | 0 | 8 | 6.8 | 7 | 7 | 33 |
| Hillsboro | 3.6 | 6 | 8.7 | 7.2 | 8 | 7 | 40.5 |
| Hood River | 3.7 | 0 | 7.4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 32.1 |
| Kaizer | 4 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 6.5 | 9 | 7 | 32.5 |
| Klamath Falls | 4.2 | 0 | 8.3 | 6.8 | 4 | 8 | 31.3 |
| La Grande | 4.3 | 0.5 | 8.2 | 6.7 | 5 | 7 | 31.7 |
| Lake Oswego | 3.3 | 8 | 7.9 | 8.7 | 4 | 7 | 38.9 |
| Lebanon | 4.1 | 6 | 8.4 | 6.9 | 6 | 10 | 41.4 |
| McMinnville | 3.6 | 2 | 7.6 | 8.1 | 5 | 7 | 33.3 |
| Medford | 4 | 7 | 8.2 | 6.7 | 7 | 7 | 39.9 |
| Milwaukie | 3.9 | 4.5 | 8.6 | 6.8 | 7 | 7 | 37.8 |
| Monmouth | $4 | 5.5 | 8.4 | 6.8 | 9 | 8 | $42 |
| Newport | 3.8 | 6 | 7.2 | 6.4 | 4 | 7 | 34.4 |
| Ontario | 4.3 | 5 | 6.9 | 7.1 | 10 | 8 | 41.3 |
| Oregon City | 3.8 | 1.5 | 7.5 | 6.8 | 7 | 7 | 33.6 |
| Pendleton | 4.3 | 1 | 7.3 | 6.7 | 6 | 7 | 32.3 |
| Portland | 3.3 | 8.5 | 9.5 | 6.8 | 10 | 7 | 45.1 |
| Redmond | 3.3 | 6.5 | 8.7 | 7.1 | 7 | 7 | 39.6 |
| Roseburg | 4.1 | 0 | 7.1 | 6.9 | 5 | 7 | 30.1 |
| Salem | 3.8 | 7.5 | 8.8 | 6.8 | 9 | 7 | 42.9 |
| Springfield | 3.9 | 4 | 8.4 | 6.9 | 8 | 7 | 38.2 |
| Tigard | 3.5 | 7.5 | 8 | 7.8 | 7 | 7 | 40.8 |
| West Linn | 3.7 | 7 | 8.7 | 8.5 | 5 | 7 | 39.9 |