Portland Opens Innovative New Elementary School
The new East End Community School will begin classes on September 7, the first day of school in Portland. About 420 students from the immediate neighborhood and other parts of Portland will attend the school this year.
The East End Community School is the first elementary school in Portland to offer Expeditionary Learning, a multidisciplinary approach where students work on in-depth projects. The school also will emphasize literacy, and it will incorporate Responsive Classroom techniques to create and maintain a positive school environment.
The $12 million, state-of-the-art building includes a “green” roof over one section and other, energy-efficient features. It is the first new school built in Portland in 30 years, replacing Jack Elementary (closed in 2001 due to mold) and Adams Elementary.
The school has 24 classrooms, six exploration rooms, a hands-on lab, art and music classrooms, a full-size gym, cafeteria, stage, community meeting rooms and a family resource room. A Portland Public Library branch is located in the building.
