Middle School Design
Based on a Middle School Design Resolution the Board of Public Education approved on March 24, 2026, the Portland Public Schools is launching a districtwide effort to design and strengthen the middle school experience to better serve all students across the district.
This work is focused on improving outcomes and opportunities for every middle school student, not just one school. While the district’s three individual middle schools—Lincoln, King, and Lyman Moore—are all a key part of this conversation, this is a comprehensive, districtwide effort aimed at ensuring a high-quality, consistent middle school experience for all Portland students. Equity, access, and student experience are central to this work.
The resolution directs the district to develop and deliver a middle school design to the Board by October 2026, at which time the Board will deliberate and decide what course of action to take.
Why Now?
This work is grounded in a clear need:
- There is an opportunity to expand access to rigorous academics, student supports, and extracurricular opportunities
- The Portland Public Schools is experiencing a decline in enrollment that appears to be a trend and not a one-time decline
- Our facilities are aging and require significant investment
- The district faces increasing fiscal pressure
Guiding Principles
Through this process, we are committed to:
- Strengthening academic programming and student experience
- Improving equity of access and outcomes for all students
- Ensuring long-term sustainability
- Centering the voices of students, families, staff, and community members
Workgroups and Guiding Coalition
As part of the Portland Public Schools Middle School Design process, the district invited students, families, staff, community members, and PPS alumni to participate in a series of community workgroups and a Guiding Coalition to help shape recommendations for the future of middle schools in Portland. Participants were selected through an application and outreach process designed to bring together a broad range of voices, perspectives, experiences, and areas of expertise from across the community.
The workgroups and Guiding Coalition were developed following the initial community engagement phase, including surveys and public engagement sessions, to help further explore key themes and priorities identified by the community. Applications for participation closed on Sunday, May 17, 2026.
Below you can find information about each group, including meeting schedules, member lists, agendas, and related materials. Additional resources and updates will continue to be added throughout the process.
Opportunities for Engagement
The Portland Public Schools has launched a process to review and redesign the middle school experience across the district. As part of this work, the district has been gathering input from students, families, staff, and community members through surveys and engagement sessions to better understand community priorities and perspectives. Feedback collected helps guide the workgroups responsible for shaping recommendations and informing future design options. Some engagement opportunities, including a community survey in May and two community engagement sessions on June 1 and June 2, have concluded. However, two additional community engagement sessions will be held on July 21 and July 23, and other opportunities for community input may be shared in the future. See below for more information and please check back on this page for updates.
Virtual Session:
Tuesday, July 21, 2026, 6-8 p.m.
Zoom Link: tinyurl.com/MSDesignPPS721
In-person Session:
Thursday, July 23, 2026, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Location: Lincoln Middle School