Portland Public Schools Proposes Closing 10 Elementary Schools

Portland Public Schools Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong released final recommendations on Friday night to close and consolidate 10 elementary schools over a two-year period, responding to declining enrollment and a $65 million budget gap for next school year, KATU reported.

The revised plan scales back an earlier proposal released by the district that would have shuttered up to 14 campuses. That initial draft sparked community protests and prompted calls from Portland city leadership and Gov. Tina Kotek to slow down the decision-making process so families could fully understand the impacts.

Portland Public Schools updates list of elementary schools recommended to close — KOIN 6

Under the final recommendation, the closures and program changes will roll out in two distinct phases. Five schools are slated to close in fall 2027, followed by five more closures in fall 2028, alongside grade configuration shifts and program relocations.

For fall 2027, Beach Elementary students will move to Chief Joseph Elementary, which carries a projected enrollment of 441. Students in Beach’s Spanish Dual Language Immersion program will transition to César Chávez. Peninsula Elementary will close with students moving to Rosa Parks Elementary, creating a projected enrollment of 481, while César Chávez English Scholar students also relocate to Rosa Parks. Sabin Elementary students will transfer to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, resulting in a projected enrollment of 424.

Creston Elementary will close, sending students to Atkinson Elementary for a projected enrollment of 474, though Creston’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing program will move to Glencoe Elementary to reach a projected enrollment of 312.

Buckman Elementary students will divide between Abernethy Elementary and Sunnyside K-5, with projected enrollments of 312 and 480, respectively. Meanwhile, Beverly Cleary K-5 and Irvington Elementary will merge, operating at Irvington for one year while Beverly Cleary undergoes seismic reinforcement, creating a merged school with a projected enrollment of 502.

Atkinson elementary school portland or primaryphoto

Additional shifts for fall 2027 include Atkinson students continuing in Spanish DLI moving to Lent, Scott students continuing in Spanish DLI moving to Rigler, and Sitton students continuing in Spanish DLI moving to César Chávez.

The Metropolitan Learning Center will become a K-8 school, with students in grades 9–12 moving to Alliance High School or their neighborhood high school. Six K-8 schools—Beverly Cleary, César Chávez, Faubion, Laurelhurst, Sunnyside, and Vernon—will convert to K-5, with students in grades 6–8 moving to nearby middle schools.

For fall 2028, Rose City Park Elementary will close, with English Scholar students moving to Scott Elementary for a projected enrollment of 489, and students continuing in Vietnamese DLI moving to Vestal Elementary. Lewis Elementary students will consolidate into Duniway Elementary, creating a projected enrollment of 533. Marysville Elementary students will transfer to Arleta Elementary for a projected enrollment of 415.

Woodmere Elementary students will move to Whitman Elementary, resulting in a projected enrollment of 444. The Odyssey K-8 choice program will relocate to Forest Park. Irvington Elementary will officially close, and the merged Beverly Cleary–Irvington school community will move together to the renovated Beverly Cleary building.

4 Portland schools spared from closure as superintendent unveils revised plan — Harley Coldiron Reports

Further changes in fall 2028 involve Clark students continuing in Mandarin DLI moving to Woodstock, and Bridger K-8 converting to a K-5 model, shifting students in grades 6–8 to nearby middle schools.

District officials held dozens of community meetings to gather public feedback before finalizing the scaled-back timeline.

PPS revises plan to close 10 schools after public pushback — KPTV FOX 12 Oregon

“This recommendation reflects what we heard from our communities and what we know our students need to succeed,” Armstrong said on Friday. “We listened, made meaningful changes and developed a plan that balances the difficult enrollment and financial realities facing our district with our responsibility to provide every student with a strong educational experience.”

The school board is scheduled to vote on Armstrong’s recommendation on Tuesday, Dec. 15.

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