The Tigard-Tualatin School District (23J) is a school district

School district

School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...

 serving part of the suburb

Suburb

The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...

an Portland metropolitan area

Portland metropolitan area

The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area , also known as the Portland metropolitan area or Greater Portland, is an urban area in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington centered around the city of Portland, Oregon. The U.S...

 in Oregon

Oregon

Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...

 including the cities of Tigard

Tigard, Oregon

Tigard is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The population was 48,035 at the 2010 census. As of 2007, Tigard was the state's 12th largest city. Incorporated in 1961, the city is located south of Beaverton and north of Tualatin, and is part of the Portland metropolitan area...

 and Tualatin

Tualatin, Oregon

Tualatin is a city located primarily in Washington County in the U.S. state of Oregon. A small portion of the city is also located in neighboring Clackamas County. It is a southwestern suburb in the Portland Metropolitan Area that is located south of Tigard...

. Tigard Elementary School District 23 was established in 1875, while the Tualatin district was started as the Bridgeport district (26J). These districts later merged, as did the Tigard high school district (2J) and the Tualatin high school district (26J).

From its inception until 1992, the district operated only one "senior" high school, Tigard High, which covered grades 10-12. Fowler and Twality Junior High Schools covered grades 7-9. In 1992, a second high school, Tualatin High, was opened, and the district took the opportunity to switch to a middle school

Middle school

Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...

 system in which the two high schools would cover grades 9-12, the existing junior high schools changed to middle schools covering grades 6-8, and the elementary school

Elementary school

An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...

s covered grades K-5. A third middle school, Hazelbrook, was also added in 1992.

When Tualatin High opened, new school attendance boundaries were drawn; most students at Twality would attend Tualatin High and most students at Fowler would attend Tigard High. Students living in certain areas were given the option of attending either high school.

Demographics

In the 2009 school year, the district had 170 students classified as homeless by the Department of Education

Oregon Department of Education

The Department of Education of the U.S. state of Oregon is responsible for implementation of state policies with respect to public education at the kindergarten through community college level, including academic standards and testing, credentials, and other matters not reserved to the local...

, or 1.3% of students in the district.

Middle schools

• Fowler Middle School

Fowler is located in Tigard. The school enrolls approximately 1,000 students in grades 6-8. The school mascot is the falcon. Fowler is named for the former Tigard High School principal Thomas R. Fowler. As of 2007, principal is Dr. Corry. The school colors are blue, grey, and gold.

• Hazelbrook Middle School

Hazelbrook opened in September 1992 and currently enrolls approximately 1,000 students in grades 6-8. The school's mascot is the hawk, and the school colors are red and black. Students who attend HMS go to Tualatin High School following 8th grade.

• Twality Middle School

Twality neighbors Templeton Elementary. It enrolls just under 1100 students in grades 6-8. The school's mascot is Titans and colors are Blue, white and grey. The current principal is Rick Patrick.

Elementary schools

• Bridgeport Elementary

Bridgeport is located in the eastern portion of Tualatin. The school mascot is the bulldog and the school enrolls K-5th grade.

• Byrom Elementary

Byrom is located in Tualatin. The school mascot is Rocky the Bobcat.

• Deer Creek Elementary. The school mascot is the Buck.
• Durham Elementary

Durham is near Tigard high and is K-5. In 2007 Tyler Walker and a first grader cut the ribbon for the schools new playground. The mascot is the Roadrunners and colors are red and blue.

• Metzger Elementary

Metzger is located in Tigard, as of 2009 Karen Twain is the principal. The school mascot is the Mustangs and blue and gold for the colors

• Alberta Rider Elementary
• Templeton Elementary
• CF Tigard Elementary

CFT is located in Tigard. As of 2007, Kirk Sherril is the principal. The school mascot is the wildcat, and the colors are kelly green and white. The school is named after Charles F. Tigard, the son of the founder of the city of Tigard.

• Tualatin Elementary

Tualatin Elementary is in Tualatin, and the school mascot is the panther.

• Mary Woodward Elementary

Mary Woodward is located in Tigard. It's mascot is the eagle.