FAQ’s
Q: WHERE CAN I FIND YOUR CURRENT ACADEMIC CALENDAR?
You can find our current academic calendar here. Our calendar is slightly different from Portland Public Schools, including break dates.
Q: IS MT. SCOTT LEARNING CENTER (MSLC) A CHARTER SCHOOL?
No, we are not a charter school or a private school. We are an independent community-based organization (CBO) contracting with Portland Public Schools (PPS) as a different option for students who have not found success in larger, traditional school environments. Our program is diploma-based and serves the general population of students within the Portland Public Schools district (other CBOs are GED-based, employment-based, or may serve more specific populations).
Q: WHO ATTENDS MSLC?
Our students each come to MSLC with a unique history and a unique set of needs, but they’ve all experienced one thing: the traditional public school system wasn’t working for them. At MSLC, we commit to finding the solution that will work for each student, and we ask each student to commit to our community. This means MSLC students respect each other and their teachers, hold each other accountable, and are ready to build new relationships that will help them succeed in high school and beyond.
Q: HOW CAN I APPLY TO ATTEND?
You can start the enrollment process by submitting a Student Interest Form, along with your current transcript and any SPED/504 documentation, if applicable. Please see the enrollment page for full details.
Q: ONCE I’VE APPLIED, HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHETHER I CAN ATTEND?
The most important part is whether we have an available slot that fits with your age and credit status. When an opening is available, we will take the time to meet with you, show you around the school, and decide together whether MSLC is the right fit. We are looking for students who can commit to attending class regularly, commit to being drug-free and violence-free, and who will embody our core values of Healthy, Scholars, Prepared, Citizens.
Q: HOW BIG ARE THE CLASSES?
We strive to maintain class sizes around 18-20 students.
Q: WHAT IS THE GRADUATION RATE?
90% of students who enter their senior year on track to graduate achieve their diploma on time. Since many of our students do not begin at MSLC as freshmen, this doesn’t compare exactly to the way graduation rates are calculated at larger, traditional high schools. Overall, more than 90% of our students earn high school diplomas and 80% go on to college, employment, or job training right after high school.
Q: HOW IS MSLC FUNDED?
Our biggest source of funding is our contract with Portland Public Schools (PPS). However, our budget is lean and doesn’t reflect the opportunities and resources we dream of providing for our students. We are thankful for the numerous local foundations, businesses, and individuals whose support helps fund essential services and new programs, as we work to close the opportunity gap our students face in the public education system.
You can support this important work by becoming a donor today!
Q: IS MY GIFT TAX-DEDUCTIBLE?
Yes! We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with tax ID number 93-1189089.
Q: HOW IS THE PROGRAM EVALUATED?
We regularly track a variety of qualitative and quantitative measures of success, such as academic gains in reading and math, attendance, retention, post-secondary preparedness, and sense of belonging and community. These and other metrics are used by PPS and independent evaluators to create multiple annual evaluations, including an Alternative Accountability Report much like the school and district report cards. We review these metrics internally several times a year, disaggregated by race and gender, and use them to develop new universal and specific supports to address student needs.
We are also regionally accredited by Cognia, which means we have met prescribed standards within our stated mission and beliefs, and undergone a self-study and validation by an outside team of peers. Being accredited means that all other regionally accredited schools will recognize our students’ credits, transcripts, and diplomas.
Q: WHAT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE?
Volunteers have often been an important part of our students’ experience as tutors, mentors, activity leaders, and more. We are currently not accepting new volunteers into our community, as we navigate the challenges of providing school during COVID-19. If you would like to be contacted when we are ready to expand our network again, please email Director of Student Life Aaron Balogh.