South Lane Sd 45j3, OR - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on South Lane Sd 45j3

South Lane SD 45J3 is a mid-sized public school district in southern Lane County, Oregon, serving a total enrollment that is small-to-mid-sized for its grade band of pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district runs a straightforward set of schools: several elementary schools, a middle school, a traditional high school, an alternative high school, and a charter school. The student body is predominantly white, with a noticeable Hispanic minority and very small shares of other racial and ethnic groups. A parent considering this district should think about a community where the academic profile is a soft spot and the context is rural and economically modest.

On state assessments, the district's performance is a clear area of concern. In math, proficiency rates across third through eighth grade cluster roughly in the high teens to low twenties, a pattern that would give many families pause. English language arts results are modestly stronger, with rates mostly in the low-to-mid thirties, though the sixth-grade number dips and the seventh-grade result may be hard to interpret because only about half of that grade's students participated in the test. Science proficiency in both fifth and eighth grades is markedly low. When placed among the sixteen districts in Lane County, the district's overall proficiency index sits in the bottom quartile. That is not a judgment but a fact of the data: a family for whom strong test scores are a priority would likely look elsewhere.

Chronic absenteeism is a significant issue. The district's rate is above forty percent, placing it above the midpoint among county districts, meaning it has a high share of students missing substantial school. A parent would want to ask the district directly about what drives this and what interventions are in place.

Per-pupil current spending is in the lower half of the middle range among Lane County districts. This suggests the district is not unusually well-funded, but it is not at the bottom either. The graduation rate was not available in the data provided, so a parent should request that figure directly from the district.

The district's housing market is modest relative to the state. Home values across the district's zip codes are below the statewide benchmark, and values have seen a slight decline recently. The national unemployment rate, while not local to the district, sits at a moderate level. This economic picture aligns with a district serving a working-class and rural population.

The district did not provide free-or-reduced-price lunch data, so one cannot assess the level of economic disadvantage from that metric. The district's website and published materials showed no recent major changes, according to a search.

A few schools within the district may offer specialized programs. The district includes a charter school and an alternative high school, which can provide different pathways for students who do not thrive in a traditional setting. But the data did not include a list of academic programs such as Advanced Placement, career-technical offerings, or dual-credit opportunities, so a parent would need to investigate those directly with the high school.

For a family weighing options, South Lane SD 45J3 offers a small-district setting in a rural part of the Willamette Valley with relatively attainable housing. The academic results are a weakness, and the chronic absenteeism is high. A parent who prioritizes strong test scores or who has a child with high academic ambitions may find the district does not provide the competitive environment they want. A family looking for a smaller, community-oriented district, and who is willing to work closely with teachers and the school to support their child's progress, might find it a fit worth exploring, but the numbers suggest that patience and advocacy would be important. The lack of program data and graduation rate means a serious look would require a direct conversation with the district office.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

2,680

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 14%

Black 0%

White 79%

Asian 1%

Two+ 3%

Am. Indian / AK Native 2%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

25%

49%

Gr 4

21%

41%

Gr 5

22%

46%

Gr 6

16%

34%

Gr 7

24%

46%

Gr 8

13%

47%

Math

Gr 3

29%

49%

Gr 4

25%

40%

Gr 5

29%

Gr 6

12%

21%

Gr 7

26%

Gr 8

11%

28%

Science

Gr 5

10%

24%

Gr 8

13%

20%

Schools in this District

10 schools are officially reported under this district.

Bohemia Elementary School

Dorena School

Harrison Elementary School

London School

Lincoln Middle School

Cottage Grove High School

Al Kennedy High School

Childs Way Charter School

Academy for Character Education

SOLO Academy

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

40%

Grade 3

33%

Grade 4

21%

Grade 5

18%

Grade 6

19%

Grade 7

22%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

39%

Grade 3

31%

Grade 4

37%

Grade 5

28%

Grade 6

38%

Grade 7

36%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

18%

Grade 5

18%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$410,441

Year-over-year change-0.3%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$401K to $549K

vs. state typical0.82x

vs. national typical1.11x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
97424	Cottage Grove	$401K	-0.4%	64.2%
97434		$422K	-0.4%	31.8%
97426	Creswell	$472K	+1.2%	3.8%
97431	Dexter	$549K	-0.2%	0.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,071/mo

Home price / national median income4.9x

Comparison

State typical home value$501,661 (-0.7% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.