Portland Public Schools (Oregon)
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Portland Public Schools (or PPS) is a public school district located in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is a Pre K-12 district with an enrollment of approximately 46,000 students.[1] It is the largest school district in Oregon. About 100 schools and 50 special needs sites are maintained within the district.
[edit] History
The first public school in Portland was a schoolhouse taught by John T. Outhouse from December 15, 1851 until March 1853, when Abigail M. Clarke began teaching. The school was funded by a legislative act in 1849. Two school districts were organized at a December 18, 1854 meeting, with a school board containing Thomas Frazier, William S. Ladd, and Shubrick Norris. The districts were named School District Number 1 and School District Number 2, but were merged on March 31, 1856 into a single School District Number 1.[2]
School District Number 1 opened a school in fall 1855, presumably replacing the school started by Outhouse and Clarke. This school was presided over by Sylvester Pennoyer. In 1858, a new schoolhouse was built, financed by canceling school for a year. The school was located at Sixth and Morrison and named the Central School. The Central School location was later occupied by the Portland Hotel and is now Pioneer Courthouse Square. A high school, Portland High School, was opened in 1869, and a night school program was created at the high school in 1889.[2]
By the end of the 1870s, there were four elementary schools: Central School (1858-?), Harrison School (1866-?), Colored School (Portland, Oregon) (1867-1872), and North School (1868-?).[2]
Portland schools were questioned by Harvey W. Scott and The Oregonian in 1880, especially regarding the efficacy and practicality of public high schools. The yearly cost to educate a student in 1879 in Portland was $24.06.[2]
A compulsory education program was enacted in Oregon on February 25, 1889. By 1891, the district contained 95 teachers, seven elementary schools, one high school, and one night school. The schools were described as crowded by The Oregonian at that time. Other school districts in East Portland and Albina were combined in 1891 (with 83% of residents voting in favor of consolidation). This added nine elementary schools, 74 teachers, and 2698 students to the system.[2]
The St. Johns (school) District was annexed on July 7, 1915, and the James John High School was added[clarification needed] at this time. On the suggestion of superintendent Lewis H. Alderman, high school dances were allowed by the school board beginning in 1915, with the stipulation that "the parents of a majority of the students attend."[2] Portable classrooms were used, especially in 1919, with 60 portables added. By this time, there were evening schools taught at Benson High School, Girls' Polytechnic (later merged with Benson), Commerce, Jefferson High School, Ladd, and Lincoln High School. A new administration building opened at 7th and Clackamas in the Lloyd District.[2]
On June 21, 1924, a $5 million bond was passed to build and remodel schools over the next five years, part of a planned three-part construction program expected to last 15 years and cost $15 million. Four new schools were planned during the first five years.[2] By 1927, there were 43,419 elementary students served.[2]
In 1930, the Great Depression caused a decrease in the number of elementary students enrolled, but an increase in both men and women in the high schools. The 1931 annual report stated: "At no previous time has the question of clothing, books, and carfare been so serious. Realizing that idleness is perhaps the greatest contributing factor toward delinquency, we hope to double our efforts this fall in the attempt to keep every child in school who should be there."[2] Teacher salaries, school year length, and other cost-cutting measures were made in 1932-1933.[2]
A new superintendent, Ralph E. Dugdale, began on August 26, 1937. He strongly believed "the schools of Portland were training people for jobs that did not exist," and began making aggressive curriculum and organizational changes. Twelve committees (with 169 faculty) over elementary education were created, and monthly report cards were canceled (in 1950, this was described as a "nationwide trend of discarding the antiquated method of sending monthly reports on student grades to parents."). Instead, occasional and irregular reports on academics and citizenship were sent home. Examinations on general knowledge and knowledge of educational development were instituted for new instructors. High school students were required to pass a minimum number of credits per semester, and then were evaluated to see if an alternative school would work better.[2]
The district trained a large number of defense workers in the national defense program, in preparation for World War II . About 10,000 men were trained in 1941 in airplane construction, shipbuilding, and other fields. During September 1942, 4400 additional elementary students enrolled. Ten teachers were added. There was an increased number of freshmen and sophmores in the high schools, but an overall loss of 832 students due to war industries and enlistment. By 1942, there were 63,238 school-age students, with 54,655 registered, and 1,613 instructors in 76 buildings.[2]
In 1945, Dr. Willard B. Spalding, superintendent since 1943, issued a 120-page report titled "Modernizing the School Plant", calling for a $25 million building program and projecting major changes in store. Fighting with Governor Earl Snell for a special legislative session, high school students struck for a day. In August 1946, 50 kindergardens were closed due to lack of funds and instructors. Other large cost-cutting measures were taken, including discussion of closing high school sports programs. Spalding and his Assistant Superintendent went on recruiting trips in the south and east states. Spalding resigned on June 30, 1947 to become the Dean of the College of Education at the University of Illinois.[2]
Dr. Paul A. Rehmus was the next superintendent, notable for having the highest annual salary of any superintendent in the history of Portland Public Schools to this time- $13,000. Rehmus rejected progressive education, stating "The term 'progressive education' as a definite school of teaching method does not exist. The demarcation between what is formal and what is progressive education is almost impossible to define." In 1947, a $25 million levy was approved by voters, as well as $1.7 million to balance the operational budget.[2]
On June 30, 1949, there were 73,972 school-age students in the district boundaries, with 49,825 registered for school. The district had 1,828 teachers and 76 buildings.[2]
In October 1949 a "secret society problem" developed where three high school fraternities were involved in the "manhandling of a girl student." 50 boys had taken part in the incident, part of an initiation. An emergency school board meeting led to the banning of secret societies in the district. Parents and adult members of these secret societies filed a lawsuit in 1950.[2]
[edit] Demographics
The Portland Public Schools enrolls 84% of the available school-age children.[3] Nonetheless, total school enrollment is declining, accompanying a change in Portland's demographics. As a result, the Portland Public Schools are facing increasing budget pressure.
In the 2009 school year, the district had 1706 students classified as homeless by the Department of Education, or 3.8% of students in the district.[4]
[edit] List of schools
[edit] Elementary schools (Grades K-5)
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[edit] Mixed grade
- School grade ranges of schools listed below are K-8 unless noted.
- Arleta School
- Beverly Cleary School (formerly Hollywood-Fernwood)
- Clarendon-Portsmouth
- Irvington
- Joseph L. Meek Professional Technical
- Meek Pro Tech operates an ungraded alternative high school for 16- to 21-year olds previously unsuccessful in traditional high school programs.
- King, Pre-K-8
- King is transitioning to an International Baccalaureate Programme.
- Metropolitan Learning Center, K-12
- Sunnyside Environmental School
- Trillium Charter School, K-12
- Winterhaven
- Winterhaven has an accelerated program with a special focus on math, science and technology. By the time students finish 8th grade, they have completed freshman math, science, and English.
- On November 9, 1995, the Portland Public Schools Board of Education approved a proposal, called the Winterhaven Plan, to establish the school. According to the school's Web site, the plan includes these elements:[7]
- "A flexible, creative, and rigorous learning environment geared to the level and rate of the individual student"
- "An accelerated curriculum which includes integrated projects, special interest classes, community service, and work-related experiences"
- "An emphasis on the development of intellect, character, and creativity with a fostering of a sense of belonging and community"
[edit] Middle schools (Grades 6-8)
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[edit] High schools (Grades 9-12)
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[edit] School board
- Carole Smith, Superintendent
- Ruth Adkins (Zone #1)
- David Wynde (Zone #2)
- Bobbie Regan (Zone #3)
- Dan Ryan (Zone #4)
- Sonja Henning (Zone #5)
- Trudy Sargent (Zone #6)
- Dilafruz Williams (Zone #7)
[edit] Student representatives
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This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2008) |
In addition to seven board members, every year a Student Representative is chosen to serve on the board for an entire school year. Although his or her vote does not technically count, the student member is allowed to vote on issues and sit on the committees along with the board members. Student representatives are treated as active Board Members and are addressed by the title Student Director. They are also allowed to recommend certain policies for the Board to pass.
[edit] School reconfiguration
On April 4, 2006, Superintendent Vicki Phillips proposed a new school configuration that over a three- or four-year period could phase out at least five under-performing middle schools and one performing middle school (Fernwood) in favor of creating new kindergarten through eighth-grade schools in areas of North, Northeast and Southeast Portland.
The proposals now go out for community review and will be the subject of four School Board hearings throughout the city. After any modifications, the Board will consider the proposals at its May 1 School Board meeting.
In addition to expanding successful elementary programs to K-8, the Superintendent’s proposals suggest some changes to boundaries and feeder patterns to balance enrollment among schools. In four areas of the city, Superintendent Phillips has asked the communities of neighboring schools to come together to address issues of overcrowding or under-utilization of school buildings, boundaries and feeder patterns. Those community proposals are due back to the Superintendent in the fall.
[edit] George, James John, Sitton
Superintendent Phillips is asking the community to develop a proposal around George Middle School and James John and Sitton elementary schools.
The goal is to create three strong schools in the area, each with enough students and teachers to support a strong curriculum. Options could include boosting the middle school’s enrollment by attracting more neighborhood students, and further strengthening the educational program at all three schools in their current K-5 and middle school configuration. The community may also explore boundary changes, or options to transition all three schools to the K-8 model.
The number of families and students living in North Portland is expected to grow over the next 10 years, so Superintendent Phillips is not asking the community to consider closing a school building.
The school district’s area director and school principals will work with the school communities (including the school Site Councils and PTAs) and a community-based facilitator to develop a proposal to the Superintendent in the fall of 2006. Superintendent Phillips will then forward her recommendations to the School Board for a vote. Implementation of the plan would start in fall 2007.
[edit] Portsmouth, Astor, Ball, Clarendon, Peninsula
Superintendent Phillips is proposing to turn three elementary schools into K-8 schools: Astor, Peninsula and Clarendon. Portsmouth’s middle school program would phase out, and Clarendon K-8 would move into the current Portsmouth building.
Portsmouth Middle School would phase out, accepting no new students. In 2006-07, it would serve only seventh- and eighth-grade students; and in 2007-08, only eighth-grade students, who would be joined by Clarendon’s kindergarten through seventh-grade students.
Clarendon would grow to K-8 over three years. In fall 2006, it would add sixth grade in its current building. In 2007, it would move intact as a K-7, joining the remaining Portsmouth eighth-grade students and creating a merged K-8. The school community might choose to establish a new name for the combined school at that time. The current Clarendon building would be closed.
Astor Elementary would grow to K-8 in its current school building, adding a grade each year and limiting incoming transfers to manage its school size.
Ball Elementary, which moves to New Columbia in the fall of 2006, would continue as a K-5, with students moving to sixth grade in either Peninsula or Clarendon. Peninsula would grow to K-8 by one grade a year in its large building, becoming a year-round K-8 school.
[edit] Ockley Green, Humboldt
The Superintendent proposes to merge Humboldt Elementary into Ockley Green, with the timing and transition plan to be developed jointly by the principals and Jefferson Redesign/Implementation Team. Ockley Green has already been approved as a K-8 arts magnet school beginning in the next school year, and students throughout the Jefferson High School attendance area have first priority to attend the school. The community might choose a new name for the arts magnet school.
Under the Superintendent's proposal, the neighborhood attendance area that now feeds Humboldt would be divided among neighboring elementary schools: King, Boise-Eliot and Beach.
[edit] Fernwood, Hollyrood, Irvington, Laurelhurst
The Superintendent proposes to transition these four schools into three K-8s located at Fernwood, Irvington and Laurelhurst.
Irvington and Laurelhurst elementary schools would transition to become K-8, adding one grade level a year, starting with sixth grade in fall 2006. Both would limit new transfers to manage school size during the three-year transition.
Hollyrood, now a K-3 program that feeds into Laurelhurst and then middle school at Fernwood, would have all the students removed to the Fernwood facility and become a K-8 program over the next few years at Fernwood. The current Hollyrood building would become a preschool center after the transition of Hollyrood children into the Fernwood K-8. The new school community might choose a new name for the Fernwood facility.
Boundary adjustments among the three elementary neighborhoods (Hollyrood, Irvington and Laurelhurst) would assign additional incoming neighborhood students to Hollyrood and Irvington, from Laurelhurst, to balance enrollment among the three eventual K-8s.
Current Fernwood sixth- and seventh-grade students could continue in their school building through eighth grade.
Superintendent Phillips is asking the Hollyrood and Fernwood communities to collaborate on a proposal to transition toward a K-8 community. The proposal is due to her by May 1.
In May 2008, Fernwood and Hollyrood schools became one school named the Beverly Cleary School and split into two campuses, Hollyrood Campus and Fernwood Campus.
[edit] Sabin
The Superintendent proposes to create a full K-8 program at Sabin Elementary, with the neighborhood program growing by one grade a year, starting with sixth grade in 2006. The Access Program at Sabin already serves K-8 students. Even as the school expands to offer 6th to 8th grades, Sabin neighborhood students would still have the option of continuing to Beaumont Middle School, as they do now. (Passed by the Portland School Board 4-3, after a Board decision to consider Sabin separately from the other schools that feed students to Grant High School.)
[edit] Gregory Heights, Lee, Rigler, Rose City Park, Scott, Vestal
In outer Northeast Portland, the School Board approved proposals to create five K-8 programs: Lee, Rigler, Rose City Park, Scott and Vestal, currently elementary schools.
Lee, Rigler, Scott and Vestal all add one grade each school year for three years until they expand to a K-8 program beginning the 2006-2007 school year.
Rose City Park will add its students to the current Gregory Heights MS building creating a K-8 program in the 2007-2008 school year, and the current Rose City Park building will close. The Gregory Heights program will be phased out, replaced by the newly named Roseway Heights K-8 program.
The boundary between Rigler and Faubion Elementary School, to its northwest, would be adjusted to assign a small number of incoming neighborhood students to Faubion. The Superintendent is not proposing further boundary changes at this time.[9]
[edit] Binnsmead, Clark, Creative Science, Lent, Marysville
Superintendent Phillips is proposing to expand four elementary schools into K-8 programs: Clark, Bridger, Marysville and the Creative Science School. Bridger’s neighborhood program would merge with Binnsmead in the current Binnsmead building to become a K-8.
Marysville would grow to K-8 in its current school building, adding sixth grade next year.
The Creative Science School, now located with Bridger, will grow to a K-8, adding a grade each year (the School Board previously voted to expand the Creative Science School). The Creative Science School would have two years to grow sufficient enrollment (at least 350) to maintain their status as a separate school.
[Clark] would also grow to become a K-8, but would not expand to K-6 until fall 2007 (in fall 2006, sixth-grade students from Clark would attend Binnsmead). Bridger’s neighborhood program would grow to K-6 and would move into the Binnsmead building in fall 2006. The merged schools would operate as a K-8. The school community could choose to establish a new name at that time. As already planned, Bridger will start a Spanish immersion program in fall 2006. It would bring that program to Binnsmead when the neighborhood program moves to that building.
New attendance boundaries for the Clark and Bridger/Binnsmead K-8 schools would be set to balance enrollment between the schools. These new boundaries would affect only students enrolling for the first time, at kindergarten or as they move into the neighborhood. Current students in those schools would not be moved based on the new boundaries, unless they choose to transfer schools.
Lent Elementary would remain a K-5 school, and its sixth-grade students would continue to attend Binnsmead, and then merged Bridger-Binnsmead K-8. Lane Middle School, Kelly, Whitman and Woodmere elementary schools
Superintendent Phillips is calling for a community proposal to improve education options for students attending Lane Middle School and Kelly, Whitman and Woodmere elementary schools.
The goal is to create four strong schools in the area, each with enough enrollment to support a strong curriculum. Options could include boosting the middle school’s enrollment by attracting more neighborhood students, and further strengthening the educational program at all four schools in their current K-5 and middle school configuration. The community might also explore boundary changes, or options to transition all four schools to the K-8 model. They could also work with the neighborhood high school, Marshall, to consider other configurations (K-5, 6-12; K-6, 7-12). The number of families and students living in outer Southeast Portland is expected to grow over the next 10 years, so Superintendent Phillips is not asking the community to consider closing a school building.
The school district's area director and school principals will work with the school communities (including the school Site Councils and PTAs) and a community-based facilitator to develop a proposal to the Superintendent in the fall of 2006. Superintendent Phillips will then forward her recommendations to the School Board for a vote, with implementation of the plan to start in fall 2007.
[edit] Kellogg, Arleta, Atkinson, Creston, Woodstock
Superintendent Phillips is proposing to close Kellogg Middle School after one more school year due to declining enrollment and the potential of improving student achievement through K-8 schools in the neighborhood area.
Arleta and Creston elementary schools would transition to become a K-8 school, adding one grade level a year, starting with sixth grade in fall 2006. Arleta became a K-8 school in the Fall of 2008.
Kellogg Middle School would serve only seventh- and eighth-grade students in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the remaining eighth-grade students would be assigned to Hosford Middle School, at 2303 SE 28th Place. The Kellogg building closed in fall 2007. Kellogg is now closed and is used for school district storage.
Atkinson Elementary students now are split between Mt. Tabor and Kellogg middle schools. Under this proposal, all neighborhood program students would be assigned to Mt. Tabor for sixth grade, starting in fall 2006. (Language immersion program students continue to Hosford.) Woodstock Elementary neighborhood program students, now assigned to Kellogg, would be assigned to attend Hosford (Woodstock language immersion students already feed into Hosford). Sellwood Middle School, Duniway, Grout, Lewis, Llewellyn elementary schools and Winterhaven K-8
Superintendent Phillips is asking the community to develop a proposal around schools located in and around the Sellwood-Moreland neighborhoods, including four elementary schools, Sellwood Middle School and Winterhaven, a focus option K-8 school.
The Superintendent wants to spur a community discussion of how to create strong schools in the area, each with enough students and teachers to support a strong curriculum. Another goal is for the community to develop a plan to consolidate programs into five of the six currently operating buildings (several of the current school buildings would require significant and expensive upgrades to keep operating into the future).
Options could include maintaining the current K-5 and middle school configuration but redrawing boundaries to move from four elementary schools to three. The community may also explore the option of transitioning some schools to a K-8 model. The school district’s area director and school principals will work with the school communities (including the school Site Councils and PTAs) and a community-based facilitator to develop a proposal to the Superintendent in the fall of 2006. Superintendent Phillips will then forward her recommendations to the School Board for a vote, with implementation of the plan to start in fall 2007.
[edit] Gray, West Sylvan, Bridlemile, Capitol Hill, Hayhurst, Maplewood, Rieke
After public discussions, Superintendent Phillips modified her earlier recommendations, and on May 4, 2006, the School Board adopted the recommendations as modified. Rather than close Rieke Elementary as originally proposed, the Board directed the Rieke community to develop a marketing plan intended to increase the true capture rate of Rieke within its enrollment area. The Rieke community developed that plan,[10] which was approved[11] by the Board of Education in October 2006. The superintendent and board pledged to work with the school community to provide resources and funds consistent with the plan and proportional to growth at the school. Several board members indicated that Rieke's location in a Metro-designated Town Center intended for future dense growth was a significant motivation for their vote. Pursuant to the plan, Rieke added in fall 2007 an additional Kindergarten class and portable classrooms to accommodate the additional students; in 2009 yet another pair of portable classrooms were added, bringing the total enrollment at the school to around 375—a 100-student increase over the 2005-06 school year.
The Superintendent also recommended, and the board approved, a community discussion to address crowding at Lincoln High School and West Sylvan Middle School (including the possible phasing out of the East Sylvan building) through a committee made up of the school district’s area director and school principals, as well as school communities (including the school Site Councils and PTAs) and a community-based facilitator to develop a proposal to the Superintendent in the fall of 2006.
[edit] Immersion programs
PPS has several Language immersion programs. These include one for Mandarin Chinese at Woodstock Elementary, and a Spanish Immersion program at Atkinson Elementary. Both immersion programs feed to Hosford Middle School, which in turn feeds to Cleveland High School. Beach and Ainsworth Elementary Schools both have Spanish Immersion programs as well, which feed to Lincoln High. There is also a Japanese Immersion Program which runs through Richmond Elementary, Mt. Tabor Middle School, and Grant High School.
[edit] See also
- List of school districts in Oregon
- Multnomah Education Service District
- David Douglas School District, serving part of eastern Portland
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ Portland Public Schools Enrollment Summary[1], page 3
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Polich, Edward L. (1950). A history of Portland's secondary school system with emphasis on the superintendents and the curriculum (Thesis/dissertation). University of Portland. OCLC 232551057.
- ^ Portland Public Schools Enrollment Forecast 2006-2015, see page 13
- ^ "Count of homeless students in Oregon school districts, 2008-2009". The Oregonian. pp. 6. http://blog.oregonlive.com/education_impact/2009/09/homelessbydistrict.pdf. Retrieved 2009-09-18.
- ^ a b c d e School is planned to transition into a K-8 school
- ^ a b c d School includes a Pre-K Program
- ^ About Winterhaven, official school Web site, accessed March 23, 2007
- ^ School operates 7-8
- ^ PPS School Board Approves Plans for 19 K-8 Schools
- ^ Growing a school
- ^ http://www.pps.k12.or.us/depts/communications/reconfig/conversations/rieke/Rieke_final_resolution.pdf
[edit] External links
- Portland Public Schools (official site)
- District Map
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