Portland, Ore. – In response to a month of vocal community feedback, Portland Public Schools (PPS) Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong presented a revised school‑rightsizing plan on Friday. The new recommendation calls for the closure and consolidation of ten elementary schools across the 2027‑28 and 2028‑29 school years, down from an earlier draft that listed up to fourteen closures.
Revised timeline and school changes
The plan calls for five schools to close in the fall of 2027 and another five in the fall of 2028. Under the revised schedule, Beverly Cleary and Irvington elementary schools will merge, operating out of the Irvington campus while the Beverly Cleary building undergoes seismic reinforcement. Five additional schools will be shuttered in 2028, though the district has not released the full list of those sites.
Armstrong emphasized that the adjustments reflect the district’s listening to families and educators. “This recommendation reflects what we heard from our communities and what we know our students need to succeed,” she said in a statement.
Preserving K‑8 schools and language programs
Six K‑8 schools – Beverly Cleary, César Chávez, Faubion, Laurelhurst, Sunnyside and Vernon – will transition to a K‑5 model in fall 2027, while Bridger K‑8 will make the same change in fall 2028. The Metropolitan Learning Center will become a K‑8 school in 2027, with its high‑school students moving to Alliance High School or their neighborhood high schools.
Importantly, the district will keep four K‑8 campuses open, including Sellwood Middle School, James John, Maplewood and Stephenson elementary schools, which were slated for closure in earlier scenarios. Sunnyside will retain its environmental focus as a K‑5 school, and the Odyssey K‑8 choice program will relocate to Forest Park in 2028 rather than to the Metropolitan Learning Center as originally proposed.
Spanish dual‑language immersion programs will be consolidated from nine elementary schools into four regional hubs at César Chávez, Rigler, Lent and Ainsworth, with transportation provided from centralized locations. Mandarin immersion will be streamlined from three pathways to two, preserving seats in each program.
Financial context and next steps
The district faces a projected $65 million budget deficit for the 2027‑28 school year. While the revised closures aim to align resources with declining enrollment, PPS officials acknowledge that additional budget cuts will still be required. Since the 2023‑24 school year, the district has already reduced its budget by $171.8 million.
The PPS Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the new recommendation on Dec. 15 after further public input. Parents, teachers and community members will continue to have opportunities to comment, and the district has pledged individualized transition support for students affected by school closures, program moves or boundary changes.
Community response
The Portland Association of Teachers urged a slower, more community‑centered process after the initial proposals, calling for a thorough review of all options before any schools are closed. Many families expressed concern about the impact on neighborhood cohesion and student transportation, while also recognizing the fiscal pressures confronting the district.
Armstrong reiterated that the revised plan balances the district’s financial realities with its responsibility to provide a strong educational experience for every student. The upcoming board vote will determine whether the revised rightsizing plan moves forward, setting the course for Portland’s public schools over the next several years.
Original reporting: KPTV FOX 12 Portland (news) — read the source article.
