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Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Funding

We want to hear from you! The Portland Public Schools is accepting public comment on our ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) funding application through July 3, 2025. Your input matters and will be considered before we submit our application.

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Congrats CBHS Graduates!

Casco Bay High School celebrated its 17th graduation on June 5 at Merrill Auditorium—blending heartfelt moments with Casco’s signature spirit and humor!

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Congrats DHS Graduates!

Deering High School celebrated its 151st graduation on June 5 at Merrill Auditorium, honoring the Class of 2025—hailed as “the Comeback Class” for leading Deering’s post-COVID resurgence!

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Congrats PHS Graduates!

Portland High School, one of the oldest operating public high schools in the United States, held its 204th graduation on June 4 at Merrill Auditorium, celebrating the Class of 2025 with student performances, speeches, and special recognitions!

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Pre-K to 8 Attendance Boundaries

The Board has established a committee to explore whether the district should redraw enrollment boundaries for elementary and middle schools to achieve more equitable enrollment and demographic balance.

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PPS Community Newsletter

Want the latest news and upcoming events? Read our latest newsletter!

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News/Announcements

District News & Calendars

Learn about the latest news and events for the Portland Public Schools.

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Retiree graphic 2025

More than 30 Portland Public Schools employees are retiring this school year. The retirees were honored by the Portland Board of Public Education and the district in a ceremony on Tuesday, June 10. Those recognized have served throughout the district and held a wide variety of roles in service of students and families.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about PPS Retirees Honored June 10
FY 26 budget logo Funding Our Priorities

Superintendent Ryan Scallon and Board of Public Education Chair Sarah Lentz issued a statement expressing gratitude to City voters for their decisive approval June 10 of the Portland Public Schools’ budget for fiscal year 2026. Voters also elected retired Portland High School music teacher Jayne Sawtelle to a vacant at-large Board seat.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about City Voters Validate FY26 Budget
CBHS Graduation group shot of Class of 2025
  • Achievement

Casco Bay High School held its 17th graduation exercises on Thursday, June 5, at Merrill Auditorium. Casco’s commencement ceremonies are known for mixing traditional graduation pomp and circumstance with the unconventional, such as good-natured jokes interspersing heartfelt personal testimonies. This year’s evening ceremony for the Class of 2025 was no exception.

  • Casco Bay High School
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about CBHS Holds 17th Graduation Exercises
photo of Deering High graduates 2025
  • Achievement

Deering High School held its 151st graduation exercises for the Class of 2025 on Thursday, June 5, at Merrill Auditorium. Featured in the morning ceremony were remarks by Superintendent Ryan Scallon, Deering Principal Jake Giessman and Deering Assistant Principal Halima Noor, as well as speeches by students, musical performances and the presentation of diplomas.

  • Deering High School
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about DHS Holds 151st Commencement
New School, Central Office Leaders

Please join the Portland Public Schools in welcoming some new administrators in the district! They include four new elementary school leaders: Joe Trivisonno, principal at Rowe Elementary School; Laurie Cloutier, principal at Lyseth Elementary School; Taryn Southard, new lead teacher at Reiche Elementary School; and Bill Anton, teaching principal at Peaks Island Elementary School and Cliff Island School. The district also recently hired Dr. Cheryl Proctor as Chief of Schools & Academics; Bryon Newcomb as Director of IT; and Sarah Rent as Elementary Director of Special Education.

  • Cliff Island School
  • Lyseth Elementary School
  • Peaks Island Elementary School
  • Portland Public Schools
  • Reiche Elementary School
  • Rowe Elementary School
Read More about New School, Central Office Leaders
Anja Machado 2025
  • Achievement

Anja Machado, a distinguished senior at Deering High School, has earned national recognition by being named a National Merit Scholar, being awarded a National Merit University of Tulsa Scholarship, placing her among an elite group of students nationwide celebrated for exceptional academic ability and the potential for success in rigorous college studies.

  • Deering High School
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about DHS Senior National Merit Scholar
Photo of PHS graduates 2025
  • Achievement

Portland High School, one of the oldest operating public high schools in the United States, held its 204th graduation exercises on Wednesday, June 4, at Merrill Auditorium. The late morning ceremony included remarks by Superintendent Ryan Scallon and Portland High Principal Sheila Jepson, speeches and musical performances by students and the presentation of awards and diplomas. 

  • Portland High School
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about PHS Holds 204th Commencement Ceremony
EECS logo

The City of Portland has received a grant of approximately $74,000 for a new youth mentoring program at East End Community School. The City’s Parks, Recreation & Facilities Department has started up the program thanks to a grant from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) to build an evidence-based youth mentoring program that serves youth who are living in communities impacted by substance misuse.

  • East End Community School
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Grant Funds Youth Mentoring at EECS
Cedar Levin
  • Achievement

Cedar Levin, a senior at Portland High School in the dance program at Portland Arts and Technology High School is PATHS Student of the Year for 2024-2025! Cedar has been part of the PATHS dance program for two years, where she excels in every aspect. Each of Maine’s 27 career and technical education (CTE) center annually selects a student of the year. 

  • PATHS
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about PHS Senior PATHS Student of the Year
Remijo Wani speaking to Rowe students
  • Whole Student

In May, students at Rowe Elementary welcomed a very special guest with deep roots in their own neighborhood: Remijo Wani, a 2nd Team All-American basketball player from St. Joseph’s College in Standish. He returned to his childhood stomping grounds to speak with students in third- through fifth-grade—bringing with him a powerful message of perseverance, gratitude and community pride.

  • Portland Public Schools
  • Rowe Elementary School
Read More about Successful Alum Inspires Rowe Students
Summer Meals Map 2025

The Portland Public schools will be operating various summer meal sites at 11 locations across the city of Portland this summer. All children and teens 18 years and younger can receive a nutritious meal free of charge to be enjoyed on site. Most sites will begin serving on Wednesday, June 25. Meals will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Children and teens can attend any of the meal site locations convenient to them.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Summer Meals Program Starts June 25!
Vote on Budget and Board Seat June 10

The City Council voted unanimously in May to approve the $171.8 million school budget for the 2025-2026 school year. Now it’s the public’s turn: Portland city voters will be asked to give their stamp of approval to the school budget on Tuesday, June 10. In addition to voting on the budget, Portland voters will also have the chance to vote on two candidates running for a vacant seat on the Portland Board of Public Education.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Vote on Budget and Board Seat June 10
graphic on June public engagement sessions on work of Boundaries Committee

Initial public engagement sessions regarding the work of the Attendance Boundaries Advisory Committee are set for early June. Here are the dates, times and locations of the meetings (PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LOCATION OF THE JUNE 3 MEETING HAS BEEN CHANGED TO EAST END COMMUNITY SCHOOL):

  • Monday, June 2, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m, in person at Ocean Avenue Elementary School
  • Tuesday, June 3, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m, in person at East End Community School
  • Wednesday, June 4, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m, VIRTUAL. Here's the link to join
  • Elementary Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Public Sessions on Boundaries Set for June
Last Day of School Update

The last day of school for students for the 2024-2025 school year will be Tuesday, June 17, and the last teacher day will be Wednesday, June 18. On the last student day, schools will dismiss students three hours before their usual release time.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Last Day of School Update
"Funding our Priorities" FY26 school budget logo

The City Council voted unanimously on May 19 to approve the $171.8 million 2025-2026 school year budget recommended by the Portland Board of Public Education. The vote now sends the budget to City voters on June 10. The budget balances fiscal constraints with necessary investments to increase academic rigor, foster a joyful and supportive school culture and help provide more effective instruction to students with disabilities. It would raise the school portion of the property tax rate by 5.33 percent ($0.42 per $1,000 of assessed value). For the owner of a median-priced $500,000 home, the budget would increase property taxes by $210 per year or $17.50 per month.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Council Approves FY26 School Budget
USM, PPS Partner To Reduce Waste

The New England Environmental Finance Center (NEEFC) at the University of Southern Maine is working with the Portland Public Schools (PPS) on a comprehensive environmental audit and action plan to reduce waste and improve sustainability in 17 of the district’s elementary, middle and high schools. 

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about USM, PPS Partner To Reduce Waste
PHS National Merit Scholar Madeline Butters
  • Achievement

Portland High School senior Madeline Butters has won a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship, and now is officially a Merit Scholar. She is one of just eight Maine seniors to be awarded that scholarship and among 2,500 Merit Scholars chosen from a nationwide talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding Finalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program.

  • Portland High School
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about PHS Senior Is National Merit Scholar
Poster for Lyman Moore musical Beauty and the Beast

Portland Community: You're invited to Lyman Moore Middle School's annual musical, which opens Friday, May 9, at 7 p.m. Come see our students showcase their talents in Beauty and the Beast, a classic tale about love, transformation, and finding beauty in unexpected places. There also are shows on Saturday, May 10, at 2 p.m. and at 7 p.m. Tickets $5 at the door.

  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
  • Whole Student
Read More about Lyman Moore's Annual Musical May 9

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Enhancing academic preparedness for college and career and instilling a joy of learning in our students by delivering a universally accessible, rigorous, and equitable curriculum.

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Cultivating inclusivity and connecting community through partnering with families and community organizations to nurture supportive, inclusive school communities that promote belonging and engagement.

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Elevating recruitment, retention, and staff development practices focused on ensuring instructional excellence and cultivating an inclusive work environment that supports collaboration and staff well-being.

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books

Streamlining operations for equity, efficacy, and accountability through developing and implementing consistent and clear operational procedures and systems.

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The Portland Public Schools strives to be an anti-racist, inclusive district by vigilantly supporting each student to achieve their potential and rooting out systemic inequities. 

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Charting a Course To Success, Together

The district's Strategic Plan serves as a roadmap for Maine’s largest and most diverse school district.

The Strategic Plan has five strategic priorities with specific initiatives aligned to each one. The priorities are: Equity, Achievement, Whole Student, People and Systems.

 

Testimonials

What our alumni have to say about Portland Public Schools.

All of my teachers went out of their way to make sure I had the resources I needed to achieve my goals. The extracurricular programs allowed me to find my passion in helping others.

  • Alexandra Kiladjian
  • Portland High

PHS provided me with a strong foundation of cultural understanding, willingness to lead, and intellectual curiosity that have allowed me to fulfill my ambitions.

  • Aren Kiladjian
  • Portland High

All of the teachers in the ELL department went out of their way to help me learn. I had the resources I needed in school and outside the school to achieve my goals.

  • Zehra Abukar
  • Portland High & PATHS

Portland Public Schools

Fast Facts About Our District

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6498

Students

Our students come from a wide variety of culturally rich backgrounds. We believe that learning in diverse groups prepares students to thrive.

59

Languages Spoken

Top 10 most spoken languages in the district includes: English, Somali, Arabic, Lingala, Khmer, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Vietnamese and Kinyarwanda

78%

Graduation Rate

The Portland Public Schools’ goal is that every student will graduate prepared and empowered for college and career. 

56.8%

Economically Disadvantaged

Students are identified as economically disadvantaged based on eligibility for free or reduced-price meal programs or other criteria reflecting economic need.

161.4M

2024-2025 Budget

The budget is grounded in equity, centers students, supports our staff and schools and is aligned to our Strategic Plan.

1445

Employees

We strive to attract and retain the most talented and diverse staff and are committed to ensuring that our staff members have the skills and support that they need to realize expectations.