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Shasta School Closure

Shasta School Closure

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After careful consideration, the Bethel School Board reached consensus on Monday November 10th to close Shasta Middle School at the end of the 2025–26 school year (June 2026) as part of Bethel’s long-range facilities plan. Like many districts across Oregon, Bethel is facing tighter budgets due to a combination of reduced federal funding, declining enrollment, and rising costs. (School districts are funded on a per-student basis, so fewer students means less state funding). These factors shape every part of our planning — including staffing, long-term facilities planning, local and federal funding, and bargaining with our employee groups.

Even in challenging times, our focus remains firmly on students. Every decision we make is guided by our commitment to ensuring that Bethel students not only thrive academically, but also feel a sense of belonging, inclusion, and purpose. We will continue to plan carefully, communicate openly, and keep students at the heart of our work.

Frequently Asked Questions and Resources

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View Long Range Planning Document

  • Shasta Middle School will close at the end of the 2025-26 school year.

  • The Bethel School District plan to share updated boundary information in mid-December. This will help students understand which school they will attend in the 2026–27 school year. District staff will be available to answer questions related to boundaries, placement, transportation, and next steps.

  • Current Shasta students will attend one of Bethel’s existing middle school programs either at Cascade Middle School, Meadow View School (K-8) or Prairie Mountain School (K-8). Bethel district leadership and the Bethel School Board are currently working with transportation and operational staff in the district to make this determination, which is very much dependent on school boundaries. We plan to share more informatoin about this in December. 

  • Bethel will host several opportunities for families to learn more about the Shasta Middle School transition and share their questions, ideas, and feedback. All Bethel families are welcome to attend the sessions that best fit their needs.

    • Life Skills–Focused Session: 5 p.m. on December 9 – Bethel District Office - 4640 Barger Drive - For families of students served in Life Skills programs.
    • In-Person Engagement Session: 6 p.m. on December 16 – Shasta Middle School Cafeteria - 4656 Barger Drive - Open to all families
    • Virtual Engagement Session: 5:30 p.m. on December 18 – Zoom Link - Open to all families
    • Danebo Family Engagement Session: 6 p.m., January 6 - Danebo Elementary - 1265 Candlelight Dr - Open to all Danebo families
    • Irving Family Engagement Session: 6 p.m., January 8 - Irving Elementary - 3200 Hyacinth St. - Open to all Irving families 
    • Shasta Band-focused Engagement Session: 6 p.m., January 21 - Shasta Middle School - 4656 Barger Drive - Open to all Shasta band students

    Please feel free to share your questions through this brief form. Filling out this form helps us to adequately share information about common questions or concerns. Have suggestions for how we could be sharing information more effectively? Please share!

  • Over the coming weeks, we will be hosting several opportunities for Shasta families to learn more about the transition and share input. These engagement sessions will include both virtual and in-person options and will take place beginning in December. Sessions will include:

    • A virtual engagement session open to all Shasta families

    • An in-person engagement session open to all Shasta families

    • A Life Skills–focused engagement session for families of students served in Life Skills programs

    At the engagement sessions we will also answer questions about specific programs such as band. 

  • For families who would like to apply for an in-district transfer to a different school, we will open a special transfer window in early January.  Depending on space availability, we will attempt to process transfer requests as quickly as possible.

  • Shasta Middle School has a long and meaningful history, and we are committed to honoring that legacy. In the months ahead, the district will begin planning a celebration to recognize Shasta’s many contributions to our community. Families and staff will be invited to participate in this work. If you are interested in joining the planning committee, please email communications@bethel.k12.or.us.

  • We are currently working to determine next steps for the Shasta Band Program and will communicate with families as soon as we can. 

  • Students who are currently attending Shasta on a interdistrict transfer will be reassigned to a new home school. If they would like to attend a school other than their new home school, they would need to submit transfer paperwork again.

    Interdistrict transfers will be evaluated on several factors, especially the space available. Some Bethel schools may not have space available to accommodate transfers due to a lack of openings. Incomplete transfer requests may be denied without consideration or appeal. There are no guarantees of approval. For more information about transfers, visit Bethel's transfer page.