Portage Public Schools prides itself on excellence in academics and extracurricular activities. Within the district are two traditional high schools and one alternative high school, three middle schools, and eight elementary schools, serving about 8,600 students.
Niche.com rates PPS as the #1 Best School District in the Kalamazoo Area
Best Places to Teach in Michigan: #17 of 554
Best School Districts in Michigan: #26 of 580
Districts with the Best Teachers in Michigan: #26 of 557
Read more at U.S. News and World Report
Portage Central High and Portage Northern High students select from a comprehensive curriculum of more than 250 offerings in a broad range of subjects and special programs. In addition to the core curriculum, Portage Public Schools engages in a number of programs and partnerships that encourage students to excel academically.
Advanced Placement: AP gives students the chance to tackle college-level work while still in high school and earn college credit and placement.
International Baccalaureate: The IB program is an internationally recognized program that provides an intellectually rigorous and academically challenging common curriculum for 11th- and 12th-grade students around the world.
At both traditional high schools, more than 50% of juniors and seniors are taking an IB course.
Other Extension Programs: PPS offers Early Middle College, Career and Technical Education and more. Visit our Curriculum website to read more.
More than 95% of students from our traditional high schools graduate in four years, and most go on to pursue post-secondary education.
The average SAT score for students at Portage Northern and Portage Central High is about 1,050. This is above the state average of 958. At PN and PC, students score higher on both the Reading & Writing and Math sections of the SAT than the average student in Michigan.
We offer our students many innovative tools for learning, including online/virtual opportunities for middle and high school students to expand course opportunities or recover credit. All students are provided Chromebooks to enhance classroom learning.
More than 75 percent of certified faculty hold a master's degree or higher.
The Administrators that lead our District and buildings are members of these professional organizations and more:
Most successful organizations have a clear sense of where they want to go, and a plan on how to get there. PPS is committed to continually improving in the areas of Student Success, People & Culture, Service Excellence and Stewardship.
The graphic at this link outlines the District’s vision, aspirational statement, guiding pillars, standards of excellence, commitment to equity and values.
Many of our students and teachers are recognized as "the best of" in their fields, including fine arts, performance, business, and more. Club activities include archery, dance, gardening, government and many more to meet the interests of our students.
In extracurricular activities, our students have earned more than 50 state championships in athletics, forensics and debate, and club activities. PPS is also proud to count two Olympians among its alumni.
Men's Basketball: 1932
Men's Cross Country: 1956
Women's Softball: 1977
Forensics: 1994, '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, '00, '01, '21, '22, '23
Theater: 2021
Women's Soccer: 2000, 2009
Men's Tennis: 2001, '07, '15
Men's Baseball: 2002
Archery: 2023
Women's Tennis: 1976, '77
Forensics: 1981, '85, '89, '02. '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09. '10, '11, '12, '14, '15
Women's Volleyball: 1982, '85, '86, '87, '92, '93, '94, '95, '97, '99
Men's Baseball: 2019
Women's Softball: 1997, '00, '01, '02
Men's Track & Field: 2000
Men's Soccer: 2000
Debate: 2005, '08
PPS is proud of our state-of-the-art facilities, including first-class athletic stadiums and natatoriums, industry-standard equipment and technology and 21st century learning spaces.
Musicals and plays at both high schools are highly anticipated performances in the Portage community and beyond. Each year, two students from each high school are chosen to represent their nationally-recognized theatre programs at the statewide Sutton Foster Awards.
PC's production of Spongebob won the state award for Best Direction and Best Choreography. PC also won twice (2020 and 2022) for Best Production in the state.
At Northern, two student nominees each won Best Performance in a Leading Role at the statewide competition (2021 and 2022) and went on to compete at the National High School Award Program in New York City.
Students can participate in a variety of music programs at all stages of learning. From high school orchestra, band and choir to music lessons for our youngest learners in elementary school, PPS is proud to offer students the opportunity to create art through the study and performance of music.
Annually, our student musicians win district and state awards at Solo & Ensemble, in the Michigan Scholastic Marching Band circuit, at the Michigan School Vocal Music Association events and more.
The PPS Transportation Department is proud to safely transport approximately 5,500 students to and from school every day. PPS runs a fleet of 60 school buses and has a proud tradition of excellence during annual safety inspections by the Michigan State Police.
PPS is happy to have your family join our community. Visit our Enrollment site to learn more about Schools of Choice, Early Childhood Programs, Young 5s & Kindergarten options and to enroll your child today!
