[10] In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the school district faced declining enrollment, and targeted Cleveland for closure.

Clinton Kelly, an early Portland settler and minister, specified that the property was to be used solely for a public school.

The instrument was removed from Benson High School near the Lloyd Center, enlarged, and installed in the Cleveland Auditorium by the Oregon Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society (now called the Columbia River Theatre Organ Society), which maintains it and presents events open to the public.

[11] In 2005, Cleveland was the setting for the music video for "16 Military Wives" by local indie rock band The Decemberists.

[12] Due to the age and layout of the school, Portland Public Schools has examined proposals to replace or update it as recently as 2023, when the district's real estate team held talks with Kroger regarding a potential purchase of the Fred Meyer corporate offices abutting Powell Park despite the latter party's lack of interest in a sale.

[13] In April 2019, Cleveland was the site of a controversy involving culinary arts students making a cake resembling blackface.