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Dear friends,
As a product of Portland’s public schools, I care deeply about our children, teachers, and classrooms. The school closure scenarios and uncertainty we’re grappling with are deeply painful and disruptive for families across our city.
Portland public schools play a central and irreplaceable role in our community. Teachers, parents, and students have been through so much in the last few years. The prospect of losing or changing schools feels like yet another painful blow.
I don’t envy the choice that the PPS Board of Education now faces. They must weigh current financial realities against the long-term implications of any closure, and the impact on individual students, families, and neighborhoods.
Enrollments peaked decades ago, nearly reaching 80,000 students. Current enrollment is about 42,000 across 81 schools, down from roughly 50,000 a decade ago. Portland State University researchers currently project a steady decline to about 36,000 students by 2035.
Projections are only a glimpse into a possible future—our decisions matter now more than ever. Economically thriving, affordable, opportunity-rich cities grow, attract families, and make it possible to raise children. Economically thriving cities are forced to make fewer painful choices like the ones our community now faces.
That’s why I’m committed to supporting our parents, teachers, and schools who support our students. My role is repairing, revitalizing, and restoring the economic opportunity, livability, and public safety that underpin the health of our community. As this difficult deliberation unfolds, I am staying in close contact with families, teachers, and PPS leadership to see where the City of Portland can act most effectively.
The district has provided information and answers to frequently asked questions, which I would encourage you to explore. I hope you will learn about the proposals, voice your opinions, and join me in making Portland a place where students and families thrive.
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