Ida B. Wells-Barnett High School

Dear Guardian Community,

Welcome to our latest 8th Grade Family newsletter. It is a pleasure to share highlights of our vibrant Ida B. Wells community and the many ways our students continue to learn, grow, and connect.

I am proud to be part of the Ida B. Wells community and have spent the past 15 years here, first as a school administrator and later as a parent as my daughters attended and graduated from Ida B. Wells High School. With 25 years in education, all in large comprehensive high schools, I continue to believe deeply that students thrive in environments where they are prepared, engaged, and encouraged to advocate for themselves and one another.

Thank you to everyone who attended our Guardian Showcase last week. It was wonderful to welcome families to campus and to see them connecting with our teachers, students, and programs.

If you were unable to attend, please take a look at the attached Guardian Showcase Program as it includes detailed information about IBWHS. I also encourage you to join us at an upcoming event—whether it’s a home basketball game, the Winter Choir and Orchestra Concert this Wednesday, the Winter Play, or one of the many activities happening throughout the season.

As many families explore schools to find the best fit for their student, we are proud to offer a comprehensive public high school in Portland’s Southwest neighborhood where students are supported, challenged, and encouraged to succeed. To learn more about our programs and upcoming events, please visit our website at https://ibw.pps.net

Warm regards,
Ayesha Coning
Principal, Ida B. Wells High School

Our Ida B. Wells High School counselors are here to support students every step of the way through high school. They partner with students and families to create personalized plans for graduation, college, and career, while monitoring progress to ensure each student stays on track.

Beyond academics, counselors provide vital support for students navigating mental health challenges, family transitions, or other personal circumstances that may impact learning. Our counseling team is a trusted resource, committed to helping every student thrive—both in and out of the classroom.

8th Grade Forecasting Visits (January 2026)
To support our incoming freshmen, IBWHS counselors will visit our feeder middle schools to assist 8th graders with forecasting for their 9th-grade classes:

• Robert Gray Middle School

  • First visit: Wednesday, January 7

  • Follow-up (all day, 1:1 student meetings): Wednesday, January 21

• Jackson Middle School

• First visit: Monday, January 12

• Follow-up (all day, 1:1 student meetings): Thursday, January 22

We look forward to welcoming our future Guardians and supporting them as they begin their high school journey.

To start exploring all of our course offerings, check out our interactive course guide here. The 2026–2027 course guide will be available in January 2026.

Our school counselors will be visiting our feeder middle schools in mid-January to help students select their freshman classes. Please visit our website here in mid-January for the most up-to-date information.

Ida B. Wells offers a wide range of AP courses that challenge students academically and prepare them for college-level work while still in high school.

Art and Music

• 2D Art & Design 1–2

• 3D Art & Design 1

• Music Theory

• Studio Art

Foreign Languages

• French Language and Culture 1–2

• Spanish Language and Culture 1–2

Mathematics

• Calculus AB

• Calculus BC

• Statistics

Science

• Biology

• Chemistry

• Environmental Science

• Physics 2

Social Studies

• Comparative Government and Politics

• Human Geography

• Microeconomics and Macroeconomics

• Psychology

• U.S. Government and Politics

• U.S. History

• World History: Modern

At Ida B. Wells, students can design a course of study that matches their interests and ambitions. Whether you’re passionate about the arts, technology, science, or public service, there’s a pathway for you here.

Our CTE programs connect classroom learning with real-world experience. Students gain hands-on skills, earn certifications, and work with industry professionals in fields such as:

• Arts & Design

• Computer Science

• Construction Technology

• Education

• Engineering

• Health Sciences

• Marketing & Business

• Mass Communications

• Sound Engineering
• Theater Production

Through partnerships with local colleges and universities, our students can earn college credit while still in high school:

• Oregon Institute of Technology: Anatomy

• Portland State University: Geology

• Portland Community College: Chamber Orchestra, Health Studies, Writing Composition, Pre-Med, Medical Terminology and Wilderness First Aid

• Reed College Young Scholars Program

We have over 69 clubs at Ida B. Wells High School! There is truly something for everyone! To learn about our clubs please check out our slideshow here.

We offer 13 different sports (21 teams) that fall under the Oregon State Athletic Association (OSAA) umbrella and we compete in the Portland Interscholastic League (PIL). See the Athletics website for more details https://www.ibwathletics.com/

Each spring, we welcome our incoming 9th graders to visit Ida B. Wells High School during the school day. This year’s visit will take place on May 8. Students from Jackson and Robert Gray will attend with their classes.

If your 8th grader attends a different middle school, please sign them up for the spring visit using the digital sign-up form so they can join us for this exciting preview of high school life.

More details will be shared soon—we look forward to welcoming the Class of 2030!

We want to reassure students and families that there will be no need for students to move to another school during construction. Throughout the modernization process, students will continue learning in the current Ida B. Wells High School building.

The new Ida B. Wells High School is projected to open in August 2029, at which point students will transition into the new facility. If everything goes according to plan, the Class of 2030 will be the first graduating class in our brand-new school building in Spring of 2030. After the move, the existing building will be removed, and the baseball field and tennis courts will be rebuilt.

To stay informed, please visit the Ida B. Wells Modernization Webpage for the latest updates. We also invite you to join us for our next Community Design Workshop on February 4, held in the IBWHS Cafeteria from 6:00–8:00 PM.

Have questions, ideas, or want to be added to the mailing list? Please email the design team at Wellsbond@pps.net.

Website: https://ibw.pps.net

Phone: 503-916-5280
Principal: Ayesha Coning, mailto:aconing@pps.net
Business Manager: Erica Caldwell mailto:ecaldwell@pps.net
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