Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 97301

The 97301 zip code area of Salem, Oregon is home to 5 middle schools, including Waldo Middle School, Houck Middle School, Parrish Middle School, Howard Street Charter, and Jane Goodall Environmental Middle Charter School. The data reveals a stark contrast in academic performance between the traditional public middle schools and the two charter schools in the area.

The charter schools, Howard Street Charter and Jane Goodall Environmental Middle Charter School, significantly outperform the district and state averages on standardized test scores across all grade levels and subjects. They are ranked among the top 15% and 34% of Oregon middle schools, respectively, and both have earned 5-star ratings from SchoolDigger. In contrast, the traditional public middle schools in the 97301 zip code struggle to meet state and district proficiency levels, with test scores well below average.

While the charter schools serve a lower percentage of economically disadvantaged students, they are still able to achieve much higher academic outcomes despite spending less per student than the district average. This suggests the charter school model may be more effective at driving student achievement in this area. Understanding and replicating the factors behind the charters' success could be transformative for improving the quality of middle school education in the Salem-Keizer School District 24J.