New Student
Hello Deering Class of 2027!
Welcome to the “Ramily”! We are honored you’ve chosen to spend your high school years here at Deering, and we look forward to meeting you!
At Deering, we believe that we succeed together when everyone is valued, challenged, and empowered. We value students by making sure every student has an advisor who gets to know them, by listening to student voices to make sure our curriculum and programming is representative and culturally relevant, and by building in opportunities to come together as a community and have fun. You’ll find spaces where you belong, spaces to meet new people, and spaces to celebrate and find joy!
We challenge and empower students by making sure everyone’s classes will prepare them for college or a meaningful career and by offering a wide array of opportunities to get involved and lead in this community.You’ll be pushed to do your best in all of your classes, and you’ll be proud of the things you’ll accomplish!
All of our ninth-graders take English 1 and AP Human Geography - both of these classes challenge students to read and write critically, and to analyze data with an eye on solutions to some of the world’s most compelling current problems. For example, after studying global population and migration issues, they crafted policy agendas and campaigns. Our English classes have an “Honors option” embedded, and all students are encouraged to try work that exceeds standards to earn that distinction.
For science in ninth grade, you will have a choice of Environmental Science or Honors Environmental Science, and for math, ninth-graders take either a year-long Algebra 1 class or our semester-length Accelerated Math 1 class. Students wishing to push themselves should talk to their eighth-grade counselors. Any student can elect to take Honors Environmental Science.
Finally, all ninth-graders have the opportunity to choose amongst several electives, including Art, Music, AP Computer Science Principles (new next year!), Physical Education, or a World Language such as Spanish, French, Arabic, or Mandarin Chinese.
Starting in tenth-grade, you can choose to “double up” in a subject to accelerate learning in that subject and take Early College or dual-credited classes in subjects that are especially interesting to you.
Please save the date for our August Ninth-Grade Open House on Tuesday, August 29, where you will have a chance to meet the principals and your teachers, tour your new classrooms, eat ice cream, and win some new Deering swag!We will email and text reminders for this event later this summer. We are so excited you are joining Deering’s Class of 2027. We can’t wait to show you all the opportunities we have, to watch you shine, and to see the ways in which you will leave your positive mark on our school community!
Have a great summer and see you soon!
Ms. Dame, Dr. Ahmed, Dr. Giessman, and Mr. Daly
High School Assignment Letter
All students should have received the following assignment letter in the mail:
Dear Student and Family,
We are writing to let you know that you have been assigned to Deering High School as a member of the Class of 2027! We look forward to supporting you as you get ready to enter high school. Attached to this letter, you will find a welcome letter from your high school with information about the transition and what to expect before school starts this fall.
If you are currently enrolled in the Portland Public Schools, you do not need to do anything in order to accept your assignment. If you are not currently enrolled in the Portland Public Schools, you will need to complete the registration process. More information can be found in Enrollment.
As a reminder, your assignment is for the duration of the coming school year. Transfers between high schools will not be considered until after the completion of ninth grade.
If you would like to appeal your assignment, please email Emily Crocker, Executive Assistant for the Office of School Management, at crocke@portlandschools.org. Appeals will only be considered if there is space at the requested school and at least one of the following criteria are met:
- You are a child of a staff member at the requested school.
- You are a sibling of another student already enrolled in the requested school.
- You have documented issues of safety or harassment related to the school assignment.
- You are a child of any PPS staff member.
We look forward to partnering with you and your family as you begin your journey through high school to graduate prepared and empowered for college and career.
Sincerely,
Melea Nalli and Aaron Townsend
Co-Interim Superintendents