The top reported proficiency rate is 42% in English language arts. The lowest is 25% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Applegate Elementary School
Applegate Elementary School is a small, regular public school serving kindergarten through eighth grade in a rural setting west of Eugene, Oregon. It is part of the Crow-Applegate-Lorane School District 66. The school’s address on Territorial Road places it outside the city’s core, in an area that feels distinct from Eugene’s university-anchored downtown. For a parent considering this school, the first thing to understand is its size and configuration: the school combines elementary and middle grades under one roof, with a student body that is small for a K-8 school. The enrollment tapers off noticeably in the upper grades, a pattern that is common in rural schools where families may shift to other options or districts as children get older.
The student population is overwhelmingly white, with a small share of students identifying as two or more races and a very small number of Hispanic or Black students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, receive special education services, or are classified as English learners were not available in the source material. A parent who values knowing the socioeconomic and learning-support profile of the school may wish to ask the school directly about these figures.
State assessment results from the most recent testing year, which provide the only academic achievement data we have for this school, show a mixed picture that varies noticeably by grade and subject. In English language arts, performance in some grades was at or above what one might expect from a school of this size and setting, while in other grades it was lower. For example, one upper-grade cohort posted a proficiency rate that was considerably higher than the others, while a primary-grade cohort showed a much lower rate. Math results followed a similar pattern, with some grades performing substantially below others and a wide gap between the highest and lowest outcomes. Science results, tested in only two grades, were at levels that sit around the middle of the range. Overall, proficiency across all tested subjects and grades places this school just above the midpoint when compared to districts in Lane County. There is only a single year of data available, so no trend can be established. A parent should be aware that these year-to-year swings in small schools can be driven more by the makeup of a particular class than by a change in instruction, and it would be reasonable to ask the school how it addresses the unevenness across grades.
Because Applegate serves only through eighth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. The school offers no data on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, or course access, so a parent cannot gauge attendance patterns or the breadth of elective or advanced offerings from this data. The district itself, Crow-Applegate-Lorane SD 66, appears to have been a quiet one in terms of recent publicly reported changes; the search for district developments found little of lasting impact to describe.
Housing in the area served by the school is priced moderately relative to national norms, with home values and rents that are slightly above the national median but below the Oregon state benchmark. The estimated monthly mortgage payment is somewhat higher than the typical rent, a gap that is common in many markets but worth noting for a family weighing ownership versus renting. The broader Eugene area is the second-largest city in Oregon, defined by the University of Oregon, a vibrant downtown arts and food scene, extensive trail networks, and a reputation for outdoor recreation. However, Applegate Elementary sits on the rural fringe, not in the walkable, university-adjacent core. A family considering this school should be prepared for a commute into Eugene for many amenities, jobs, and high school.
For whom does this school fit. A family seeking a small, rural K-8 environment where their child can go from kindergarten through middle school in one building may find the continuity appealing. The student body is homogeneous, which may be a characteristic some families prefer and others find limiting. Academically, the uneven proficiency results mean a parent will want to look closely at how the school supports students in the grades where performance dips and how it sustains the stronger results seen in other grades. The lack of data on programs, supports, and attendance is a real gap; a parent should expect to fill it through a direct conversation with the school. This is not a school with a wide array of documented extracurricular or advanced course offerings, given its size, but a small school can offer its own kind of close-knit attention. A parent for whom that trade-off works will find a straightforward, rural Oregon K-8 school with a mixed but not discouraging academic record and a community context that is quiet and off the main Eugene thoroughfares.
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