The Dalles Middle School

The Dalles Middle School is a public middle school in The Dalles, Oregon, serving 551 students in grades 6-8. It is part of the North Wasco County School District 21, which is ranked 120 out of 140 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

The Dalles Middle School has consistently ranked in the bottom third of Oregon middle schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger for the past several years. Its statewide ranking has ranged from 237 out of 382 schools in 2013-2014 to 319 out of 380 schools in 2022-2023. The school's performance is particularly low for certain student subgroups, such as special education students and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Additionally, The Dalles Middle School has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 32.6% to 42.5% over the past few years, significantly higher than the state average. Academically, the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science are well below the state and district averages.

In comparison, the nearby WyEast Middle School and Hood River Middle School, which are part of the higher-performing Hood River County School District, have higher academic proficiency rates, lower chronic absenteeism, and better overall rankings. Interestingly, The Dalles Middle School's migrant student population performs relatively well, with the school ranking in the top 25 Oregon middle schools for this subgroup in recent years. However, the school's higher spending per student of $18,410 in 2022-2023 does not seem to translate into improved academic outcomes.