From a Portage Public Schools musical stage to performing alongside a Broadway superstar!

Each year, our theatre students have the opportunity to participate in the Sutton Foster Awards, where adjudicators attend high school musical productions across Michigan and recognize outstanding student performers.

Last year, AJ Brow and her brother, Vinny, were nominated for their performances in Young Frankenstein. This summer, Sutton Foster Award nominees were invited to submit video auditions for an opportunity to perform alongside Sutton Foster during her upcoming concert at the Wharton Center.

Out of more than 100 video submissions, AJ was selected as one of just 40 finalists!

On October 3, AJ will take the stage at the Wharton Center and sing alongside Broadway superstar Sutton Foster.

Congratulations, AJ! We are so proud to see you representing Portage Public Schools on such a special stage.

#EveryStudentEveryFuture #PPSProud #PortagePublicSchools #SuttonFosterAwards
about 1 month ago, Portage Public Schools
AJ Brow is getting a chance to preform at the Wharton Theater with Broadway Legend Sutton Foster
Do you have a three-year-old who is looking for a high-quality preschool experience? Come check us out! 💙

Our Three-Year-Old Preschool Program at Portage Public Schools offers a full-day, full-time preschool experience and partners with KC Ready 4’s to provide additional opportunities and support for our preschool families.

Our preschool program follows the Portage Public Schools calendar and provides children with engaging, developmentally appropriate learning experiences throughout the school year.

Our classrooms use The Creative Curriculum and Second Step SEL to support the whole child—including social-emotional development, early academic skills, independence, and kindergarten readiness. Each classroom is supported by a highly qualified and caring teaching team dedicated to helping every child learn, grow, and thrive.

We still have a few enrollment spots available, and we would love to welcome your family to our Early Childhood community!

Please reach out to learn more or to inquire about enrollment.

We hope to see you soon!
- Ms. French
about 2 months ago, Portage Public Schools
3's Preschool at PPS is still available
There is a large telephone network outage impacting Michigan, as well as parts of Ohio and Indiana. Portage Public Schools is affected, which means we cannot accept calls from outside of our schools or make calls to the outside.

If you need to contact the school building, we suggest using email for now. You can go to our district website at https://www.portageps.org/, click on the Schools tab at the top of the home page, then click on the Menu to find and use the Staff Directory.

We do not have an estimated restoration time from our network phone provider yet, but will update families and staff once we have more information.
about 2 months ago, Portage Public Schools
Join us for the Portage Public Schools Enrollment Event!

Need help enrolling your student for the 2026–27 school year? Stop by on Thursday, August 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Portage Central High School Commons. Our staff will be available to assist families through the enrollment process and answer any questions.

Families can also enjoy free food, giveaways, school bus tours, and information from community partners. Human Resources staff will be on-site to share employment opportunities with Portage Public Schools.

Please bring:
• Parent/Guardian photo ID (and proof of guardianship, if applicable)
• Birth certificate
• Proof of residency
• Immunization records (or an approved waiver)
• Current high school transcript (for high school students)

Please note: Due to construction on South Westnedge Avenue, visitors should park on the north side of Portage Central High School and follow the signs around the building to the event entrance.

We look forward to helping your family get ready for a successful school year!
3 months ago, Portage Public Schools
PPS On-site Enrollment Thursday, August 6th
Why does this millage matter? State and federal funding doesn’t fully cover the cost of special education. Without the millage, local schools must use general education funds to make up the difference. The Special Education Millage fills that gap, so general classroom budgets are protected while students with disabilities get the support they need. Get the facts at KRESA.org/millage.
6 months ago, Portage Public Schools
Graphic with the text “Why does the Special Education Millage matter?” and a child seated in a blue chair.

Election Day is tomorrow!

Kalamazoo County voters will see the Special Education Millage Renewal on the ballot. This is not a new tax, it renews the existing millage first approved in 2015 and renewed in 2021, continuing at the same rate for homeowners. The millage generates approximately $16.8 million each year that KRESA disperses to local school districts to help pay for legally required special education services including speech and occupational therapy, teachers and classroom aides, assistive technology, and specialized instruction.  State and federal funding doesn’t cover the entirety of these costs; this millage helps districts fund these services and protect schools’ general fund dollars that are allocated for other programs and services. 

Get informed by visiting kresa.org/millage


6 months ago, Portage Public Schools
A graphic featuring a young Black boy sitting at a desk holding a pencil, looking up thoughtfully. Text over a teal background reads: "Election Day is May 5, 2026. Be Informed."
Every district in Kalamazoo County benefits – whether it’s speech therapy, occupational therapy, classroom aides, or assistive technology, these services are funded by the millage so all students with disabilities can succeed. This May, voters will decide on renewing that support. Get the facts at KRESA.org/millage.
6 months ago, Portage Public Schools
Graphic reading ‘In Our Schools, Millage funds at work’ alongside a joyful moment of an adult seated in a classroom chair hugging a child. Teal and yellow design elements frame the image.

We are working hard to be sure your student is prepared for life after high school. Your input on this survey will help us better understand your needs and your student’s needs as they relate to Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness (PWR). Your responses are anonymous, meaning your name will not be associated with your answers. The results of this survey will be used for informational purposes and will help us make decisions about programs and services that will benefit you and your student.

NOTE: Throughout this survey you will see the word "postsecondary." Please keep in mind the term “postsecondary” means “AFTER high school.”

There will be an open-ended question at the end of the survey for you to share any thoughts you may have about the survey or career development and postsecondary planning.

Any questions about this survey can be directed to Dr. Tracy Speaker-Gerstheimer, tspeakerg@portageps.org.


Take the Family Survey


6 months ago, Portage Public Schools
Why does this millage matter? State and federal funding doesn’t fully cover the cost of special education. Without the millage, local schools must use general education funds to make up the difference. The Special Education Millage fills that gap, so general classroom budgets are protected while students with disabilities get the support they need. Get the facts at KRESA.org/millage.
6 months ago, Portage Public Schools
Graphic with the text “Why does the Special Education Millage matter?” and a child seated in a blue chair.
Happy Secretaries Day from all us at Portage Public Schools
7 months ago, Portage Public Schools
Happy Secretaries day , April 22, 2026
What is the Special Education Millage? It’s a renewal of the existing 1.5-mills property tax that funds special education services in Kalamazoo County. This means continued support that’s been in place for years. The millage helps all local school districts pay for mandated special education programs. Learn more and read the full FAQ at KRESA.org/millage.
7 months ago, Portage Public Schools
Text reads “What is the Special Education Millage? It’s a renewal, NOT a new tax.” An adult smiles while supporting a smiling child in a wheelchair, framed by teal and yellow graphics.
Mark Your Calendar: May 5, 2026, is Election Day for the KRESA Special Education Millage. This proposal is strictly a renewal, so a YES vote would continue the 1.5 mills levy at the same rate, and a NO vote would end it. Make sure you’re registered and know your polling place or absentee ballot deadlines. Find voter information at Michigan.gov/vote or contact your local clerk.
7 months ago, Portage Public Schools
A graphic featuring a young Black boy sitting at a desk holding a pencil, looking up thoughtfully. Text over a teal background reads: "Election Day is May 5, 2026. Be Informed."
Every district in Kalamazoo County benefits – whether it’s speech therapy, occupational therapy, classroom aides, or assistive technology, these services are funded by the millage so all students with disabilities can succeed. This May, voters will decide on renewing that support. Get the facts at KRESA.org/millage.
7 months ago, Portage Public Schools
Graphic reading ‘In Our Schools, Millage funds at work’ alongside a joyful moment of an adult seated in a classroom chair hugging a child. Teal and yellow design elements frame the image.
Why does this millage matter? State and federal funding doesn’t fully cover the cost of special education. Without the millage, local schools must use general education funds to make up the difference. The Special Education Millage fills that gap, so general classroom budgets are protected while students with disabilities get the support they need. Get the facts at KRESA.org/millage.
7 months ago, Portage Public Schools
Graphic with the text “Why does the Special Education Millage matter?” and a child seated in a blue chair.
What is the Special Education Millage? It’s a renewal of the existing 1.5-mills property tax that funds special education services in Kalamazoo County. This means continued support that’s been in place for years. The millage helps all local school districts pay for mandated special education programs. Learn more and read the full FAQ at KRESA.org/millage.
7 months ago, Portage Public Schools
Text reads “What is the Special Education Millage? It’s a renewal, NOT a new tax.” An adult smiles while supporting a smiling child in a wheelchair, framed by teal and yellow graphics.

Dear Parent/Caregiver,

As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we are conducting a survey in partnership with Studer Education to monitor our progress in creating a positive school experience for you and your child(ren). Your feedback is crucial in helping us identify areas for recognition and improvement.

The survey will ask you to select the school your child(ren) attends. Once you complete the survey for 1 school, you will have the option to provide feedback on another school, if you have a child at another school in the district. Providing feedback to each school should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. We encourage you to complete it in one sitting, as your responses will be saved once you click submit.

Take the Parent/Caregiver Survey

The survey is scheduled for 4/6/2026 through 4/24/2026.

To maintain confidentiality of the Parent/Caregiver Survey, our partners at Studer Education will be administering the survey, managing the data collection, and aggregating the data to provide results reports to leaders. 

Thank you for your partnership,

7 months ago, Portage Public Schools
QR Code for Parent/Caregiver Survey
Today is the day!Join us for a Community Gallery Walk at Amberly Elementary. You are invited to join Amberly Elementary Principal Dr. Andy Fuehr and members of the design team to learn more about the design process and construction of the new Amberly Elementary School.
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
6:00 pm to 7 pm
6637 Amberly St.
Portage, MI

Light refreshments will be provided.
7 months ago, Portage Public Schools
Amberly Community Gallery Walk Graphic
Mark Your Calendar: May 5, 2026, is Election Day for the KRESA Special Education Millage. This proposal is strictly a renewal, so a YES vote would continue the 1.5 mills levy at the same rate, and a NO vote would end it. Make sure you’re registered and know your polling place or absentee ballot deadlines. Find voter information at Michigan.gov/vote or contact your local clerk.
7 months ago, Portage Public Schools
A graphic featuring a young Black boy sitting at a desk holding a pencil, looking up thoughtfully. Text over a teal background reads: "Election Day is May 5, 2026. Be Informed."
Every district in Kalamazoo County benefits – whether it’s speech therapy, occupational therapy, classroom aides, or assistive technology, these services are funded by the millage so all students with disabilities can succeed. This May, voters will decide on renewing that support. Get the facts at KRESA.org/millage.
7 months ago, Portage Public Schools
Graphic reading ‘In Our Schools, Millage funds at work’ alongside a joyful moment of an adult seated in a classroom chair hugging a child. Teal and yellow design elements frame the image.
Join us for a Community Gallery Walk at Amberly Elementary. You are invited to join Amberly Elementary Principal Dr. Andy Fuehr and members of the design team to learn more about the design process and construction of the new Amberly Elementary School.
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
6:00 pm to 7pm
6637 Amberly St.
Portage, MI

Light refreshments will be provided.
7 months ago, Portage Public Schools
Amberly Community Gallery Walk graphic