About Us

 

Welcome to Chapman

Chapman Elementary School is a public K-5 school located in the Northwest District of Portland, Oregon, and is proud to be part of Portland Public Schools. Nestled at 1445 NW 26th Ave, Chapman serves as a neighborhood hub where children build the academic foundations and community building skills they'll carry with them for life.

Our Mission

Our mission is to cultivate a community of belonging in partnership with students, families, and community members where diversity is our strength and equity is our practice. By grounding our work in compassion, integrity, and collaboration, we nurture an inquisitive spirit in every child. We maintain high expectations for learning, ensuring that all students are seen, heard, and empowered to reach their highest potential.

Our Community

Chapman is a school community of roughly 350 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Our dedicated teachers support both academic growth and social-emotional development for every student. Families at Chapman come from a range of backgrounds, and that diversity is one of our greatest strengths. 

The entire school benefits from a diverse student population, with children from many different backgrounds. Chapman's English Language Learner program serves students speaking many different language which have included: Spanish, Mandarin, Thai, Farsi, Dari, Chuukese, Arabic, Japanese, Russian, Vietnamese, Italian, Portuguese & French

A shift in tradition

Chapman Elementary hasn't just been a place of learning during the school day — for a few unforgettable weeks in September, the sky above our building has come alive. Thousands of Vaux's Swifts stopped at Chapman's chimney during their annual migration, spiraling down into it at dusk in one of Portland's most beloved natural spectacles. Families, neighbors, and visitors from across the city gathered on the hillside next to our building each evening to watch the swifts swirl and disappear into the chimney for the night — a tradition that has made Chapman a well-known and much-loved part of the Portland community. It's no wonder why we chose the Swifts as our school's mascot.

However, it is uncertain if the Vaux Swifts will return to Chapman after dispersing to smaller roosting sites on the East side of the city. To read more about the Swifts migration please read more at the Bird Alliance of Oregon.

 Where Will the Swifts Roost This Fall?

A Piece of History in Our Foyer

Step into Chapman's entrance foyer and you'll find a true work of art: Send Us Forth to be Builders of a Better World, a large-scale wood marquetry mural created in 1938 by artist Aimee Spencer Gorham. Commissioned through the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the mural has welcomed students, families, and visitors through Chapman's doors for over eighty years. Gorham, who is best known for her marquetry work at Timberline Lodge, was one of the Pacific Northwest's most accomplished WPA-era artists, and Chapman is fortunate to house one of her finest pieces.

After decades of wear, the mural underwent a careful restoration effort led by the Chapman PTA, Neighbors West-Northwest, and the Heritage Conservation Group, with funding from the Oregon Heritage Grant, the Juan Young Trust, and the Autzen Foundation. The community celebrated the restored mural with a public unveiling, and it remains a point of pride for our school — a daily reminder to our students of the creativity, craftsmanship, and history that surround them at Chapman.

Please see the care and work put in to restore the mural here at KATU:

A Piece of Portland and Oregon's Art History Restored

Get in Touch

We are always happy to share more about what makes Chapman a special place to learn and grow. Contact us!