The top reported proficiency rate is 37% in English language arts. The lowest is 18% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Millicoma School
Millicoma School serves grades three through six in the Coos Bay School District, occupying a position as the city’s intermediate-level public school. It sits in the Eastside district of Coos Bay, a primarily residential neighborhood, rather than in the historic downtown Marshfield District where the city’s civic and commercial life is concentrated. For a family considering this school, the setting means children attend a school in a quieter part of town, separate from Coos Bay’s waterfront boardwalk, Carnegie Library, and main business corridor.
The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. It does not serve the early elementary grades or the middle and high school years, so there is no graduation rate to report and no state testing data for grades not taught. State assessment results are available for the grades it does serve and they paint a mixed picture. In English language arts, proficiency rates across grades three, four, five, and six sit in a modest range, with the lower end of that range coming in the sixth grade. In math, the pattern is similar but weaker; proficiency rates decline steadily from third through sixth grade. Science results, tested only in fifth grade, are the lowest of the three subjects. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages results across tested subjects and grades, places Millicoma above the midpoint among Coos County school districts, though the range among county districts is narrow. A parent exploring this school will want to ask about how the school supports students who are below the proficiency mark, particularly in math and science, and how it addresses the apparent drop in performance as students move through the grade levels.
The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic presence and a noticeable share of students who identify as two or more races. There are also small numbers of American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. The school enrolls a large share of students from low-income households, as measured by free and reduced-price meal eligibility. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source materials, so a parent with a child who has an individualized education plan or is an English learner should confirm directly with the school what supports are in place.
Coos Bay itself is the largest city on the Oregon coast and functions as the regional hub for healthcare, education, retail, and professional services. The economy is anchored by Bay Area Hospital, the Port of Coos Bay, and Southwestern Oregon Community College. The city has a working waterfront character and serves as a gateway for outdoor recreation, with the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and several state parks nearby. Housing values in the area have seen a modest year-over-year decline, and the local market is more affordable than the state benchmark. The city is hilly and spread across several distinct districts; Millicoma’s location in Eastside means it is a short distance from the downtown core and the waterfront.
The district-level context offers little additional color. A search for recent district changes or strategic initiatives found little of lasting impact to report, so the school’s immediate environment and performance data are the primary basis for a family’s decision. For a parent weighing options, Millicoma is a school where academic proficiency is below most families’ hopes, particularly in math and science, and where poverty rates are high. The school sits in a midsized coastal city that is the commercial and medical center of its region, with housing that is more attainable than much of the state. A parent whose priority is strong test scores will likely want to investigate how the school addresses academic gaps and whether it offers enrichment or intervention programs that fit their child.
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