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Welcome Class of 2027!

Welcome to the “Ramily”!  We are honored for those of you who have chosen to spend your high school years here at Deering! 

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Letter from Principals

The latest message from our principals and assistant principal includes exciting updates and information.

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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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Deering High Calendar

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News/Announcements

DHS News

Catch up on the latest news and events.

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Standout Students Win Principal’s Awards

Each year, Maine high school principals nominate one senior from their schools to receive an MPA Principal’s Award. The award, sponsored by the Maine Principals' Association, is given in recognition of a high school senior's academic achievement and good citizenship.The 2023 MPA Principal’s Award winners from the Portland Public Schools’ three high schools are: Abdullah Alzamilli, at Portland High School, selected by Principal Sheila Jepson; Anja Franck at Deering High School, selected by Co-Principal and Interim Assistant Superintendent Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed; and Greta Holmes at Casco Bay High School, selected by Principal Derek Pierce.

  • High Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Standout Students Win Principal’s Awards
9th STEM Expo Back In Person

The STEM Expo, put on each year by the Portland Public Schools in partnership with EnviroLogix, is back in person in 2023, for the first time since the pandemic. Also, the event is divided into three separate days this year – March 31, April 6 and April 13 – at the district’s high schools to make it easier for high school students to attend.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about 9th STEM Expo Back In Person
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
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!
Deering Debate Dominates at States!

The Deering Debate Team won numerous awards at the Maine State Speech and Debate Championships at Bangor High School on January 21. The team also won the 2023 MPA Sportsmanship Award at the event. Following states, Deering debaters went to the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) National Qualifying tournament for Congressional Debate, held at the Maine State House on January 28, where two Deering freshmen qualified for nationals as alternates.

  • Deering High School
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Deering Debate Dominates at States!
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
Rising Tide Winners Announced

The Rising Tide Leadership program, which provides pre-college summer program experiences for Portland Public Schools students from immigrant families, is now in its fifth year. Apropos of year five, and thanks to the generosity of donors, the program recently awarded five $5,000 scholarships – rather than the usual two scholarships – to five PPS high school students. Read on to learn who this year's winners are.

  • Casco Bay High School
  • Deering High School
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Rising Tide Winners Announced
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
DHS Machigonne Meet Was 'Great Success’

Deering High School hosted an all-events speech and debate tournament on Nov. 19 that was very successful, according to teacher Molly Callaghan, who co-coaches Deering’s outstanding Debate Team, along with Krista Simonis. Although the school has hosted tournaments in the past, this year’s Deering High Machigonne Meet was the first for the school since debate contests are back in person this year following the pandemic.

  • Deering High School
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about DHS Machigonne Meet Was 'Great Success’

Testimonials

What our students and alumni have to say about Deering High School.

The guidance counselor at Deering was extremely helpful in figuring out how to get applications in and where to do my SAT’s. 

  • Jacqui Savage
  • Deering High

I felt like my education [at DHS] wasn’t just based on the four classes that I’d take every day, it was everyone in the classroom.

  • Salim Salim
  • Deering High

I felt surrounded by really amazing people who were giving me knowledge I wouldn’t be able to find somewhere else.

  • Lauren Reid Kane
  • Deering High

Deering High at a Glance

We succeed together because everyone is valued, challenged & empowered.

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800

enrolled students grades 9-12

Deering is the most diverse high school north of Boston with approximately 800 enrolled students grades 9-12.

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32

languages spoken by students

DHS has a culturally and linguistically diverse student body with 32 languages spoken by students.

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348

number of students enrolled in AP courses

Deering's Advisory Program gives every student a sub community with a curriculum focused on developing social-emotional well-being, supporting positive behavior, advancing equity, and building community.

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