The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in English language arts. The lowest is 18% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Ensworth Elementary School
Ensworth Elementary School serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade in Bend, Oregon, as part of the Bend-La Pine Schools district. It is a regular public school with a modest enrollment for an elementary building, drawing from the northeast side of a city that has transformed from a logging town into a fast-growing hub for outdoor recreation and tourism. The Deschutes River runs through Bend, and the city’s economy leans heavily on the Mount Bachelor ski resort, craft brewing, and the surrounding public lands, making this a place where many families move for lifestyle as much as for work.
The student body at Ensworth is predominantly white, with a visible Hispanic population and small shares of students who identify as two or more races, Black, Asian, or American Indian. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker that is relevant context when weighing the school’s academic results. The school does not appear to provide data on the share of students with Individualized Education Programs or those identified as English learners, so a parent interested in special education or language support services would want to ask the school directly about those offerings.
On state assessments from the most recent testing year, proficiency rates across math, English language arts, and science fell notably below the midpoint when compared with other elementary schools in Deschutes County. In math, proficiency rates were in the low range across the three tested grades. English language arts results, while higher than the math figures, still landed below what is typical for the county. Fifth-grade science results were the weakest area. Overall, the school sat in the bottom quartile among its county peers on the composite proficiency index. These are the most recent results available, and the data does not yet include a multi-year trend to show whether these levels represent a stable pattern or a shift. A family considering Ensworth may want to discuss intervention strategies and how the school supports students who are not yet meeting benchmarks.
Because Ensworth serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism data was not available in the profile. The school does not have a charter or magnet designation.
The Bend-La Pine district recently passed a major bond measure that funds new school construction, facility upgrades, and safety improvements, a signal that the district is investing in its physical infrastructure to keep up with population growth. The district also opened a new high school in recent years to relieve overcrowding. These investments may eventually affect enrollment patterns and building conditions at the elementary level, though Ensworth’s specific plans under the bond were not detailed in the available information.
Housing in the area surrounding the school is priced well above the national median, and rents are also elevated, reflecting the broader demand in Bend’s tight market. Home values have seen a slight year-over-year dip, but the overall cost of entry remains high, which is an important factor for any family relocating to this part of central Oregon. The city is growing quickly, and that growth brings both opportunity and pressure on school capacity.
Ensworth Elementary is a small neighborhood school in a high-cost, popular city, serving a student population with significant economic diversity. Its academic results on state tests are a clear soft spot, and families who prioritize above-average proficiency rates will want to examine how the school addresses these gaps before making a decision. For those anchored in the northeast Bend neighborhood, the close-to-home convenience and the district’s broader investment in facilities are practical considerations, but the test-score picture is one that merits a direct conversation with the school about its approach to instruction and support.
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