Birth rates in Portland dropped by 30% over the last decade (Population Research Center, PSU), leaving many school buildings underenrolled. Combining smaller programs can help create larger, more stable schools with more comparable programming and staffing across the city. 

Data from past district changes shows that more than 93% of families stayed with PPS and moved to nearby public schools. We also looked closely at changes affecting Bridger Creative Science.  Rightsizing intended to create more stable, sustainable, and well-resourced schools that families want to remain part of. 

Implementation of Board approved changes will begin no later than the 2027-28 school
year and will be completed within three years. PPS will use the time before implementation to support students, staff, and school communities through the transition. A full implementation timeline will be shared publicly before the Board makes a final decision. 
 

PPS is drawing from national research, state guidance, and lessons learned from districts including Denver, Seattle, and Austin. In addition, PPS also commissioned an Equity Audit of its most recent district-led balancing initiative, Southeast Enrollment and Program Balancing. Those findings can be found on the SEGC Documents page.  

PPS will provide additional support to help students, families, and staff through any changes. This will include transition planning with affected school communities, with a focus on helping students feel welcomed, connected, and ready for their new school. Specific supports will be based on the needs of each community and will be developed in collaboration with affected students, families, and staff.

On May 26, 2026, the Board adopted four guiding principles for Rightsizing: create sustainable and well-resourced schools; support safe and healthy learning environments; maintain a strong network of neighborhood schools while balancing educational options; and use the PPS Equity Lens to center students most impacted by inequities. No single factor will determine whether a school is changed or closed.

Impacts may not be the same in every part of the city because enrollment, building use, programs, and school locations vary across Portland. PPS will look at impacts across the district, use the Racial Equity Lens to understand whether some students or communities would be affected more than others, and work to mitigate those impacts.

Possible scenarios will be shared publicly in early October before a final recommendation is made. Families, students, staff, and communities will have opportunities to review the scenarios, ask questions, and provide feedback before the Board votes. 

Rightsizing does not change class size expectations. Instead, it is intended to create conditions for more stable staffing and a more consistent student experience. Bringing together under-enrolled programs can also help schools provide more consistent access to art, physical education, music, library, counseling and other student supports.

Bringing students together can create stronger, more consistent school experiences. Schools with more stable enrollment may be better able to offer a wider range of classes, programs, activities, and student supports, while creating more stable staffing over time. This can give students more consistent access to the opportunities and relationships that support learning and belonging. 

Rightsizing is how we align schools, programs, and resources with where students are today, and where we’re headed.

This work was directed by the PPS Board of Education to address declining enrollment, rising costs, and ensure every student has access to a well-resourced, high-quality school experience.

No decisions have been made.

Rightsizing includes a range of possibilities, such as program changes, boundary adjustments, and how we use our buildings. This phase is focused on listening, learning, and exploring options before any recommendations are developed.

Decisions will be guided by data, community input, and clear principles, ensuring strong programs, equitable access, stable school communities, and responsible use of resources.

No single factor will drive decisions; it’s about balancing what is best for students across the system.

When enrollment is uneven and resources are spread thin, students can have very different experiences from school to school.

Rightsizing helps us better align resources so that every student, regardless of where they live, has access to strong programs, supports, and opportunities.

Dear PPS Staff, Families, and Community,

We want to share an important update regarding recent discussions between Portland Public Schools (PPS) and the Portland Association of Teachers (PAT).

PAT members have voted to ratify a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that includes four furlough days for the remainder of the 2025–26 school year. This agreement reflects a shared effort to address the district’s current budget shortfall while maintaining stability in our schools.

As outlined in the agreement, the designated furlough days are:

• May 1, 2026
• May 25, 2026
• June 9, 2026
• June 10, 2026

Furlough days are unpaid and no work will occur on those days.

Importantly, this agreement allows the district to avoid educator layoffs for the 2025–26 school year. This agreement also includes several adjustments to the school calendar and work schedules for the remainder of the year, including:

• Moving the final student day to June 5, 2026
• Shifting planning and grading schedules to accommodate instructional time
• Converting previously scheduled late start/early release days (April 22 and May 13) into full instructional days

PPS recognize that furloughs represent a real impact for our educators and school communities. At the same time, this decision reflects a collective effort to protect classroom continuity and minimize disruption for students during a challenging financial period.

The MOU will be brought forward to the PPS Board for final ratification and voted on during the March 31 board meeting.

We will continue to share updates and provide additional information, including calendar adjustments and implementation details, through our centralized bargaining updates page.

As always, our focus remains on supporting students, maintaining stability in our schools, and navigating this moment with transparency and care.

PPS Bargaining Communications

Portland Public Schools

Community voice is a critical part of this process. There will be multiple opportunities to engage, including community sessions, surveys, and feedback tools.

This website will serve as the central hub for updates, timelines, and ways to participate.