How will HS redesign affect next year's freshmen?

Families of students who are entering high school next year may have specific questions and concerns about how High School System Design will affect them.  PPS staff have complied a list of questions and answers to help with this transition.

At the January 11th School Board meeting, PPS Chief of Staff Zeke Smith laid out the next steps for the Portland School Board’s consideration of High School System Design.  On Friday, Jan. 15, the board work session will center on focus schools – defining how they work within the system and the process to identify focus schools, whether new or continuing.  At the Jan. 25 board meeting, Chief Academic Officer Xavier Botana will offer an update on refinements to the core program for community schools, based on feedback at community meetings and further staff and board work.
 
In February, staff will come to the board with the outlines of a resolution that would confirm the work to date and set the stage for specific recommendations later. The resolution would ask for validation or agreement on several key issues:

• The rationale behind enrollment assumptions,
• The core program for community schools,
• Criteria to analyze options for school locations and boundaries,
• The optimal number and projected size of community schools, and
• The intent of enrollment and transfer policy within the system.

The school board will be asked to vote on the resolution in late February or early March. That would set the stage for the next conversations – about specific locations for schools, policy changes needed, school initiation or closure recommendations and detailed implementation plans.
 
Learn more about High School System Design.