The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in English language arts. The lowest is 24% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Walter L Kraxberger Middle School
Walter L. Kraxberger Middle School serves grades six through eight in Gladstone, a small suburban community about a dozen miles south of Portland, set where the Clackamas and Willamette rivers meet. Gladstone has a mix of owner-occupied and renter-occupied housing, with three small business districts and a downtown along Portland Avenue. The city is largely a commuter suburb: residents travel to Portland and nearby towns for work, and the local economy does not feature any single dominant private employer. Public transit runs several bus routes through town, and the historic Trolley Trail provides a walking and biking corridor along the riverfront. The school building is one of three public schools in the Gladstone School District; a bond that paid for construction and remodeling work across the campuses was passed and later refinanced, saving money for taxpayers. No recent major curriculum shifts or other parent-relevant district changes were identified in publicly available information.
The school is a regular public school and is not a charter or magnet. Its enrollment is moderate for a middle school serving three grades. More than half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating that a substantial share of families have lower household incomes. The student body is predominantly white, with a notable Hispanic population and smaller numbers of students who identify as two or more races, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, or Asian. Data on the share of students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about its special education and English language support programs.
On the state assessments administered in the 2024-2025 school year, proficiency rates were higher in English language arts than in math or science, though in all subjects the results fell short of statewide averages. Across the three grades, roughly two-fifths of students met the bar in English language arts. In math, the share was lower, and in eighth-grade science it was also below the ELA rate. Compared with other school districts in Clackamas County, Kraxberger's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits just below the midpoint. This is a soft spot in the school's academic picture. A family weighing the school will want to consider what academic support and intervention structures are in place, particularly in math and science, and whether the school's trajectory is improving from this baseline. Only one year of assessment data was available, so no trend direction can be determined.
The school environment section showed no reported data on discipline, chronic absenteeism, or staffing ratios. Because those metrics are missing, a parent should look into the school's approach to behavior, attendance tracking, and teacher turnover separately.
Kraxberger is the only middle school in the Gladstone district, so students feed in from the elementary school and progress to Gladstone High School. For parents who value a traditional middle school experience in a small-city setting with a modest enrollment, the school provides that structure. The academic results suggest there is room for growth, and the lack of information on special populations and school climate means that direct conversation with the school administration and current families would be especially valuable for a clear picture.
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