Salem-Keizer Public Schools performs better on academic assessments:

According to the latest data, from the 2024-25 school year, 43% of Oregon students tested were proficient in English language arts, 31.5% were proficient in math and 30% were proficient in science.

That’s a 0.2 percentage point increase in each subject from the 2023-24 results.

These numbers are so dismal yet Salem-Keizer is worse:

In Salem-Keizer Public Schools, the state’s second-largest district, test scores rose slightly across the board but remained well below the state average. Last year, 32.2% of Salem-Keizer students tested were proficient in English language arts, 20.9% were proficient in math and 21.1% were proficient in science.

And still it’s not bad enough:

This year, ODE changed how assessment results are calculated, and revised results for 2024-25. With approval from the U.S. Department of Education, ODE now counts as proficient students who meet the alternate standard on extended assessments, which are designed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.

In other words, these test scores are horrible, but now they’re not even reflective of proficiency for every student. The worst students get an “alternative standard on extended assessments.”

“We are really proud of our third-grade reading scores,” said Olga Cobb, Salem-Keizer’s deputy superintendent for elementary education. “This is the first time they have improved in three years, since the pandemic. Our kids’ outcomes are now moving in the right direction.”

One wonders what it might take to feel ashamed or at least disheartened. 

Oh, and one other thing: With 2/3rds of students not proficient in English (and doing even worse in math and science), how many do you suppose were just passed along to the next grade anyway? I don’t know for sure, but I’d guess that’s one area where Salem-Keizer might actually be close to 100 percent. 

 

See also: Oregon students make small gains but still lag pre-pandemic proficiency in key areas; “A lot of work to go, but more Salem kids on track with reading, math; and Minuscule test score gains signal Oregon faces years of digging out from its post-pandemic academic hole