Enrollment Balancing

Each year a new group of children starts kindergarten at Portland Public Schools, and each year a senior class graduates.

Because new students enter the system and because families move around, the number of school-age children in each neighborhood changes every year. Portland Public Schools analyzes enrollment each fall and looks for the best way to match buildings and teachers with the changing distribution of students in our community. 

This website provides information about the school district’s research on population trends, the latest enrollment counts per school and the options for matching the right number of students with available buildings and teachers. This is a work in progress; we will add information as it becomes available. 

Schools are different sizes
School buildings vary greatly, from eight classrooms to nearly 100. Some schools are overcrowded, and others have vacant classrooms. Because student numbers change, the school district must make adjustments to make the most efficient use of buildings.

School funding follows students
The state of Oregon regulates school funding, which is largely provided on a per-student basis. That means that the number of teachers is closely tied to the number of students. Matching students and teachers by grade level in the lower grades and by subject matter in the upper grades is a complicated process. Making sure that each school has enough students is critical to making sure that each school has enough teachers, and that all students have access to a rigorous educational program.

School size targets: A guideline, not a rule
The district is working to develop target enrollment ranges for schools that will help ensure an adequate number of teachers. However, limitations of building size and geography mean that these targets can only be part of the answer.

Annual priorities: Correct imbalances
Each fall, district administrators collect and study enrollment data for all schools, and identify areas where there is the greatest imbalance. They then draw up options for change, along with plans for involving community members in the change process.

Community input
Numbers don’t tell the whole story. Schools are important community centers, and Portlanders have strong feelings about their neighborhoods. The information provided on this website is designed to help parents, students, teachers and community groups stay informed about enrollment balancing issues and participate in upcoming discussions.

If you would like to ask a question, make a comment, or suggest additional content for this website you may do so by selecting this link.