Thank you to the teachers, families, city leaders and community members who joined us last night to officially cut the ribbon at our brand new Portage Central Elementary School! We are beyond grateful to our community for their support.

4 months ago, Portage Public Schools
a group of people pose for a photo at a ribbon cutting ceremony
a woman speaking to a large group of people gathered in a school
a man and daughter walk through a school library
a girl running through a gym with a hoola hoop
a boy dances around a music classroom
a dad and son seen through the window of an art classroom
a woman smiles at another woman standing in a classroom
people standing and talking inside a school cafeteria
a man speaks at a lectern in a school
a man speaks at a lectern inside a school
It was a super sweet morning at 12th Street Elementary's Donuts with Grown Ups! 🍩🍩
4 months ago, Portage Public Schools
two kids pose for a photo with an inflatable donut
a girl swings on a swingset outside
a family looking at donuts on a table
a boy and girl pose for a photo together
a man and woman pose for a photo together
a family poses for a photo
a woman smiles at another person standing outside
three kids pose for a photo on a swingset
a mom pushes her child on a swingset
a woman and her daughter pose for a photo with an inflatable donut
The new Portage Central Elementary is a sight to behold! See it for yourself TOMORROW from 6 - 7:15 p.m. at the Community Ribbon Cutting and Building Walk Through. We hope to see you there!
4 months ago, Portage Public Schools
a graphic, text in caption
He started as a student in the Portage Northern High School woodshop. After graduating, he's returned to the very same classroom in a new role.

Robert Haworth, a 2025 graduate of PNHS, is now working as the technical assistant in the high school's Engineering in Wood Technology class.

To read more, visit portageps.org/news.
4 months ago, Portage Public Schools
a man poses for a photo in a woodshop
Congratulations to Caitlyn Walsh, who was awarded $3,000 from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation Award for her classroom at Amberly Elementary! The grant will supply her students with new technology in the classroom to increase their independence, help literacy development and assist with translation for English-language learners. "The overall goal is to increase student autonomy and help students take ownership of their learning while building confidence and essential skills," Walsh said.
4 months ago, Portage Public Schools
a woman smiles for a photo inside a classroom

Attention families: There will be free meals for ALL students until September 30th. Due to budgetary uncertainty in Michigan, families who do NOT qualify for Education and Nutrition Benefits will have to start paying for their students’ breakfast and lunches in October.

Did you know that your student might qualify for free or reduced-price meals? The application only takes a few minutes to complete, and your information will be kept safe and confidential. Education and Nutrition Benefit applications are NOW available for this school year. All families are encouraged to apply online at https://portage.familyportal.cloud. Please check out the following link to learn more about eligibility - Income Guidelines for School Nutrition Programs FAQ (https://www.michigan.gov/mde/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/Food-and-Nutrition-Programs/MISC/2025-2026-IG-FAQ.pdf)

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Susan Livingston, Director of Dining Services at 269-323-5155 or via email at slivingston@portageps.org.

4 months ago, Portage Public Schools
cafeteria food
Come see inside our brand new elementary schools! The community is invited to join us for Ribbon Cutting ceremonies and building walk-throughs next month at both Central and Haverhill Elementary Schools.

The events are from 6:00-7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, at Central Elementary School, 8422 S. Westnedge Ave., and 6:00-7:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at Haverhill Elementary School, 1720 Haverhill Ave, Portage.
4 months ago, Portage Public Schools
a flyer, details are in the caption
a flyer, details are in the caption
We are back! 🎉✨ From kindergarten beginnings to senior year milestones, our students are back at PPS, and we are thrilled to see so many smiling faces! 🙌😁
4 months ago, Portage Public Schools
a teacher hugs a student in front of a sign that reads happy first day of school
two girls smiling as they walk into a school
girls smile at a phone standing outside a school
four girls pose for a photo in front of a sunrise
three girls pose for a photo on a school playground
a mom hugs her son outside a school
a man poses for a photo with a student wearing the same outfit
a woman smiles as children walk inside a school
a man hugs two children outside a school
a boy smiles
We want to see all your sleepy, excited, smiley faces! 🥰😴😁
4 months ago, Portage Public Schools
happy first day! Share your photos below
Thank you to our staff and community members who joined Superintendent Johnny Edwards at yesterday's Meet and Greet events.
4 months ago, Portage Public Schools
a man and woman smiling together in a conference room
a man fist bumps a boy inside a school
two women smile at a man
a man poses for a photo with two other people
a woman and her child stand and talk to a man
a man smiles at a woman in a conference room
two women talk to a man
a woman smiles at a man
a man and woman pose together for a photo
a man smiles at a woman
We are pleased to introduce “My Ride K-12,” a new app that will provide you with real-time updates for bus delays or cancellations.  My Ride K-12 is free, secure, and available from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Bus routes are now available on the app and in Skyward Family Access.
4 months ago, Portage Public Schools
a graphic, text in caption
Friendly competition and fun team bonding is what Camp Mustang is all about! The Portage Central High teaching staff kept their annual tradition alive, kicking off the year with a morning full of laughs and camaraderie.
4 months ago, Portage Public Schools
a man throws a hula hoop toward a human target in a school cafeteria
a woman in a ref outfit standing in a school cafeteria
a blind folded woman tries to put cotton balls in a bowl with a spoon
two women laugh sitting on a cafeteria floor
a man throws a hula hoop toward a human target in a school cafeteria
a blind folded woman tries to put cotton balls in a bowl with a spoon
a woman cheers as a man tries to use a straw to move candy from plate to plate
two people use straws to move candy from one plate to another
a woman dances around while people stand near her and cheer
a woman wearing a ref outfit in a school cafeteria

Bus drivers and paraprofessionals are back and preparing for a great school year! Be on the lookout Wednesday for our buses as drivers practice their routes to ensure that what works on a map works in real life. Families can expect route information to be available in Skyward Family Access by Thursday afternoon. Thank you for your patience as we work to include all new enrollees.

4 months ago, Portage Public Schools
a large group of people pose for a photo in front of a school bus
You are invited to come meet Superintendent Johnny Edwards! Please join us from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, at the Portage Zhang Senior Center, 203 E. Centre Ave., for an informal meet-and-greet with Superintendent Edwards.
4 months ago, Portage Public Schools
M&G Social, details in caption
👏 Fresh faces and new energy at this year's New Staff Orientation! 😍🥳 Join us in welcoming new teachers, secretaries and other amazing new members of the PPS team! 👋
4 months ago, Portage Public Schools
a large group of people pose for a photo
Thank you to the wonderful members of the PTO who helped freshen up outside Moorsbridge Elementary this week in preparation for the return of students. Our PTOs are amazing partners who help make PPS special!
4 months ago, Portage Public Schools
a woman pulls weeds outside an elementary school
a woman gardens outside a school
multiple women garden outside an elementary school

Looking for info on Open Houses or other back-to-school stuff? You'll find this info and more at our website at portageps.org/page/back-to-school-at-pps.

4 months ago, Portage Public Schools
four girls pose for a photo outside an elementary school
Our PPS administrators toured the brand-new KRESA CTE Center today and got a first-hand look at its incredible learning spaces and state-of-the-art labs. We are grateful for our partnership with KRESA to help students explore careers and build real-world skills. For every student and every future! 🚀
4 months ago, Portage Public Schools
a man gives a group of people a tour through a CTE career center
people walking up a flight of stairs in front of a large sign that says kalamazoo resa
a group of people look through a glass window into a classroom
a man gives a group of people a tour through a CTE career center
a group of people walk through a large career center
a man gives a group of people a tour through a CTE career center
people walk into a classroom labeled aviation technology
a woman smiles inside a classroom
the reflection of people is seen on glass looking inside a career center
people tour a hospital learning setting
Secretaries are back for Professional Development today, which means the first day of school is right around the corner! Our office staff attended what we call Office Camp -- a day of learning to help kickstart the new year. FYI: office secretaries will be in their respective schools beginning Tuesday, Aug. 12, to process enrollments and help families.

T-minus 14 days!
4 months ago, Portage Public Schools
women sitting around a classroom desk in discussion
women sitting around a classroom desk in discussion
women sitting around a classroom desk in discussion
women sitting around a classroom desk in discussion
a man sitting around a classroom desk in discussion
women sitting around a classroom desk in discussion
a woman teaching at the front of a classroom
people working at laptops at school desks
people sitting around desks talking in a classroom

👋 We have a new friendly face to introduce to our PPS community! 👋 Portage Public Safety Officer Austin Garrison will join us as a new School Resource Officer at Portage Central High School this year.

Austin, a Kalamazoo-area native, has worked as a police officer for eight years – serving four in Baltimore, Maryland before coming back to Michigan.

He applied for the role of SRO after shadowing Officer Henry Kite on the job – an experience he said opened his eyes to the multitude of various tasks that an SRO handles throughout the day.

“I’m so excited and honored to be your new SRO starting this fall! One part of the job I love the most is the people I get to interact with. I look forward to meeting as many new faces as I can when the school year begins.”

Please join us in welcoming Officer Garrison to the PPS crew!

4 months ago, Portage Public Schools
a police officer poses for a photo outside a school building