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Welcome Class of 2027!

We want to welcome students and their families to PHS and share with you some of the exciting things we will be doing to help you prepare for the next four years.

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View Our Calendar

Our calendar contains upcoming events, holidays, and early release reminders!

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Superintendent Search

The Superintendent Search Committee is spearheading the search for a new superintendent to lead the district. Learn more about the selection process!

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Portland High Calendar

Don’t miss upcoming events.

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News/Announcements

PHS News

Catch up on the latest school news and events.

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PHS Principal Wins MASL Award!

The Maine Association of School Libraries (MASL) presented its 2023 School Administrator of the Year award to Portland High School Principal Sheila Jepson on March 22.  The award honors administrators who have made worthy contributions to the operations of effective school library media services.

  • Portland High School
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about PHS Principal Wins MASL Award!
Superintendents Present FY24 Budget Proposal

The $141.3 million Portland Public Schools superintendents’ recommended school budget for the 2023-2024 school year has three key priorities: It maintains the district’s commitment to its Portland Promise goals of Achievement, Whole Student and People – all centered on the fourth goal of Equity; is responsive to the needs of all students, especially students newly learning English; and improves operational effectiveness in such areas as finance and human resources. The FY24 budget balances challenging fiscal constraints, including a significant reduction in state aid and inflation, with increased costs to support staff and students, while being cognizant of taxpayers. It would increase the school portion of the tax rate by 7 percent, adding about $15.60 per month to the tax bill of the average homeowner.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Superintendents Present FY24 Budget Proposal
Inspiring Humanities/ELA Learning at PPS

Portland Public Schools educators at the high school, middle school and elementary level recently shared some examples of innovative humanities and English language arts (ELA) teaching and learning in our schools this year. Read on to learn more details.

  • Casco Bay High School
  • East End Community School
  • King Middle School
  • Lyman Moore Middle School
  • Portland High School
  • Portland Public Schools
  • Talbot Community School
Read More about Inspiring Humanities/ELA Learning at PPS
Spinglass Audit Results Shared

The Spinglass Management Group has completed its audit of the Portland Public Schools’ payroll practices and issued a report. The report reflects many of the payroll problems – with systems, staffing and processing – that the district has already shared since the beginning of its payroll issues this fall. The report also details significant strides the district has made to stabilize systems, enter into an agreement to outsource payroll functions, and increase payroll staffing. Additionally, it outlines the work the district continues to do to resolve outstanding concerns.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Spinglass Audit Results Shared
PforP Helps Students Make a Difference!

Painting for a Purpose, a local nonprofit organization founded by teachers, brings creative people together to paint whimsical decorative items that they sell to raise money to fund service-learning projects led by Portland Public Schools students who want to make a difference. Students receive up to $500 to put their idea into action. So far this school year, Painting for a Purpose has funded a wide variety of PPS students' amazing service-learning projects.

For example, a King Middle School sixth-grader won a grant to help her share Ethiopian cuisine and traditions with the school community. She conducted independent research on Ethiopia and fed her classmates injera flatbread and other Ethiopian food. She had a meal catered from Asmara Restaurant, and shared a presentation that celebrated her culture and educated others on her mother’s home country. Click HERE to learn about this and the seven other projects that Painting for a Purpose helped make a reality this year.

  • Deering High School
  • King Middle School
  • PATHS
  • Portland High School
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about PforP Helps Students Make a Difference!
Awesome Science & Math Learning at PPS

Portland Public Schools educators at the high school, middle school and elementary level recently shared some examples of awesome science and math learning happening at their schools this year. Read on to learn more details:

  • Cliff Island School
  • East End Community School
  • King Middle School
  • Lincoln Middle School
  • Lyman Moore Middle School
  • Portland High School
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Awesome Science & Math Learning at PPS
Superintendent Search Update - January 6

Alma Advisory Group, the professional search firm that the Portland Board of Public Education hired last month to aid in the search for a new superintendent, met with the Board and the Superintendent Search Committee earlier this week. Alma made a presentation as it worked with the Board and the Search Committee to define the scope of the work, the search timeline and community engagement in the search process.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
  • Superintendent Search Committee 22-23
Read More about Superintendent Search Update - January 6
Board Appoints Interim Co-Superintendents

Following the Dec. 16 resignation of Superintendent Xavier Botana, effective this month, the Portland Board of Public Education at its Jan. 3 meeting appointed assistant superintendents Melea Nalli and Aaron Townsend to be interim co-superintendents until a new superintendent is selected by June. Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed, currently co-principal at Deering High School, will take on the role of interim assistant superintendent for the transition. The team will move fully into leadership after Jan. 13.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Board Appoints Interim Co-Superintendents
State of Schools 2022 Presented

Portland Board of Public Education Chair Sarah Lentz presented the 2022 State of the Schools address to the City Council and the public on Monday, Dec. 19. The City Charter requires that the Board chair deliver an annual address to the Council on the state of the public education system in Portland.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about State of Schools 2022 Presented
Board Accepts Botana’s Resignation

The Portland Board of Public Education voted on Friday, Dec.16, to accept the resignation of Superintendent Xavier Botana, effective January 31, 2023, or the starting date of an interim superintendent, whichever is first. Botana had planned to retire in June 2023, but he cited the district’s continuing payroll issues as the reason for his stepping aside now to let new leadership bring closure to the payroll challenges.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Board Accepts Botana’s Resignation
Board Gets New Members, Chair & Vice Chair

One new member, two returning members and five student representatives were sworn in at the Portland Board of Public Education’s Dec. 5 Inauguration ceremony. The Board also voted for Sarah Lentz to be the Board’s new chair for the coming year and for Abusana “Micky” Bondo to be vice chair.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Board Gets New Members, Chair & Vice Chair
Lentz, Bondo New Board Leader Nominees

Current Board Chair Emily Figdor was informally tapped last month by fellow Board members to lead the Board again for a third time in the coming year. However, Figdor has now decided not to accept the demanding role again, and instead will support at-large Board member Sarah Lentz for the position and District 1 Board member Abusana "Micky" Bondo for vice chair when the Board votes for new leadership at its Dec. 5 Inauguration ceremony.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Lentz, Bondo New Board Leader Nominees
Flu & COVID Booster Clinic Dec. 10

The City of Portland’s Public Health Division, working with Northern Light, will offer an additional flu and COVID bivalent booster vaccination clinic on Saturday, December 10, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, at 39 Forest Ave. Flu and COVID vaccinations will be available to the public, insured and uninsured.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Flu & COVID Booster Clinic Dec. 10
Inclement Weather Plan 2022-2023

It’s the time of year to remind everyone about the Portland Public Schools' inclement weather policy and how such decisions get made.This year, bad weather events will be traditional “snow days.” That means our schools will be closed and students will not be expected to go to school in person or learn remotely. Educators will not be expected to work. We will make those days up at the end of the year. 

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Inclement Weather Plan 2022-2023
Board Chooses Chair, Vice Chair at Caucus

At its Nov. 15 meeting, the Portland Board of Public Education held a caucus to take an informal vote to select new leaders for the coming year. The Board unanimously chose current Board Chair Emily Figdor to lead the Board again and chose at-large Board member Sarah Lentz to be Vice Chair. A formal vote will take place at the Board's Inauguration on Dec. 5.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Board Chooses Chair, Vice Chair at Caucus
PPS Network Outage Impacts Schools

Since late yesterday, a PPS network outage has affected Portland High School, King Middle School, East End and Reiche elementary schools and Portland Adult Education. We had expected to get the system back in place today, Thursday, Nov. 17, but we have not been able to make that happen. As a result, Portland High and King will learn remotely on Friday, Nov. 18, and there will be NO school in person or remote at East End and Reiche schools. PAE will hold classes as usual.

  • East End Community School
  • King Middle School
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland High School
  • Portland Public Schools
  • Reiche Elementary School
Read More about PPS Network Outage Impacts Schools
PPS Educators Win FPPS Teacher Grants!

The Foundation for Portland Public Schools (FPPS) has just completed its 14th annual teacher grants program cycle. Seventy-six teachers, ed techs, librarians, and others have been awarded grants totaling $59,261. These grants will benefit thousands of students – from preK through Portland Adult Education – in 15 schools across the Portland Public Schools (PPS).

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about PPS Educators Win FPPS Teacher Grants!

Testimonials

What students and alumni have to say about our school.

All of my teachers went out of their way to make sure I had the resources I needed to achieve my goals. The extracurricular programs allowed me to find my passion in helping others.

  • Alexandra Kiladjian
  • Portland High

PHS provided me with a strong foundation of cultural understanding, willingness to lead, and intellectual curiosity that have allowed me to fulfill my ambitions.

  • Aren Kiladjian
  • Portland High

All of the teachers in the ELL department went out of their way to help me learn. I had the resources I needed in school and outside the school to achieve my goals.

  • Zehra Abukar
  • Portland High & PATHS

Portland High at a Glance

Facts About Our School

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938

Students Enrolled

Our students come from a wide variety of culturally rich backgrounds. We believe that learning in diverse groups prepares students to thrive.

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21

Languages Spoken by Students

Top 10 most spoken languages in the district includes: English, Somali, Arabic, Lingala, Khmer, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Vietnamese and Kinyarwanda.

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1/3

Immigrant Student Population

PHS is the most diverse high schools north of Boston with 1/3 of student population made up of immigrants representing 45 different countries.

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