PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — With classes now in session, one program from Vancouver Public Schools has approached its final semester.
Vancouver Flex Academy, a high school serving students seeking smaller classes and additional time with teachers, will shut down ahead of the 2026-2027 school year. VPS’s board of directors announced the closure early last month as part of an effort to reduce the district’s budget by up to $21 million.
Washington trooper alleges workplace discrimination over his sexual orientation
“We know the news about upcoming changes to Flex Academy has been upsetting and unsettling for our Flex students and families,” VPS spokesperson Jessica Roberts wrote in a statement to KOIN 6. “At the same time, we are trying to create access for many students across the district who currently do not have an appropriate program that meets their needs due to capacity and staffing limits of other programs.”
Although VPS reduced its budget by $34 million just last year, an email sent to families on Dec. 10 cited a decline in student enrollment, an increase in expenses and the “underfunding” of special education as reasons behind further reductions. The email also claimed operations at Flex Academy “cost significantly more” than other district programs — hence the closure…