Michael Theofelis, an English teacher at David Douglas High School, poses with a student’s drawing of Theofelis with his new baby on his first week back from parental leave. Theofelis says authenticity is among the most important qualities for a teacher.

Michael Theofelis, an English teacher at David Douglas High School, poses with a student’s drawing of Theofelis with his new baby on his first week back from parental leave. Theofelis says authenticity is among the most important qualities for a teacher.

The teachers who shaped the Class of 2025

Getting to know the teachers who have taught the Class of 2025 over the years.

Linfield is united by what sets it apart. Small classes, a high level of support and a close-knit residential community allow students to receive a world-class education while building a foundation for the rest of their lives. Linfield offers athletics, Greek life and all the advantages of a large university, but on a personal scale. Find your people, change the world. Linfield University: Explore the uncommon.

All Class of 2025 stories

Looking back

Kalani Fulmer

About the Class Of 2025 project

OPB is following a group of kindergartners as they start their journey toward high school. In 2013, those students started first grade.




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The Class of 2025 starts junior year

More than a decade ago, Oregon leaders established a goal that starting with the Class of 2025, 100% of students would complete high school successfully. Students in that class just started 11th grade.



New governor, new goal: Is 100% high school graduation by 2025 still Oregon’s target?

John Kitzhaber, the governor who first announced that goal at his inaugural speech in January 2011, resigned from office in February 2015. Oregon’s new governor, Tina Kotek, announced a different graduation rate goal when she was running for office: to improve Oregon’s graduation rate to “90% for all student groups by 2027.” That’s 10% lower, two years later.























Vivianna is a seventh-grader at Ron Russell and a member of OPB's Class of 2025 project. She plays saxophone in the school band.

Music provides place to belong in middle school

The music program in east Portland's David Douglas School District, where most of the students in OPB's Class of 2025 attend school, provides opportunities for students despite family income.


Azaysha looks at ribbons pinned to the wall of her room in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, May 22, 2019. Azaysha's wall includes photos of her family, a drawing a friend made of her, photos of her favorite band, and her first report card with letter grades.

Class Of 2025: Middle school vs. K-8

Most of the students in OPB's class of 2025 are at a middle school. But some are still in the same building as younger kids as Oregon's largest school district makes the move toward a middle school model.









Class Of 2025: Fun with STEAM

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. It translates as creative fun for the Class of 2025.












Jason does a reading exercise during class in late April. Jason and his third-grade classmates took state assessments for the first time this year.

Class Of 2025: 3rd Grade = Testing

OPB has been following students in the Class of 2025 since they were kindergarteners. Now they're in third grade and that means taking state tests for the first time.



Seven-year-old Kaylie, on a day where she feels well. When Kaylie feels sick, she gets dark circles under her eyes.

Learning to read from a hospital bed

Seven-year-old Kaylie stands out from her classmates in a lot of ways, including her extra-good classroom behavior. But she thinks a lot about the physical condition that keeps her outside the first grade reading semi-circle.


Kalani Fulmer

About the Class Of 2025 project

OPB is following a group of kindergartners as they start their journey toward high school. In 2013, those students started first grade.


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'Class Of 2025': A photo finish to second grade

OPB's Class of 2025 finished second grade earlier this month. OPB caught up with many of the students during Field Day at Earl Boyles Elementary School, and did end-of-year photos of each of the 29 participating kids.

'Class Of 2025': A photo finish to second grade

OPB's Class of 2025 finished second grade earlier this month. OPB caught up with many of the students during Field Day at Earl Boyles Elementary School, and did end-of-year photos of each of the 29 participating kids.