About
Deering is a comprehensive public high school (one of three in Portland Public Schools) in an urban location. There are approximately 80 teachers and professional staff. Deering is the most diverse high school north of Boston, with an enrollment of approximately 800 students grades 9-12.
At Deering, we succeed together because everyone is valued, challenged, and empowered. For us, living up to these values means creating a strong and inclusive community, supporting all students in achieving at high levels, and promoting student voice and youth advocacy throughout our academic and co-curricular programs.
We are working to make sure this is a community where students feel respected, welcomed, and valued. To achieve this goal, we work together with our students to create an environment where students feel physically, socially, and emotionally safe and have the tools they need to be both healthy and well.
Here, our students are challenged by choice. Each student has the ability to determine an academic track that best suits their needs and abilities, and they are not locked into one particular track. This helps make sure that every student gets what they need, when they need it.
We believe in our student leaders and in making sure all students feel empowered. We are dedicated to actively promoting opportunities for students to take on meaningful leadership positions, and we strive to uplift student voices.
Core Principles:
Valued
Together, we create a community where all students feel respected, welcomed, and valued.
Challenged
We use professional development time to learn and implement evidence-based practices that improve results for all learners.
Empowered
We built authentic leadership opportunities into the curriculum so that all students graduate with a sense of efficacy and purpose.
Commitment to Equity and Racial Justice
Deering High School is committed to building an environment where every student and staff member feels valued, challenged, and empowered. We are reckoning with the fact that public school has not always been that environment for all stakeholders. As a public institution, we have perpetuated the same injustices and inequalities that plague our nation. We are committed to continuous self-reflection and to do the work to root out those inequalities, rebuild systems to be more equitable, and become a more just school.