Summary:
ZIP code 97038, in the Molalla area, has three elementary schools — two serving grades K–5 and one serving K–8 — with 913 students combined, all within Molalla River School District 35, a district ranked 103rd of 141 Oregon districts (27th percentile, 1 star), so all three schools operate in a below-state-average district context.
For academics, Rural Dell Elementary School is the standout. It ranks 363rd of 709 schools (49th percentile, 2 stars), is above district averages in reading, math, and science, and is the only school here above the state in any all-grade subject — math, by 4.9 percentage points. Its 3rd-grade reading and math both reach 52.6%. Molalla River Academy stands out for attendance and improvement: chronic absenteeism is 22.8%, well below the district's 35.8% and the state's 33.5%, and its rank climbed from the 10th percentile to the 35th percentile over three years, all while spending the least per student ($8,450). Keep in mind it is a K–8 school, so its all-grade scores include middle grades and are not directly comparable to the two K–5 schools.
Molalla Elementary School is the largest school, with 438 students (about 48% of ZIP enrollment), and carries the highest need. Its chronic absenteeism is 42.7% — 9.2 points above the state — and 65.98% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. It spends the most per student ($17,040) and has the smallest student-teacher ratio (16.2), yet ranks 613th of 709 (14th percentile, 1 star) and has declined from the 34th percentile three years ago. Across the ZIP, average reading, math, and science proficiency all fall below state levels, so families should weigh each school's individual strengths.
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