The modernization of Ida B. Wells-Barnett High School for Portland Public Schools is replacing the original 1956 school, formerly known as Wilson High School, in Southwest Portland. The new school’s values are being shaped by the community who passionately advocated for their school to be renamed for civil rights journalist Ida B. Wells, with the shared vision that it “will embody the legacy of its namesake, shining a light on her commitment to truth, transparency, and justice.”

In response, the high school’s bold, inspiring design, championed by a women-led design team, will prioritize human-centered values of health, nature, and resilience to create an inclusive learning environment in which all students can achieve their potential.