May 5, 2025 - News
Portland schools most vulnerable to earthquakes
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Many school buildings in Portland are built from unreinforced masonry, leaving them potentially vulnerable to collapse in an earthquake.
Driving the news: A group of parents are pushing the school board to dedicate money from a proposed $1.8 million bond to prioritize fixing the riskiest buildings.
- Here are the unreinforced masonry schools most vulnerable to earthquakes, based on the year they were built and the total square footage of unreinforced masonry, per the district's assessment.
- Yes, but: Some schools have had work done since the analysis was published in 2024.
Buckman Elementary
- Unreinforced masonry square footage: 79,000
- Year built: 1918
Fernwood (Beverly Cleary)
- Unreinforced masonry square footage: 44,000
- Year built: 1911-1924
Rose City Park Elementary
- Unreinforced masonry square footage: 63,300
- Year built: 1935
George Middle School
- Unreinforced masonry square footage: 55,000
- Year built: 1952
Rieke Elementary
- Unreinforced masonry square footage: 20,800
- Year built: 1959
Ainsworth Elementary
- Unreinforced masonry square footage: 26,000
- Year built: 1912
Markham Elementary
- Unreinforced masonry square footage: 11,000
- Year built: 1951
Mt. Tabor Middle School
- Unreinforced masonry square footage: 14,000
- Year built: 1952
Rigler Elementary
- Unreinforced masonry square footage: 7,700
- Year built: 1931
Richmond Elementary
- Unreinforced masonry square footage: 8,000
- Year built: 1910
Capitol Hill Elementary
- Unreinforced masonry square footage: 7,000
- Year built: 1916
Go deeper: For more details, or to look up a specific school, the full seismic assessment is available here.