Tucker-Maxon Oral School

This little school is more than a school, it is a community, where children learn empathy for others and get low student:teacher ratio. Leadership is lacking, but the teachers, audiologist, speech pathologist, and before/after school are wonderful. And PE every day!!! Every day where they can play on the new play structures or play an organized game with the unbelievable PE instructor. Parent involvement could improve if the school had good leadership.
—Submitted by a parent

My five year old has just completed pre school at Tucker Maxon. I am thrilled at the level of support and knowledge available. My son is hard of hearing but suffered with language delay and he has thrived in the environment. There is no question that this is one of the BEST schools in Portland Oregon for quality education and low ratio; generally 1:8; unheard of in most schools.
—Submitted by a parent

We have chosen TM for our hearing child for the last three years (preschool, pre-k, k). We are both educators who value academic rigor and emotional and social development, and we are very impressed with the quality of learning we observe in this special community. Our child is ahead of peers in other schools due to the individualized attention he receives in a small class (12) with two teachers. The community offers a loving and nurturing environment for exploration and play that models respect, kindness, and empathy for others. They have art, music, PE daily, and a community garden. As one reviewer noted, they made some organizational changes last year. We worried about them too, but we are very pleased with how well things have gone this year. We can't imagine a better school for our child.
—Submitted by a parent

My child was in preschool @ TMOS. We chose this school b/c of the great things we had heard. We found the teachers to be hardworking and dedicated to the students. Unfortunately, we spent much of the year disappointed with other aspects of the school. This school has no principal to oversee the teachers, students, and parents. This is a crucial role to have in a school. Instead there is a director who doesn't fill the role in the same way a principal would. Leadership is definitely lacking at the school. Staffing changes for next year have changed the way the school will be run. Things will be much different for both the hearing impaired children and the regular hearing children. In addition, tuition is going up again next year. There are better options out there for hearing children!
—Submitted by a parent

Tucker Maxon provides my kindergartener with an excellent education and a great atmosphere in which to learn. I selected Tucker Maxon for preschool and have found that the elementary education to be superior to public schools as well. The behavioral management is very loving and my emotionally sensitive child has responded beautifully to the grounded and consistently kind classroom and playground management.
—Submitted by a parent

Our hearing TAG son is thriving here: intellectually, developmentally, and socially. Individualized instruction has opened the door for our son to push far beyond the limits he faced at his previous school. Effective use of technology, an engaging curriculum, and high achievement standards all balance a fantastic PE program, a safe and inviting facility, and a strong focus on cultivating friendships and community. TMOS s caring environment supports children in becoming their better selves. Here, there is no teaching to the contract that made us abandon our Eastmoreland public elementary. TMOS s service to the deaf community empowers its teachers to see each child on his or her own terms - as a complex individual with specific needs and abilities. Only TMOS gives us affordability, close proximity to home, and excellent education for our kids. We only wish TMOS would again offer K 8 education, instead of ending their program at grade 5!
—Submitted by a parent

Tucker-Maxon is the best!! Our deaf child was wrongly diagnosed by the public school system and Tucker-Maxon came highly recommended by some of the leading experts in oral-deaf education. Our deaf kids rely on the hearing kids as role models and support. The teachers are the most dedicated I have seen! Tucker-Maxon is an awesome nurturing school and is well worth the price for a private school education. Changes that are taking place next year will make the school an even better place. We love Tucker Maxon and our child has dramatically improved since enrolling.
—Submitted by a parent

We had high hopes for this highly rated school and found it a great disappointment this year. The teachers have been great (we have a child in prek) but there is no principal to guide or support them, or parents. Staff ratios were changed without parents knowledge and the acuity of the classroom felt overwhelming (all hearing impaired kids in one class instead of spread out over the two pre-k's) Safety concerns with unlocked gates and doors, remain an ongoing problem, and tuition is going up with class size next year. For a hearing child, there are much better options out there.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is a hearing impaired child. She is now almost 11 and attends our local public school, getting straight A's. She no longer needs speech classes. She is amazing all do to Tucker Maxon and their incredible staff.
—Submitted by a parent

The school is both well-disciplined and extremely kind to the children. Teaching of social skills and appropriate self-expression is excellent. Academic progress is excellent; on the average, over one year per academic year for hearing impaired and, I believe, over 1.5 years per academic year for kids with typical hearing. There is daily PE. Instruction is individualized and elementary classes very small. The school is oral-only; no ASL is used in the classrooms. If your child, deaf or hearing, can attend this school, check out their website and visit the school. You'll be impressed.
—Submitted by a parent

Amazing place! I can't believe we were lucky enough to find a school like TMOS. Great academics, outside activities, staff ratio and class size.
—Submitted by a parent

This is our third year at Tucker Maxon and both of our children attend. We chose this school because of the care and personal consideration the teachers and all of the employees pay to the students and families. Neither of our children are hearing impaired, but they have benefited greatly from the small class sizes anbd attention to their development . We have been very pleased with the decision to trust our children to this special school.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is amazing. The staff to kid ration is 1:5 and the programs are dynamic and exciting. We are so happy to have found this school!
—Submitted by a parent

This is an amzing little school. Both my husband and I are educators, and spent a great deal of time evaluating schools for our children. TMOS has an incredible program, a warm environement and talented teachers. I do think it is the best program and value in the Portland area.
—Submitted by Liz Delmatoff, a parent

This is the best school for deaf or hearing impaired children in Portland. The small class sizes ensure quality, individual care for each child. Great principal, teachers and staff, and on-site audiologist! Ready with technology. They even have financial aid. Hearing children benefit from individual attention, too. Full-time kindergarten with wonderful before and aftercare hours. Can't say enough good about this gem of a school. Check it out!
—Submitted by Jennifer Bransfield, a parent