Primerly field report

Meraki School of Democracy

a public alternative program in Portland

K–12 · Alternative · Progressive · Homeschool Hybrid

11111 NE Knott St, Portland · Facilitator-led democratic school; 3 facilitators: Brooklyn Wetzel, Bria Bloom, and Elizabeth Streett. School agreements are made by youth and staff at the weekly General Assembly.

Meraki School of Democracy is a private, self-directed democratic school in Portland's Parkrose neighborhood for youth ages 5 to 18, run by the nonprofit Autonomy First. There is no set curriculum: young people learn by following their interests, through free play, deep dives, and opt-in offerings that youth and facilitators both lead.

Fall 2026 offerings include photography, puppets, a writer's group, Dungeons & Dragons, and media studies for ages 12 and up. Mixed-age community is central to the model, and youth run most of school life, including how the budget is spent, staff hiring, feedback, and clerkships.

Only a few practices are required: the weekly General Assembly, where school agreements are made by consensus, and daily all-school cleanup. Conflict is handled through restorative processes. Campus days are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Wednesday is Flying Squad day, when the group meets off campus to explore the city, and Friday is logged independent study.

Smartphones stay in the coat area for everyone, adults included. Full-time students get one-on-one mentorship. A separate 1 to 2 day enrichment track serves homeschoolers and online learners.

Tuition: $10,500-$13,000/yr (2026-2027)

Address: 11111 NE Knott St, Portland, OR 97220. Phone: Not published. Website: merakischool.org.

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PPS rightsizing · a proposal, not a decision

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The basics

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A day here

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Getting in

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Your odds in the lottery

Seats here aren’t first-come; they’re drawn by lottery. Each circle below is a tenth of the families who applied over the last two springs and stayed in the running (didn’t take a higher-ranked school). Filled circles got a yes.

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Official PPS lottery results, 2025-26 & 2026-27 combined: offers made ÷ families still in the running (offered + waitlisted); applications cancelled for a higher-ranked school excluded. pps.net › prior transfer data. Slots reset every year.
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Tuition
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