Summary:
Central School District 13J serves the Monmouth and Independence area of Oregon with three elementary schools — Monmouth Elementary School, Ash Creek Elementary School, and Independence Elementary School — all teaching kindergarten through 5th grade and together enrolling 1,326 students. The three schools are nearly identical in size (425 to 468 students) and in economic profile, with each at roughly 93% free or reduced lunch. The district as a whole ranks 120th of 141 Oregon districts, and its proficiency rates trail the state in English language arts, math, and science.
Achievement varies widely between the three schools despite their similar size and demographics. Monmouth Elementary is the clear standout: it is the only school above district averages in all three subjects, and it beats the state in English language arts (47.3% vs. 43.8%) and math (37.7% vs. 32.9%). Its state ranking has climbed from the 36th to the 55th percentile over two years. Ash Creek is middling and drifting downward, ranking in the 18th percentile, while Independence posts the lowest scores in every subject, with 26.8% in English language arts and 19.6% in math, and a state ranking in the 14th percentile. Notably, Independence spends the most per student ($19,171) yet produces the lowest results, so extra money is not translating into higher achievement here.
The starkest difference is attendance. Independence reports 48.6% chronic absenteeism — about 1.5 times the rate at the other two schools and 15.1 points above the state — while Ash Creek (33.3%) and Monmouth (33.9%) sit near state levels. Science is the shared weak spot: every school falls below the state's 30.6%, including Monmouth at 27.2%. Across all three, math proficiency also slips from 3rd to 5th grade. For parents, the takeaway is that Monmouth shows strong results are possible in this district, and Independence's combination of high absenteeism and low scores makes it the clearest place to focus attention.
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