Portland Schools Face Enrollment Decline | Portland News

Portland Public Schools faces a looming enrollment crisis, with student numbers projected to drop 14% by 2035–2036—down from 42,600 to 36,700. While last year’s loss of 700 students was offset by an unexpected surge in kindergarteners, long-term trends like falling birth rates and population decline are driving the decline. Enrollment in kindergarten and first grade is slipping below 75%, down from over 82% in 2015, forcing the district to compete harder with private and home schools. High school enrollment peaked recently but is now declining as smaller cohorts move up from elementary and middle schools. With construction already underway on high school renovations—and more planned—the district may close up to ten elementary and middle schools. This isn’t just Portland’s problem: the entire county is bracing for fewer school-aged kids. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/1b95d08fa09c825c