Summary:
ZIP code 97741 in Madras, Oregon contains exactly one public middle school: Jefferson County Middle School, serving grades 6–8 as part of Jefferson County School District 509J. With 426 students — roughly 142 per grade and a student–teacher ratio of 16.8 — it is the entire middle-grades pathway for families in this ZIP, so there is no in-area alternative to compare it against.
The school generally edges out its own district but trails Oregon as a whole. In 2025–26, ELA proficiency was 26.5% (district 25.6%, state 43.8%), math was 16.0% (district 15.9%, state 32.9%), and 8th-grade science was 13.1% (district 11.1%, state 27.7%) — each about 17 points below the state. Measured as a share of state results, the school reaches 61% of the state ELA rate but only 49% in math and 43% in science. Chronic absenteeism in 2024–25 was 33.2%, essentially matching the state average of 33.5% and running 8.1 points better than the district's 41.3% — the school's strongest indicator. Per-student spending is $24,022, and free/reduced-price meal eligibility is effectively universal.
Two trends deserve attention. First, the school's state rank has slid steadily: from the 32nd percentile (2 stars) in 2023–24, to the 22nd (1 star), to the 12th (1 star) in 2025–26 — now the bottom 12% of Oregon middle schools, while its district ranks 130 of 141. Second, 6th grade is the clear pressure point, with ELA at 18.8% and math at 13.3%, the lowest figures at any grade level, while 7th and 8th grade ELA sit near 30%. Notably, attendance is at the state average even though achievement is not, suggesting absenteeism alone does not explain the gap.
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