The Portsmouth School Department is committed to the full inclusion of all students in a barrier-free learning environment. In our schools we hold the powerful belief that equity is providing students with the resources they need to achieve at the highest possible level, and graduate prepared for engaged citizenship as well as college, career, and community success.

Ensuring equity in education is a necessary component in narrowing the achievement gap. Teachers and school leaders ensure equity by recognizing, respecting, and attending to the diverse strengths and challenges of the students they serve. We are able to differentiate instruction, services, and resources to respond effectively to the diverse needs of our students, with the aim of ensuring that all students are able to learn and thrive.

In addition, Portsmouth High School is committed to using course enrollment practices that increase access to honors and advanced courses for historically underrepresented students. All students have the right to participate in our honors and advanced  program as long as prerequisite coursework is successfully completed.

The Portsmouth School Department does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs,

activities and services, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been

designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Dr. Patricia Haynes, Title IX Coordinator Coordinator for the School District

Portsmouth School District

City Hall, 1 Junkins Avenue

Portsmouth, NH 03801, (603) 431-5080

The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for the oversight of all anti-discrimination laws and Portsmouth School Department policies, including those dealing with sexual harassment. The responsibility includes being available to meet with students, parents and/or guardians regarding any sex discrimination concerns or formal complaints. The Title IX Coordinator also tracks complaints to be aware of, and respond to, any trends and to ensure that timely and complete  investigations of complaints are conducted. Portsmouth School Department is committed to taking any steps necessary to respond to, and prevent, sexual harassment. In addition, the following individuals are also authorized to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Inquiries regarding Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and/or Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 may also, or instead of, may be directed to:

U.S. Department of Education

Office for Civil Rights

33 Arch Street, Suite 900

Boston, MA 02110-1491

(617) 289-0111, TTY (877) 521-2172

Additionally, inquiries may also be directed to the:

The mission of the ESOL Program is to ensure that all English language learners are given an equitable, appropriate and academically challenged education. The lack of English language skills is not a barrier to participation in any courses and ESOL classes are credit bearing.

Students and/or their parent or legal guardians who have visual impairments should contact the Office of the Principal for assistance in accessing information contained on the School Department web site or written other materials. Please call 436-7100, ext. 2912.

Portsmouth High School is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., a non-governmental, nationally recognized organization whose affiliated institutions include elementary schools through collegiate institutions offering post-graduate instruction.

Accreditation of an institution by the New England Association indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality periodically applied through a peer group review process. An accredited school or college is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.

Accreditation by the New England Association is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of the quality of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.

Inquiries regarding the status of an institution's accreditation by the New England Association should be directed to the administrative staff

of the school or college. Individuals may also contact the Association:

New England Association of Schools and Colleges

3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100

Burlington, Massachusetts 01803-4514

(781) 425-7700 • FAX (781) 425-1001