Rightsizing Overview

April 19, 2026

Dear PPS Community,

Our recent Board engagement session marked an important step in shaping how we move forward with right-sizing our schools. 

We appreciate everyone who showed up, shared perspective and engaged in a conversation that carries real weight for our students, families, and staff. We also recognize what’s at stake. Our schools anchor neighborhoods, hold history and shape the daily lives of our community. That is exactly why we are approaching this work with intention, clarity, and care.

As a reminder, these discussions are part of the initial Listening and Learning phase of our district’s rightsizing process. No decisions regarding school closures or consolidations have been made. Right now, we are gathering input and feedback from students, families, and staff, which will inform and guide our Board of Education going forward. 

This is an ongoing conversation, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has participated so far. In an effort to include as many voices and viewpoints as possible as we plan and prepare, we are adding more sessions to the calendar. We hope you’ll join us.

Upcoming Engagement Sessions

• Monday, April 20, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.

Join via Zoom here: https://pps-net.zoom.us/j/82289805530#success

• Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at Ida B. Wells High School

Join via Zoom here: https://pps-net.zoom.us/j/82289805530#success

• Saturday, April 25 from 2:00 pm -3:30 p.m. at Benson Polytechnic High School

Join via Zoom here: https://pps-net.zoom.us/j/87110389300?pwd=7wYr3wVf2yC58AbCdujujM1npjUpXw.1

• Monday, April 27 from 6:00 pm -7:30 p.m. at Roosevelt High School

Join via Zoom here: https://pps-net.zoom.us/j/87674445229?pwd=g1bw063XU5Xykar7wGraAyP2dVbaRa.1

Please RSVP here to help us plan for childcare and accommodation needs. (RSVP is much appreciated but not required.)

Thank you again for partnering with us as we work together toward a sustainable future for Portland Public Schools.

Warmly,

The PPS Family and Community Engagement Team

Portland Public Schools

https://www.pps.net/

Portland Public Schools aspires to graduate compassionate, critical thinkers who are able to collaborate to solve problems, and lead a more socially-just world. Central to this goal is affirming and operationalizing our deeply held community value of racial equity, social justice and inclusion.

April 13, 2026

Dear PPS Families, Staff and Community,

Thank you for joining us for our first rightsizing engagement session. Your presence, your questions, and your honesty matter. We are listening.

Conversations about schools are deeply personal. More than buildings, schools are places where students feel seen, where relationships are built, and where communities take shape. We recognize that any discussion about potential changes can bring uncertainty, concern, and even frustration.

We want to take a moment to ground us in what this process is, and what it is not. We are not making decisions in this phase. We are working to fully understand the challenges in front of us so that any future decisions are thoughtful, informed, and centered on students.

The Purpose of Engagement

We engage to listen, learn and build a shared understanding. Your questions from the session made that clear:

• How will this impact student experience and belonging?
• What happens to programs like Pre-K or specialized services?
• Are there alternatives to closures?
• How are equity and access being considered?

These are the right questions. Engagement sessions are not formalities, but they are a critical part of shaping what comes next. Surveys, community conversations, and sessions like the one you attended are designed to ensure that we are not moving forward without hearing from you.

Why We Start with Data

Before any options are considered, we must first understand the full picture. That includes looking at enrollment trends, how our buildings are being used, and how resources are distributed across the district.

You may have heard the term “utilization.” In simple terms, this refers to how much of a school building is being used compared to its total capacity. It helps us understand where we have space that is underused and where we are over capacity.

However, we want to be equally clear: No single data point, especially not utilization alone, will determine any decisions. We are looking at a broader set of factors, including student experience, access to programs, transportation, and the long-term sustainability of our schools.

Addressing What You May Have Heard

We are aware of reports suggesting a specific number of schools that may be closed. No such number has been determined. Any suggestion otherwise is premature and does not reflect where we are in this process.

What Comes Next 

As we move forward, your questions and feedback from the session are helping shape what comes next, and what we need to clarify along the way. 

This work will happen in phases. Right now, we are in Phase 1: Learning and Listening. This means:

• We are engaging first, before decisions are made
• We are gathering feedback from students, families and staff
• We are reflecting on past experiences to inform what comes next

The first round of engagement sessions will directly inform the development of guiding principles for the Board of Education, which will help shape how future options are evaluated.

Our goal is to ensure the path forward is informed by the voices of those most impacted. 

We are committed to making information accessible and continuously updated. In the coming days, you can expect to see the launch of our centralized online hub where you can: 

• Learn more about each phase of this process and our timeline for decisions 
• Submit questions and feedback
• View clear, plain-language explanations of key topics (like utilization and enrollment trends)
• Access maps and data used in this process
• See a calendar of upcoming engagement opportunities
• Review responses to frequently asked questions

Our Commitment

Together, we rise when we keep the focus where it belongs, on our students. Rightsizing is about ensuring every student has access to a high-quality education, strong programs, and the resources they need to succeed, no matter where they live in our city.

We are working to build a system that is sustainable over time, and can adapt to changes in enrollment without requiring students and families to navigate repeated disruptions throughout their K-12 experience. 

Thank you for staying engaged with us in this process.

With Appreciation,

Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong, Superintendent

Dr. Jon Franco, Sr. Chief of Operations 

Portland Public Schools

https://www.pps.net/

Portland Public Schools aspires to graduate compassionate, critical thinkers who are able to collaborate to solve problems, and lead a more socially-just world. Central to this goal is affirming and operationalizing our deeply held community value of racial equity, social justice and inclusion.