Salem-Keizer School District 24J

Salem-Keizer School District 24J is a large Oregon district serving roughly 37,800 students across 65 schools — 44 elementary, 13 middle, and 8 high schools — in the Salem and Keizer area. As a district it ranks 105th of 141 Oregon districts, in the 26th percentile with 1 star, and trails the state on nearly every measure: chronic absenteeism is 43.1% versus 33.5% statewide, the graduation rate is 79.7% versus 83.0%, and proficiency is lower in ELA (34.5% vs 43.8%), math (24.1% vs 32.9%), and science (20.9% vs 30.6%).

Several schools stand far above that district profile. Early College High School ranks 1st of 271 high schools with 5 stars, a 100.0% graduation rate, 13.2% chronic absenteeism, and 89.7% ELA, 74.4% math, and 82.1% science proficiency. Howard Street Charter ranks 42nd of 371 middle schools (89th percentile, 4 stars) with 66.9% ELA, 51.7% math, and only 6.2% chronic absenteeism. Jane Goodall Environmental Middle Charter ranks 48th of 371 with 57.7% ELA and 59.4% science. Top elementaries include Candalaria Elementary School (115th of 709), Morningside Elementary School (142nd), and Kalapuya Elementary School (177th). Among comprehensive high schools, West Salem High School leads with a 94.4% graduation rate.

At the other end, Roberts High School has a 17.1% graduation rate and 78.0% chronic absenteeism, while North Salem High School (9th percentile, 0 stars) and McKay High School (13th percentile, 1 star) struggle most among high schools. Waldo Middle School, Houck Middle School, and Stephens Middle School rank at the bottom of district middle schools, and Hallman Elementary School, Eyre Elementary School, and Keizer Elementary School rank near the bottom of 709 elementaries (Hallman and Eyre report science under 5%). The clearest pattern is attendance: schools with low chronic absenteeism consistently post higher scores, while spending and student-teacher ratios show little consistent relationship to results.