OPB is following a group of kindergartners as they start their journey toward high school. In 2013, those students started first grade.

Every school year brings some new faces and some old friends move away. As part of our "Class Of 2025" project, we're looking at how changing schools affects students

Last June, Ava and Munira finished elementary school. They start middle school next week. They’re part of the Class of 2025 – a key cohort in Oregon's rising expectations for public schools.

Students and their families were invited to a parade to celebrate the end of 8th grade.

Back when school was in person, eighth-grader Josh Secrett was always tired. Now, away from the bias he sometimes encountered in classrooms, he says, "I'm more energized. I want to do more things."

OPB has followed a group of students since they were in kindergarten. This spring, most of them graduated from high school.

In today's "The Evergreen" episode, we introduce you to the unsung heroes we've met along the way: the parents and guardians of OPB's Class of 2025 project.

A few students in OPB’s Class of 2025 are taking different paths to adulthood — paths that may not include a high school diploma.

With the "Class of 2025" project coming to an end, we listen back to a conversation we recorded in 2014 when the students participating in the project were in the first grade.

In 2012, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber announced a goal that by 2025, the state would achieve a 100% high school graduation rate. Although Oregon today graduates only about 4 out of 5 students, that aspiration sparked the creation of OPB’s “Class of 2025” project.

In today's "The Evergreen" episode, the story of two cousins in the Portland area: Austin started thinking of college early, and Anna struggled with post-graduation plans. He went to a high school with more resources, but she has found less support in her school.

Like many Oregon school districts, David Douglas officials have some tough choices to make this budget season. One of their decisions could jeopardize the district's high school graduation rate.

OPB asks the Class of 2025's teachers what changes they'd like to see in education.

Getting to know the teachers who have taught the Class of 2025 over the years.

When it comes to school, feeling comfortable and like you belong can be as important as having a great teacher.

Members of the Class of 2025 are growing up and finding jobs, something that develops independence and sometimes competes with another important goal: graduating high school. But online school and other options today are helping ease that transition.

OPB's spent the last 12 years telling the story of one group of students.

OPB’s Class of 2025 project follows a group of students who all started at the same elementary school. As these kids have grown up, they’ve made friends, changed friends, and moved away from friends. Junior year, friends Sam made helped improve his grades – and his connection to school.

The third story in OPB’s documentary series on students in the Class of 2025 focuses on the challenges of junior year, as the climb to graduation grows steeper

Last week, several students in OPB's Class of 2025 project started their senior year of high school.

It's June 2024. And yet, the first student in OPB's Class of 2025 has already graduated a year early.

Oregon set an aspirational goal more than a decade ago – a 100% high school graduation rate by 2025. That tall order is no longer the goal. Why? And is trying to get to 100 percent the right goal?

OPB has been following twenty-seven students since they were 6 years old. Now, they are all on different paths — one student is even graduating early. But most are about to enter their senior year of high school in the fall. Education reporter Elizabeth Miller has been following the Class of 2025 for years, and she gives us a window into their lives.

The students OPB has been following as part of our Class of 2025 project are nearing the end of junior year, including three Black students who are all on track to graduate from three different schools in the city.

This spring, the Class of 2025, now 11th graders, are taking state assessments for the first time in five years, and for the last time in their school career.

It's been four years since March 2020, when COVID-19 shut down schools. Students in OPB’s Class of 2025 project were in the middle of 7th grade. Now, they’re high school juniors – just one year away from high school graduation.

Students across Oregon and nationwide struggle with anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges, issues that affect them at home and in school. Many schools are stepping up to meet these student needs.

Representatives from businesses and colleges across Oregon share what skills they hope students learn before they graduate high school

The Class of 2025 are high school juniors taking classes aimed at helping them try out different careers.

OPB’s Class of 2025 project explores a key question facing educators: can supportive teachers, engaging activities and high expectations overcome big barriers to graduation?

More than a decade ago, Oregon leaders established a goal that starting with the Class of 2025, 100% of students would complete high school successfully. Students in that class just started 11th grade.

Graduation rates are a critical metric for measuring high school success, but one number doesn't always tell the whole story.

John Kitzhaber, the governor who first announced that goal at his inaugural speech in January 2011, resigned from office in February 2015. Oregon’s new governor, Tina Kotek, announced a different graduation rate goal when she was running for office: to improve Oregon’s graduation rate to “90% for all student groups by 2027.” That’s 10% lower, two years later.

Since 2012, OPB has been on a journey — following the education of a group of students that all started at the same southeast Portland elementary school. They are the Class of 2025.

In the two years since students returned to school in-person, attendance rates across the state and the country have remained below where they were before the pandemic.

Some of the students OPB has been following in the Class of 2025 spend twice as much time in math classes as their peers, an effort that gives students a better understanding — and better grades — than those who have math less often.

When Oregon set a long-term education goal starting with the Class Of 2025, OPB started following a group of students in that class. They just finished ninth grade.

As the Class of 2025 begins its sophomore year, a look back at what students learned as freshmen.

Summer school enrollment was up among Oregon high schoolers, including two students from OPB's Class Of 2025 project.

Two Class of 2025 students spent 9th grade out of traditional high school, opting for online programming after schools welcomed students back during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some Class of 2025 students spent ninth grade out of traditional high school models, including Rayshawn, who ended the year at Rosemary Anderson alternative school in Portland.

The Class of 2025, a group of students OPB has followed since first grade, is now entering high school. Some of the students will be stepping foot into Oregon’s largest high school, after more than a year of learning from home.

Students and their families were invited to a parade to celebrate the end of 8th grade.

Middle school is almost over for the Class Of 2025 -- high school is next. An update on 8th grade, and a look to the future.

For two Black students in the Class Of 2025, learning at home has been better than getting an education in-person.

When it comes to middle school, male students tend to have a harder time than female students. Why?

The last year hasn’t been easy for anyone - and that certainly includes people charged with running public schools.

The latest episode of "Class Of 2025" is all about the teachers.

Now more than ever, staying connected to friends means staying online.

As COVID-19 cases rise and parents push for Oregon schools to reopen, some students caught in the middle are struggling more than others.

The newest season of the ‘Class Of 2025’ podcast takes you to middle school.

The first episode of the newest season of 'Class Of 2025' starts in spring 2020 - when COVID-19 shut down school buildings.

OPB's "Class Of 2025" project is following 27 students through school. They're now in middle school — in the middle of a pandemic.

OPB has launched a new season of its “Class Of 2025” podcast, exploring the issues that Oregon middle school students are facing today.

The music program in east Portland's David Douglas School District, where most of the students in OPB's Class of 2025 attend school, provides opportunities for students despite family income.

Most of the students in OPB's class of 2025 are at a middle school. But some are still in the same building as younger kids as Oregon's largest school district makes the move toward a middle school model.

Kids who have been through trauma are more than twice as likely to drop out before finishing high school. What helps? Giving the student flexibility and a greater sense of control.

One of the biggest barriers for kids on their journeys through school involves problems outside of school; like childhood trauma.

Outdoor School began a big expansion two years ago, promising hands-on science education for thousands more students. It's also delivering lessons in resilience.

Oregon legislators passed new PE time requirements back in 2007, when the Class Of 2025 were babies. Many schools still haven't reached the goal. But Logan's has.

Last June, Ava and Munira finished elementary school. They start middle school next week. They’re part of the Class of 2025 – a key cohort in Oregon's rising expectations for public schools.

Educators have largely stopped holding back students who are behind academically. For some in the Class of 2025, that means a harder transition to middle school. 

Poor attendance can have a bigger effect on students with additional risk factors than on other students, according to research into OPB's Class Of 2025.

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. It translates as creative fun for the Class of 2025.

What should schools do when a politically charged issue like immigration scares students?

Is your mind more like a muscle that you can build? Or a machine that can only do certain things well? A new focus on mindsets is changing classrooms.

How should schools teach kids who are way ahead of the pack, like Class of 2025 students Anna and Johnathan?

States have increased their focus in recent years on disorders that can interfere with academic success, like dyslexia. Meet "Class of 2025" student Shelby as she tries to become a better reader.

Ashley has done a great job of learning English as her second language. But what about her first language, Spanish?

Fourth grade marked his first time back in a public school after being homeschooled in his family's trailer. But partway through the year, Ethan became homeless.

"Class of 2025," an in-depth look at the challenges facing public schools today, explored through the lives of the students themselves.

The Oregon Legislature wrapped up its work July 7 after five months of work that will affect everyone in Oregon, including public school students in the class of 2025.

The relationship between home and school is evolving for thousands of Oregon children.

Learn about Oregon's changing approach to dyslexia through one of the students in OPB's "Class of 2025."

OPB has been following students in the Class of 2025 since they were kindergarteners. Now they're in third grade and that means taking state tests for the first time.

The school at the center of OPB's "Class of 2025" project celebrated its partnership with the Oregon Symphony at a winter concert in Southeast Portland Friday.

Seven-year-old Kaylie stands out from her classmates in a lot of ways, including her extra-good classroom behavior. But she thinks a lot about the physical condition that keeps her outside the first grade reading semi-circle.

OPB is following a group of kindergartners as they start their journey toward high school. In 2013, those students started first grade.

Every school year brings some new faces and some old friends move away. As part of our "Class Of 2025" project, we're looking at how changing schools affects students