Skip To Main Content

Close trigger menu ( Don't delete )

Find It Fast

Main Navigation

Schools Nav

Mobile Utility

Mobile Translate

Header Holder

Header Right

Schools Navs

Header Utility

Translate

Search Container

Landing Nav

Breadcrumb

Home

Hero

Icons Navigation

King Middle Calendar

Don’t miss upcoming events.

View Calendar

News/Announcements

King News

Catch up on the latest school news and events.

DEFAULT IMAGE

Update your news here

Public Sessions on Boundaries Set for June

Initial public engagement sessions regarding the work of the Attendance Boundaries Advisory Committee are set for early June. Here are the dates, times and locations of the meetings: 

  • Monday, June 2, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m, in person at Ocean Avenue Elementary School
  • Tuesday, June 3, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m, in person at King Middle School
  • Wednesday, June 4, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m, VIRTUAL. Here's the link to join
  • Elementary Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Public Sessions on Boundaries Set for June
Poster for Lyman Moore musical Beauty and the Beast

Portland Community: You're invited to Lyman Moore Middle School's annual musical, which opens Friday, May 9, at 7 p.m. Come see our students showcase their talents in Beauty and the Beast, a classic tale about love, transformation, and finding beauty in unexpected places. There also are shows on Saturday, May 10, at 2 p.m. and at 7 p.m. Tickets $5 at the door.

  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
  • Whole Student
Read More about Lyman Moore's Annual Musical May 9
Update on Boundaries Committee Meeting

An inaccurate May 1 story by News Center Maine (WCSH6) about the meeting that night of the district's Attendance Boundaries Advisory Committee has generated confusion regarding Lincoln Middle School. At the district's request, WCSH6 has retracted the news report. Please view the following communication from the Portland Public Schools that addresses the inaccuracies and clarifies the role of the Advisory Committee:

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Update on Boundaries Committee Meeting
Student City Hall Art Show Opens May 2!

The annual Portland Public Schools district-wide student art show at City Hall is kicking off with a celebratory reception on Friday, May 2, in conjunction with the May First Friday Art Walk.  The event will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The exhibit will be on display until May 16, enabling the public to enjoy student artwork from all schools in the district on display.

  • Achievement
  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
  • Whole Student
Read More about Student City Hall Art Show Opens May 2!
Sips, Sweets and Stories fundraiser graphic

Sips, Sweets, and Stories, the spring fundraiser put on by the Portland Public Schools’ Multilingual and Multicultural Center, was a great success. The April 16 event raised nearly $5,000 to benefit the district’s award-winning Make It Happen program, a college-readiness and academic success initiative that equips multilingual students with the skills, confidence, and tools they need to prosper in school and beyond.

  • Achievement
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
  • Whole Student
Read More about Sips, Sweets, and Stories a Success!
Stakeholder Engagement Meeting List

A series of stakeholder engagement meetings will take place this month on a proposed policy that would ban students from having cell phones or other personal electronic devices on their person during regular school hours. The stakeholder engagement meetings are designed to get feedback from parents/guardians and staff on the policy before the Board of Public Education votes on it. Separate stakeholder meetings for high school students also are being scheduled by their individual schools.

  • Achievement
  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
  • Whole Student
Read More about Board to Consider Cell Phone Ban
"Funding our Priorities" FY26 school budget logo

The proposed $171.8 million FY26 school budget is headed to the City Council for a first read and public hearing on Monday, May 5, following approval by the Council's Finance Committee. This Council public hearing and another one on May 19 are opportunities for the PPS community to make their voices heard regarding this fair and responsible budget, which benefits students and supports educators.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
  • Systems
Read More about City Finance Committee Recommends Budget
2025-2026 district calendar

At its April 8 meeting, the Board of Public Education unanimously approved a 2025-2026 district calendar that includes Yom Kippur and Eid al-Fitr as new district holidays. Starting in the fall, students and staff at the Portland Public Schools, Maine’s most diverse school district, can observe those major religious holidays with their families without having to miss school. 

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Religious Holidays Added to Calendar
"Funding our Priorities" FY26 school budget logo

The Portland Board of Public Education voted on April 8 to approve a $171.8 million school budget for the 2025-2026 school year to recommend to the City Council. The Board’s fiscal year 2026 budget focuses on strengthening student experiences and outcomes and is directly aligned to the new Strategic Plan. The Board’s recommended FY26 budget now goes to the City Council, which moves forward its bottom line. A final Council vote on the school budget is anticipated on May 19 and it will go to voters on June 10.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Board Sends FY26 Budget to Council
Halal meals graphic of student enjoying a meal

As of April 1, the PPS Food Service team has been serving halal meals as a daily lunch option. Halal refers to foods that are permissible for Muslims to consume. Halal foods are free of ingredients like pork or alcohol, and comply with rules and standards around preparation and cleanliness. PPS halal meals are healthy, more inclusive menu items that all students can enjoy – not just students who follow a halal way of eating. 

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about PPS Offers Students Halal Lunch Options
Sips, Sweets and Stories fundraiser graphic

Join us for Sips, Sweets, and Stories, the Portland Public Schools’ Make It Happen spring fundraiser! This unforgettable cultural tasting experience will take place on April 16 at Ocean Gateway Pier from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. All funds will go to support of Make It Happen, a program that provides multilingual students with a pathway to academic success and college readiness.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Sips, Sweets, & Stories Set For April 16!
graphic of dates and times of Board Conversations with the Community

You're invited to join the conversation on the proposed FY26 school budget! Portland families, staff, students, and community members—the Portland Board of Public Education's Conversations with the Community events are your chance to meet with Board members and Superintendent Ryan Scallon to ask questions, share your thoughts, and discuss the budget and the future of our schools. Attend one of the in-person events in March (check out the schedule in the graphic above) or join us virtually on April 2! Virtual link: tinyurl.com/PPS4225

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Join Board Community Conversations!
Two Candidates Vying for Board Seat in June

Two candidates have qualified to be on the ballot June 10 to fill a vacant seat on the Portland Board of Public Education: retired PPS music teacher Jayne Sawtelle and building contractor and PPS parent Cassidy LaCroix. They are vying for an at-large seat vacated by Benjamin Grant, who was elected to the City Council this past November.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Two Candidates Vying for Board Seat in June
"I Mörkret,” a portrait in colored pencil on paper by a Portland High School senior

It's Youth Art Month and in collaboration with the Maine Art Education Association, the PMA is hosting its yearly exhibit of artwork from students from around Maine in kindergarten through grade 12. This year, the Portland Public Schools has the largest showing of young artists of any district!

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Students' Artwork Displayed at PMA
Painting for a Purpose yellow logo

A group of students at King Middle School has won a $500 Painting for a Purpose Grant for a cross-cultural learning “Our History” project. The goal of the project is to showcase different cultures through food, music and dance, art, language and geography through a Culture Day. The project is designed to be inclusive so all students can learn from it.

  • King Middle School
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about King Students Win Culture Project Grant
"Funding our Priorities" FY26 school budget logo

Superintendent Ryan Scallon on March 4 presented the Portland Board of Public Education with a recommended $171.7 million budget for the 2025-2026 school year. The FY26 budget was developed after extensive engagement with the community, staff and school leadership, and proposes strengthening the music program at the high schools, increased rigor and support at the middle schools, adding reading support at the elementary schools, and additional staffing and programmatic support for special education district-wide. The proposed budget would raise the school portion of property taxes by 5.3%, resulting in an increase of $210 per year or $17.5 per month for the owner of a median-priced home.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Superintendent Presents FY26 Budget Proposal
photo of sports gear

The Ed Feeney Athletics Fund was created last year to allow any interested PPS students to participate in school sports – even if their family is unable to purchase the necessary athletic equipment. So far, more than 180 high school and middle school students have benefited.

  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Ed Feeney Fund Benefits Students
Boundaries Committee graphic

The fifth monthly meeting of the district’s new Community Advisory Committee on Attendance Boundaries for PreK-8 Schools ("Attendance Boundaries Advisory Committee") took place on Dec. 19. The agenda included a review of crossing guard data and also a review of capacity per building. If you missed the meeting, you can catch up on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7mhiM8PbbIE

  • Elementary Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Dec. 19 Boundaries Committee Update
High School for Future image of graduation cap

On Monday, December 9, 2024, high school leaders came together and drafted an organizational structure for the high school community that honors our district's Portrait of a Graduate and Portrait of a School Community. This structure also addresses key areas outlined in the Integrated Consolidated 9-16 Educational Facility application. Read on to view the drafted organizational structure of the school community. While we will make space for feedback and revisions, this framework provides the foundation to build out and refine the rest of the design.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about High School Design Update
State of Schools 2024 flyer image

Board of Public Education Chair Sarah Lentz presented the annual State of the Schools address to the City Council at its 5 p.m. meeting on Monday, Dec. 16, in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The City Charter requires that the Board chair deliver an annual address to the Council on the state of Portland’s public education system.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about State of Schools Address Dec. 16
Hayley Didriksen. Senior Director of Data & Assessment. August 2024

One returning Board member, two new members and five student representatives were sworn in at the Portland Board of Public Education’s Dec. 3 Inauguration Ceremony. The Board also voted for Sarah Lentz to serve for the third consecutive time as Board chair for the coming year and for Abusana “Micky” Bondo to be vice chair for a third year.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about School Board Inauguration 2024
Lobster buoys painted as flags display

Flags painted on lobster buoys by multicultural students to resemble the flags of their birth countries formerly were exhibited at the Portland Jetport, but now are on display at PPS – just in time for Portland’s Dec. 6 First Friday Art Walk. The brightly colored “Flags on Lobster Buoys” display in the window of the district’s Multilingual & Multicultural Center sends a message of welcome and inclusion to Portland’s diverse students and families.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about MLMC Art Display Celebrates Diversity
Fiona Hopper, Bridgid Neptune receive award from Bowdoin Professor Doris Santoro

Bowdoin College’s Education Department recently presented Fiona Hopper and Bridgid Neptune with its 2024 Education for the Common Good Award. Hopper is PPS’ Wabanaki Studies and Black History coordinator, who led the development of the district’s new Wabanaki Studies curriculum. Neptune, a citizen of the Passamaquoddy Nation and a former PPS parent, served as a key advisor in the development process. The award honors educators who have created positive change and dedicated themselves to the community.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Wabanaki Curriculum Creators Honored
High School for the Future Listen/Learn Update

Read a message from Pamela Otunnu Thomsen, PPS Director of Secondary Innovation and Outcomes, on our recent High School for the Future Listen and Learn community engagement events. Read on to learn more information and watch the final Nov. 6 virtual Listen and Learn session for PPS parents and community members on YouTube.

  • High School for the Future
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about High School for the Future Listen/Learn Update

Testimonials

What students, parents and faculty have to say about our school.

“I am repeatedly impressed with the level of my daughter's academics...the quality of the teachers is remarkable."

  • PPS Parent

"I'm proud to work for an educational system that constantly tries to improve and values everyone."

  • PPS Faculty

King Middle at a Glance

Facts About Our School

View More Facts

472

Students Enrolled

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

Social Media Feed

20

Languages Spoken by Students

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

Social Media Feed

57%

Economically Disadvantaged 

Students are identified as economically disadvantaged based on eligibility for free or reduced-price meal programs or other criteria reflecting economic need.

Social Media Feed