Winterhaven School

My student did not feel welcome at this school as a child who's family is living below the poverty line. I guess it's easy to get good test scores at a school that does not have poorer people, ELL students, minorities, or children with disabilities. I am taking my child to a more open school with a more open envirnment.
—Submitted by a parent

I attended Winterhaven from 1st grade to 8th grade. For 8 years I was surrounded by enthusiastic, eccentric students and teachers who really cared about me. Everyone knew my name and who I was, just as I knew everyone else. Winterhaven gave me a head start in high school. I entered Cleveland high school in SE Portland with 3 full credits. I am confused by the comment about teachers being overwhelmed by all the "special needs kids". Winterhaven is a magnet school, but it is still a public school. The amount of "special needs" kids would be the same amount you would find in any other public school, and the teachers are inspiring, intelligent, and truly pasionate people. I have very fond memories of my years at Winterhaven. It is a wonderful school, and a wonderful community to belong to. I have just graduated from high school, and I give full credit to my time spent at Winterhaven to my success in high school. It was a bit of a culture shock coming from Winterhaven into high school, mainly because students lost inspiration and interest. Without a close-knit community, I felt alone and as if no one cared about me like they did at Winterhaven. But alas, I made it to where I am now!

Winterhaven is a magnet school - for special needs kids. There is a large population of Aspergers and other special needs kids here who are very intelligent but with few social skills. There are not enough resources for the staff to deal with all these kids and their special needs, and frequently the teachers are overwhelmed and the more "normal" kids fall through the cracks. Some of the teachers are excellent, some are overwhelmed, and some are just waiting for retirement/should have retired already. The electives are largely taught by parent volunteers, some of whom are "special needs types" themselves. The curriculum is advanced, but for the past two years the 6th grade class has lost their field trip privileges due to behavior issues by a large number of students - enough to have the entire field trip(s) cancelled rather that just having 1 or 2 students not participate. To me this is very significant.
—Submitted by a parent

An amazing school-prepared me wonderfully for high school and college.

It's a great school... My fave, probably, of the three that I've been too. Being weird and quirk is in style :D
—Submitted by a student

Best school ever, best technology, too! Building is too old, so they're going to have to knock it down...
—Submitted by a student

I have two bright girls but really felt they could get lost in the PPS district with all the budget cuts etc. I really wanted teachers/faculty that could give them creative ways to learn and problem solve, give them a little push if they need it or on certain things that they have caught on to teach them more advanced levels so they can feel challenged that is what they do at Winterhaven, they are so supportive that way. They try to give one on one attention while teaching science and math in creative ways. What a blessing it is to go to work and know my girls are being enriched in math/science/community/language/arts and most of all they come home feeling they belong and fit in. Winterhaven also has a nurturing environment so it s comfortable for the students to study and learn I think it s due to the combination of staff and daily involvement of parents/PTA in decisions and the activities that go on there. Winterhaven is the best all around school!
—Submitted by a parent

This is the absolute, best school in the portlandpublicschool district. The teachers there could not be paid enough for the work they do, the interest they take in the students, and their ability to communicate (teach) the students. My two sons; '06 & '07; are far better prepared for HighSchool then I could have ever hoped. In fact, my '07 son, who was a Freshman this year, was number one in his class of 187. All thanx to Mr A, Mrs A, Mrs Lane, Mrs Shuman, Mr Bright, Patti & Mrs Gattis. What a great school!
—Submitted by a parent

Wow, our daughter is so happy to go to this school. As a math and science magnet school, (it has great programs in those subjects), it is extraordinary how good its language arts and theater programs are. Also, the school is just small enough to keep cliques to a minimum.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is fantastic. The teachers are dedicated, the extra programs are taught by parents and industry experts and the magnet program is truly advanced.
—Submitted by a parent