The Portland Public Schools board has unanimously voted to eliminate a long-standing policy that allowed families in the Jefferson High School district to choose other schools. The decision aims to reverse years of declining enrollment at the historic North Portland campus and create more balanced student populations across the district.
Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong identified the end of this "dual assignment" policy as a key priority, citing the need to rebuild Jefferson into a comprehensive high school with resources and opportunities comparable to its peers.
Key Takeaways
- The Portland Public Schools board voted unanimously to end the dual assignment policy affecting Jefferson High School.
- The policy had allowed students within Jefferson's boundary to opt into other high schools, leading to critically low enrollment.
- Jefferson's current student body is 391, compared to over 2,000 at nearby Grant High School.
- The district will establish new feeder patterns and invest in Jefferson's academic and extracurricular programs to ensure parity with other schools.
- A major $400 million rebuild of the Jefferson campus is planned, with completion expected in 2029.
A School in Need of Students
The vote addresses a stark enrollment disparity within the district. For years, the dual assignment policy allowed families assigned to Jefferson High to send their children to other, more populated schools, effectively draining Jefferson of its potential student body.
The numbers illustrate the scale of the challenge. This year, Jefferson High School has a total enrollment of just 391 students. This figure is a fraction of the student populations at other nearby high schools. Grant High School, for instance, serves more than 2,000 students, while both McDaniel and Roosevelt high schools have enrollments around 1,500.
Enrollment Snapshot
- Jefferson High School: 391 students
- Grant High School: Over 2,000 students
- McDaniel High School: Approx. 1,500 students
- Roosevelt High School: Approx. 1,500 students
This imbalance has made it difficult for Jefferson to offer the wide range of courses and programs available at larger schools. Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong explained that the situation was unsustainable.
“Jefferson was allowed to stay a focus-option school for far too long ... and what that meant is what we have now — a high school with less than 400 students,” Armstrong stated.
Forging a New Path Forward
Ending the policy is the first step in a multi-faceted plan to revitalize the school. The board also approved new attendance boundaries and established clear feeder patterns to ensure a steady stream of students into Jefferson High.
Four middle schools have been designated as primary feeders for Jefferson:
- Ockley Green
- Harriet Tubman
- Faubion
- Vernon
This structural change is designed to build a larger, more stable student base, which district officials believe is the foundation for academic renewal. Jefferson Principal Drake Shelton expressed optimism about the changes, highlighting the immediate benefits for students.
“To be able to have a more robust course catalog, that’s what we’re looking for," Shelton said. "Our teachers are in the stages of doing that right now, working with the district as well. I’m just excited for the future and I’m excited for Jefferson.”
Investing in Parity and Opportunity
District leaders acknowledge that simply redirecting students is not enough. The plan includes significant investments in staffing, advanced coursework, elective options, and extracurricular activities to bring Jefferson's offerings up to the standard of other PPS high schools.
Correcting Historical Inequities
Board members framed the vote as a move toward educational justice. The policy, while offering choice, contributed to the perception of Jefferson as a less-desirable option, creating an inequitable system. The new strategy aims to make every comprehensive high school in the district a place of high opportunity.
School board member Virginia La Forte emphasized that providing equal opportunities is the core mission. “What families care about is academic parity across the high schools, that all of our high schools have similar offerings and opportunities for all of our students. That’s why this vote was so important,” she said.
For some, the decision was personal. Board member Rashelle Chase-Miller, a future Jefferson parent, shared her enthusiasm for the vote's potential to correct past wrongs.
“I’m elated," Chase-Miller said. "This is a long time coming and we had an opportunity here to correct past injustice. and that’s a really special thing to be a part of — both for us on the board and for our kids."
A Vision for 2030 and Beyond
The district's long-term goal is to achieve more balanced enrollment across its high schools by 2030. The changes at Jefferson are a cornerstone of this broader vision for a more equitable distribution of students and resources.
To families who may be concerned about losing the ability to choose another school, Superintendent Armstrong offered a message of reassurance and promise.
“I would say to families that fear that they are losing something, is that you are actually gaining a new high school in the community that will be just as competitive, dynamic and instructionally sound as all of our other spaces," Armstrong said.
The commitment to Jefferson's future is also backed by a major capital investment. The district is moving forward with a planned $400 million rebuild of the Jefferson High School campus. The new, modernized facility is expected to be completed and open to students in 2029, providing a state-of-the-art learning environment for the revitalized school community.
