Portland Public Schools will release the first list of schools that could close on Monday, moving its downsizing plan from broad discussion to specific campuses. The district says closures are needed because enrollment is falling and budget problems are serious.
Enrollment fell from more than 49,000 students in 2019 to about 43,000 students last year, a loss of 6,000 students in six years. Ethan Sharygin, director of Portland State University’s Population Research Center, said Portland Public Schools does not have a choice as enrollment keeps falling.
Enrollment in the district
Sharygin said fewer kindergarteners are the biggest issue. “That class size remains small throughout all 12 years of primary and secondary education. So, it has a really big effect over time, and it compounds over time.”
He also tied the district’s decline to wider birth-rate trends in Oregon. “People are waiting longer to have kids, they’re having fewer kids overall than in the past.” Ten years ago, the Oregon Health Authority said the fertility rate in Oregon was 58 births per 1,000 women. Last year, it said the rate had fallen to 45 births per 1,000 women.
Jackie Wirz and Odyssey
Jackie Wirz, the parent of an eighth grader at Odyssey in Southwest Portland, said the school is “an interactive and history-themed school.” She said, “It is a hands on experiential team based learning environment that really allows my child to not only survive school but thrive.”
Wirz said she is watching the closure plan closely. “I am a ball of nerves.” She added, “It’s something that I’m very concerned about. I don’t want my son or any of his friends or my community to experience stress and anxiety over the future of their children’s education.”
Monday list from PPS
Portland Public Schools says closing schools will help cut costs, balance resources and improve learning for students. Wirz’s concern runs against that argument: the district says closures are necessary, while a parent at Odyssey worries PPS may cut too much, too fast.
Which schools will be on the proposed closure list Monday is the next question for families. Once the district names them, affected parents will know which campuses are entering the closure process and which communities must prepare for the next round of decisions.
