Portland Public Schools Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong is proposing closing 10 Portland elementary schools over a two-year period, starting in fall 2027.
Armstrong’s recommended plan is a revision of the district’s earlier proposals, which would have closed up to 14 schools.
If the school board approves Armstrong’s recommendation, the following schools would close next fall:
- Beach Elementary
- Peninsula Elementary
- Sabin Elementary
- Creston Elementary
- Buckman Elementary
Under the proposal, other changes going into effect at that time would include several dual language immersion program moves, as well as the conversion of six K-8 schools (Beverly Cleary, César Chávez, Faubion, Laurelhurst, Sunnyside and Vernon) to become K-5s.
More changes would come in fall 2028, including the closures of the following schools:
- Rose City Park Elementary
- Lewis Elementary
- Marysville Elementary
- Woodmere Elementary
- Irvington Elementary
Along with those five closures, Armstrong’s plan includes the conversion of Bridger K-8 to a K-5 and the move of the focus option program Odyssey K-8 to Forest Park Elementary.
FILE - The room was packed for the Portland Public Schools board meeting at the Dr. Matthew Prophet Education Center, Oct. 6, 2026 in Portland, Ore. PPS announced plans being considered by the district, including closing up to 14 schools and changing school boundaries.
Eli Imadali / OPB
The school board is set to vote to approve or reject the recommendation on Dec. 15, with community input sessions scheduled to continue.
It’s been over a month since Portland Public Schools presented two proposals to “rightsize” Oregon’s largest district, which has experienced an 11% enrollment decline since 2019. Since then, the district has hosted several feedback sessions to hear from students, families and staff on the proposals. While some families seem to support the district’s plan to close schools, PPS has faced intense criticism for how it handled the process, sowing distrust in the district across the Portland community.
FILE - Attendees attempt to enter the Dr. Matthew Prophet Education Center to attend a Portland Public School Board meeting about closing up to 14 schools, in Portland, Ore., on Oct. 6, 2026. The crowd pushed past the security team and made it inside.
Eli Imadali / OPB
Portland is far from the only school district considering closures. In Salem-Keizer, school board members are also expected to vote on a school closure proposal next month. Across the country, school districts are announcing closure plans to address declining enrollment.
But in Portland, the idea of closing public schools has drawn ire from local elected officials as well as Gov. Tina Kotek, with many highlighting the importance of schools to their neighborhoods.
In a press release Friday, Armstrong said changes from the original proposals were made to reflect feedback from the community.
Under her proposal, four schools would remain open: Sellwood Middle School, James John Elementary, Maplewood Elementary and Stephenson Elementary.
Sunnyside would no longer be at risk of losing its status as an environmental focus school, though it would still become a K-5. The Mandarin Dual Language Immersion program at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary would remain there.
“These changes reflect the voices of the families, students and staff who participated in this process,” Armstrong said.
“We know that closing or consolidating schools is deeply personal and difficult. We have taken that feedback seriously while remaining focused on the long-term needs of all PPS students.”
PPS says “rightsizing” the district will lead to better allocation of resources, more consistent staffing for counselors and social workers in schools, and “more balanced class sizes.”
But there are still many unknowns in this plan. Among them are the impact to staffing and students with disabilities, and whether the proposals will cause more families to leave PPS and choose other educational options.
PPS says it will provide “individualized transition support for students affected by school closures, program relocations or boundary changes,” with more support for students with Individualized Education Plans, or IEPs.
What this “rightsizing” proposal will not do is solve the district’s budget issues. PPS projects a $65 million budget gap for next school year, and will spend next spring making cost-saving plans to balance the budget. If the school board rejects Armstrong’s “rightsizing” plan, it will not change the district’s grim budget outlook.
“Maintaining the status quo will not protect our students from the financial challenges ahead,” Armstrong said.
FILE - Palikulani Soileau, 7, left, holds hands with her classmate Eliza Janowitch, 7, both second graders at Maplewood Elementary School in Portland, Ore., as they attend a Portland Public Schools board meeting at the Dr. Matthew Prophet Education Center, Oct. 6, 2026 in Portland, Ore.
Eli Imadali / OPB
This plan will also not solve a lack of trust in the district that has been building for months. Between an expensive district contract to outsource its bond program and concern about district officials’ use of the messaging app Signal, the district is facing a challenging environment ahead that will only be made more difficult by school closures.
Friday’s recommendation presents a next step in Portland’s plans to reshape the school district. But more community pushback is likely to follow.
