German American School of Portland

GSP is a great school and our daughter loves going to there. The teachers and staff are friendly, creative and professional which creates a wonderful learning environment for our daughter. GSP offers a well rounded and challenging curriculum that includes Music, Art, PE, German, English, Math and Science.
—Submitted by a parent

When I first entered GSP almost 10 (yes, ten!) years ago - I immediately fell for the school, and my first thought was: "I would love to have a child so he/ she can attend this wonderful school!" Now I am the happy mother of a GSP first grader who has attended the school since preschool, and we all still appreciate the unique opportunity for bilingual and bicultural education this school offers, along with a few other perks like the extensive library including thousands of German books, the music room with five pianos/ keyboards and other instruments or the huge sports room which allows for much needed exercise throughout the day even when it is pouring outside. The quality of teachers and other staff is just the icing and cherry on a beautifully layered cake, the blending of both American and German curriculum makes the school's program a most thorough and well-balanced educational experience. A lot of planning and outstanding efforts go into providing diverse opportunities for learning and practicing important concepts through different methods, so students with different learning styles and various talents are encouraged to pursue the best that they can be. We love GSP!
—Submitted by a parent

Our daughter is in pre-k and has been at GSP since last year. We only have great things to say about the school. Great teachers, outstanding curriculum, great culture and environment and most importantly our daughter loves the school, the teachers and her friends! She loves going to school and wishes she could go on the weekends. She is fluent in Spanish and English and now she is becoming fluent in German. The great activities that they do including art, gym class, music class and the Second Step program have made her grow and think in a unique way. The two main reasons why we decided for GSP were discipline and curriculum and we have been very impressed with these two areas. Finally, we are very happy with the low student/teacher ratio. She gets more attention and participation which helps her learn and experience more.
—Submitted by a parent

We have 2 kids at GSP and are very happy with the quality of education and sense of community at GSP. Our children are getting an excellent education, learning 2 languages simultaneously and still have alot of fun! We highly recommend GSP
—Submitted by a parent

Mom: "What do you like best about GSP?" 5 year old daughter: "The teachers. They work very hard all year long and so does everyone else." The school is amazingly organized, well ran and great introduction to German language and culture. A truly great language school. Before and after care are also very good.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is more than just a school with great academics. For many of us it is our second home. Parents and students find lasting friendships that enrich our horizons. My son enjoys music and art class as much as spending time in the lab exploring scientific concepts and being a big buddy to a kindergarten student. As a mom I value an education philosophy that cares about my son's personality as much as his academic success.
—Submitted by a parent

We love GSP! It's a very welcoming and nice place. The teachers are very attentive and knowledgeable. Our son is looking forward to each day in school!
—Submitted by a parent

When visiting GSP for the first time (4 years ago!), we immediately felt welcome. The school is made up of a community of involved, dedicated and interested families and staff. We have been so impressed with our daughter's growth (intellectually and socially) since her start here in pre-K. This is a wonderful school, and well worth the investment we've made.
—Submitted by a parent

As a German family living in the U.S. we're very happy to send our kids to the GSP. This way our kids won't have any disadvantage, once they change over to a school in Germany again. In contrary, with the English language added (for grade school) and all the multicultural and multinational aspects that melt together in this school, they have a great advantage now and later on. We truly love the high level of education at this school as well as the extraordinarily friendly, professional staff. We feel like being part of a big family there. In preschool and kindergardten as well as in grade school our kids experience a safe, multifaceted learning environment. Our kids love to go to the GSP.
—Submitted by a parent

Having visited all the immersion schools in Portland, I felt especially welcomed in GSP. My son started in Kindergarten and now he is a 1st grader. I am very impressed with the dedication and creativeness of the teacher in making learning a new language a fun experience. Coming from a non-German speaking family, he is able to converse in German after one semester.
—Submitted by a parent

We thought learning a 2nd language would be a critical skill for our child. When we checked the local immersion schools, we immediately fell in love with GSP. The teachers are caring, creative, and invested in our kids. The school emphasizes science in a wonderful lab and through science classes, but also art and music, similarly in facilities specific for those classes. We also really love that in a time when PE is waning in public schools, our kids are outside every day for recess, and still have sport classes. Well-rounded & bilingual? Yes please!
—Submitted by a parent

Very unique and great community. This school has an interesting mix of students, not all families have affiliations to Germany, or German parents. I met families who join the school for their great curriculum only. There are plenty of extracurricular activities introducing children into arts, science, sports and logical thinking. On top of all it is fun for the children, they usually don't want to leave school!
—Submitted by a parent

Our four year old daughter just finished her first year at the German American School. With no previous exposure to German before, she now speaks fluently with native speakers. Every morning I drop her off, I wish that I could stay and be a pre-schooler too, because it's such a magical place. We feel so lucky to be a part of the GSP community. The aftercare program is also amazing- with a wonderful, dedicated staff.
—Submitted by a parent

Our daughter just finished her first year of preschool at the German American School and it has been a great year for her and for the whole family. We found a very friendly and warm environment. Teachers are professional and caring. They know very well how to make a child thriving. However, everybody in the school loves children and makes them feel cherished. The organization of the school is exemplar. My daughter is very proud of her school, of learning another language, of her new friends and she is happy of going to school, which actually is what really matters.
—Submitted by a parent

Our 2 children have been attending the German American School of Portland since January of 2010. Joining the German American School of Portland community felt, to us, like coming home! We appreciate the wonderful teachers, friendly and supportive environment and excellent education - this school is a perfect fit for our family!
—Submitted by a parent

My children have gone to the German American School of Portland for six years. Our children love going to school and my husband and I absolutely love the school as well. GSP is an amazing and unique community for students and parents. The teachers are exceptional in their dedication, the curriculum is outstanding and of course having your children be completely fluent in another language is phenomenal. My husband and I only speak English and our children are completely fluent in German- from school alone. The intangible benefits of the school are just as wonderful as everything else. WIth a large international presence, acceptance, non-judgement and tolerance are the norm. You will love the German American School as much as your children.
—Submitted by a parent

We have two children at the German school (first grade and preschool), and we have been there for 3 years now. From day one, my older son has loved the school - it's a warm and nurturing environment and the kids are extremely well taken care of. The teachers are not only highly qualified, they are also warm and caring and truly want the best for their students. The school has an international atmosphere and fosters great education in a stimulating environment where the kids are raised to think for themselves. It's a great fit for our family and we couldn't be happier with our choice.
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school because it has such a great community of parents, teachers, and support staff. It is an 'old school' school where music, art, PE, and field trips are part of the curriculum. The school challenges my kids to do more academically than just going farther faster. It encourages them to go deeper and to stretch in ways they just can't get outside a language immersion school. But it's not the brain science that says learning languages has long lasting effects on learners, it's the warm-fuzzy of a school where people stop and take the time to talk to each other that I love the most about GSP. It has prepared my oldest child to move seamlessly into a language immersion middle school, and my youngest to move easily into kindergarten with their love of learning still intact.
—Submitted by a parent

This is an outstanding school. It is warm and inviting! Teachers are motivated, dedicated and love their classes and are highly educated in their field! The preschool and kindergarten is top notch. We have children in preschool and kindergarten. The kindergarten program is amazing. The kids are currently going on trips around the world and are learning about the world. We are looking forward to starting first grade next year and families love the upper classes as well. Also, this school is truly international as there are 25 different nationalities represented at the school. Families are from all over the world, there are native Oregonians as well as Native Germans too!
—Submitted by a parent

The only good thing about this school is that your child will learn a new language other than you need to stay away from the school for the following reasons 1. No infrastructure, not even a nice playground or play area 2. German Parents most of them are rude 3. Teachers have no patience 4. Teachers don't pay much attention 5. Curriculum are not that good for what you pay for 6. You have to pay 12k a year, spend another 6k and you are better off a catlin gabel or oes. 7. This school is not worth it
—Submitted by a parent