The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in English language arts. The lowest is 26% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Buckingham Elementary School
Buckingham Elementary School, located in Bend, Oregon, serves kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school within the Bend-La Pine Schools district. It is a mid-sized elementary school for its grade band, with a student body that reflects the broader demographic patterns of the area: the majority of students are White, and the Hispanic population makes up a modest share. A substantial portion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, giving the school a moderate level of economic diversity. The school is not a charter or magnet, and its Title I status was not reported in available data, so families may want to inquire directly about any additional federal support programs.
Academically, Buckingham presents a mixed picture that varies notably by grade level and subject. In the most recent state assessments, third-grade students showed roughly even proficiency results in both math and English language arts, with rates landing near the midpoint of the scale. Fourth-grade performance was stronger in both subjects, with proficiency rates well above half. Fifth grade, however, marks a clear drop-off: math proficiency fell to a lower level, and English language arts also declined compared to the previous grade. Fifth-grade science results were the weakest across all tested subjects and grades. When the school’s overall proficiency index—a combined measure across tested subjects and grades—is compared to other elementary schools in Deschutes County districts, it falls in the top quartile. That relative strength is driven largely by the stronger fourth-grade numbers, but the sharp decline in fifth grade is a pattern a parent may want to discuss with the school to understand what supports are in place as students prepare for middle school transition.
Because this is an elementary school, no graduation rate or chronic absenteeism data are reported in the available data, and no information on special education or English learner populations was provided. The school environment and course access fields were also empty, so details on staffing ratios, discipline, or enrichment offerings are not part of this account.
Buckingham sits within Bend, a city that has experienced rapid population growth in recent years, driven by its emergence as a center for outdoor recreation and tourism. The Deschutes River runs through the city, and landmarks like Pilot Butte and the Deschutes National Forest are part of the daily landscape. The local economy is anchored by tourism, the Mount Bachelor ski resort, a thriving craft brewing industry, and a downtown area that draws visitors and residents alike. Housing in the school’s ZIP code is expensive relative to national and state medians, with home values holding roughly steady year over year and rents rising modestly. For many households, the cost of renting exceeds what a mortgage would be, which speaks to the broader affordability pressures in this growing region.
At the district level, Bend-La Pine Schools have been actively responding to growth. Voters approved a significant school construction bond, funded by property taxes, to build new schools, expand existing capacity, and upgrade safety and security across the district. The district also opened a new comprehensive high school in the fall of 2021, relieving overcrowding at other high schools and reshaping attendance boundaries, particularly on the east side of Bend. These investments signal a district that is planning for continued enrollment increases, and families moving into the area may find that school capacity and attendance boundaries are evolving.
Buckingham Elementary sits in a community where the housing market is tight, growth is fast, and the school district is making major capital investments to keep up. Academically, the school performs around the county median overall, but with notable variation that makes it important for a prospective family to look closely at how the school supports students in the upper elementary grades. The fifth-grade results, in particular, are an area where a parent should seek current information on instruction, intervention, and transition supports.
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