Three new elementary schools set to rise in three years at PPS

It will be a busy few years at Portage Public Schools as plans to open three new schools in three years come to life. 

After the passing of the 2025 Bond to Finish the Job, PPS is forging ahead to replace our oldest elementary schools in the coming years. The District plans to open three new elementary schools in three consecutive years, beginning with Woodland in 2027.

Amberly will open in 2028 followed by Angling Road in 2029, Assistant Superintendent Russ Gerbers said at a Board of Education meeting Monday, Nov. 17.

Woodland Elementary will be the third of five new elementary schools to be replaced thanks to the generous support of the Portage community. In the fall of 2025, new Central and Haverhill Elementary schools opened to students. 

At the Board meeting, Gerbers and representatives from the District's project partners presented preliminary designs and floor plans for the future Amberly Elementary. The new school will be unique to its own neighborhood, but will embody the Future of Elementary Learning, including a focus on collaborative learning communities that emphasize connection and belonging.

Architects have gathered input from staff and students at the remaining schools to help inform their decisions. Plans for the remaining new builds are also being tweaked with the feedback on what is working well and what could be improved from leaders at the first two schools.

The District is also looking at plans to renovate Moorsbridge Elementary and address the oldest building in the district that houses both the Early Childhood Center and Community High School.