Summary:
Hermiston, Oregon has nine public schools — six elementary (K–5), two middle (6–8), and one high school (9–12) — all serving approximately 5,320 students within a single district, Hermiston School District 8, a uniformly high-poverty district where every school reports between about 91% and 93% free/reduced-price lunch.
Results vary widely between schools despite those nearly identical student populations. Desert View Elementary School is the clear standout, ranking at the 82nd percentile with the district's top ELA (61.5%), math (52.5%), and science (43.2%) scores — 13 to 20 points above the state. Highland Hills Elementary School is the biggest improver (64th to 75th percentile) and has the city's lowest chronic absenteeism at 20.1%. At the other end, Rocky Heights Elementary School ranks lowest (28th percentile, 1 star) with ELA at 33.3% and absenteeism of 39.2%. Across the city, the gap between best and weakest reaches roughly 28 points in ELA and 36 points in math.
Hermiston High School is the biggest concern: it dropped from the 67th to the 38th percentile in one year, posts the city's lowest math proficiency (16.5%), highest absenteeism (44.2%), and largest student–teacher ratio (19.8) — though its 85% graduation rate is 2 points above the state. Middle schools split: Sandstone Middle School is steadier at the 51st percentile, while Armand Larive Middle School shows strong 6th-grade math but the city's weakest 8th-grade science. Science is the district's softest subject overall, and attendance aligns closely with achievement.
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