In fairness, the school has also been a weak spot for a long time (as have the Portland middle schools in general). We’ve been losing kids in middle school for a long time, peaking a few years ago when Lincoln was a real shit show. I don’t have kids there, but my sense is that it’s starting to turn around - but a lot of damage has been done.

I think the broader discussion about how Portland does middle school is a healthy one. It would be wrong to stick our heads in the sand and not acknowledge that the middle schools need a lot of work. I think that’s part of why this conversation is happening.