Tradition of Champions

Excellence Across All Disciplines

Education is more than instruction—it's orientation. At Meridian Charter School, we help students develop the clarity and confidence to navigate an increasingly complex world. Our tradition of champions reflects not just competitive success, but the cultivation of excellence in all its forms—academic, artistic, athletic, civic, and personal. We celebrate achievement while emphasizing that true success is measured by growth, effort, and contribution to community.

Academic Achievements and Scholarly Recognition

Our approach combines intellectual rigor with context and reflection. Students don't just absorb information—they learn to question it, connect it, and apply it to the challenges that matter to them and their communities. This philosophy has yielded remarkable academic recognition at local, state, and national levels.

"Success at Meridian isn't about individual glory—it's about supporting each other in the pursuit of excellence and using our talents to contribute meaningfully to something larger than ourselves." — James Liu, Class of 2024, National Merit Finalist

Our Distinguished Scholars program recognizes students who combine academic excellence with meaningful community contribution. These students embody our belief that intellectual development and civic responsibility are inseparable aspects of a complete education.

Athletic Excellence and Sportsmanship

Our athletics program develops not just physical skills but also teamwork, leadership, resilience, and good sportsmanship. Meridian teams have earned numerous championships while maintaining our commitment to inclusive participation and personal growth. We believe athletics teach valuable life lessons about perseverance, collaboration, and gracefully handling both victory and defeat.

Recent athletic achievements include:

• Girls Soccer: State Champions 2023, Regional Champions 2022, 2024
• Boys Basketball: Regional Champions 2022, 2024, State Semifinals 2023
• Cross Country: State qualifiers every year since 2018, multiple individual medalists
• Swimming & Diving: Multiple individual state championships, team top-5 finishes
• Track & Field: School records set in seven events, regional champions 2024
• Volleyball: Conference champions 2023, strong competitive record

Arts Recognition and Creative Achievement

Our students' creative work has earned recognition at local, state, and national levels. The Meridian Art Gallery regularly showcases award-winning student artwork, while our music program produces accomplished performers and composers who pursue their passion with dedication and skill.

Recent arts honors include multiple Scholastic Art & Writing Awards gold and silver keys, participation in the All-Northwest Chorus, selection for the Portland Youth Philharmonic, and student films featured in regional festivals. Our visual arts students have exhibited work in professional galleries, and several have gone on to attend prestigious art schools and conservatories.

"The arts at Meridian aren't an extracurricular—they're central to how we understand ourselves and express what we learn." — Sophie Martinez, Class of 2023, currently studying at Rhode Island School of Design

Service, Citizenship, and Community Impact

Perhaps our proudest tradition is our students' commitment to community service and civic engagement. Meridian students contribute over 15,000 service hours annually to local nonprofits, environmental restoration projects, food banks, literacy programs, and community organizations throughout Portland.

This tradition reflects our core belief that education must develop not just individual capability but also social responsibility and the understanding that we all have a role to play in building stronger communities. Students engage in meaningful service that connects to their academic learning and personal interests, from tutoring younger students to advocating for policy changes at the local level.

Meridian serves 400 students in grades 6-12 at our Portland campus. We are a tuition-free public charter school open to all students through an equitable lottery system. Every student who walks through our doors has the potential to be a champion in their own right, pursuing excellence in areas that matter to them personally.

Explore how we develop excellence across our academic programs, learn about our mission and values, and discover our proud history of cultivating student success. For more information about charter school excellence, visit the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.