Redesigning Portland's Public Schools
With only 63 percent of students who enter Portland high schools graduating in four years - and just 35 percent of African American students on track to do so - there is little question that Portland's public high schools struggle with both achievement and equity. Following months of community discussions, Portland Public Schools superintendent Carole Smith recently proposed a high school redesign plan that she claims will narrow the achievement gap, raise graduation rates and boost declining enrollment.
On March 5, education reporter Betsy Hammond from The Oregonian will ask Superintendent Smith to answer questions about this redesign, which includes proposals to reduce the overall number of neighborhood campuses and convert some high schools into themed 'magnet' schools. Interview topics may also include why Smith believes that this plan would raise graduation rates and achieve the other desired goals; how PPS intends to measure the effectiveness of these recommended changes; and how the changes might affect students who are doing well in what are considered the "good" schools.
