Elementary Schools in Salem-Keizer School District 24J

There are 44 elementary schools in Salem-Keizer School District 24J — serving Salem and Keizer, Oregon — enrolling 16,321 students, with an average enrollment of about 371 per school. The district ranks 105th of 141 Oregon districts (26th percentile, 1 star), and its 2025-2026 benchmarks trail the state in every subject: 34.5% proficient in ELA versus 43.8% statewide, 24.1% in Math versus 32.9%, 20.9% in Science versus 30.6%, and chronic absenteeism of 43.1% versus 33.5%.

The group's standout is Candalaria Elementary School (84th percentile; 66.4% ELA, 50.0% Math, 42.6% Science), followed by Morningside Elementary School (80th), Kalapuya Elementary School (75th, with the highest Science proficiency at 52.2%), Myers Elementary School (69th), Sumpter Elementary School (68th), and Optimum Learning Environment Charter School (66th). At the other end, Hallman Elementary School ranks 1st percentile with 45.2% chronic absenteeism and under 5% Science, and Eyre Elementary School ranks 2nd percentile with the lowest ELA at 14.9% and under 5% Science. Four Corners Elementary School, Weddle Elementary School, Keizer Elementary School, and Swegle Elementary School also rank near the bottom.

Across the group, average proficiency is about 33.2% in ELA, 25.8% in Math, and 20.0% in Science. Just 11 of 44 schools reach the 50th percentile, while 9 sit at or below the 5th; the median school is near the 16th percentile. Chronic absenteeism averages 35.5%, and 29 schools exceed the state rate — lowest at Valley Inquiry Charter School (16.7%), Brush College Elementary School (21.1%), and Candalaria (22.7%), highest at Richmond Elementary School (49.1%) and Highland Elementary School (45.5%). Nearly every school reports a free/reduced-price lunch rate between roughly 87% and 91%, yet outcomes vary enormously. Spending and staffing don't predict results: Richmond has the lowest student-teacher ratio (15.6) yet ranks at the 5th percentile. Note that Forest Ridge Elementary School's 137.17% FRL appears to be a data anomaly, Optimum's FRL is blank, Valley Inquiry's 8th-grade scores are suppressed, and Eyre's and Hallman's Science are reported as under 5%.