The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in English language arts. The lowest is 30% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Redwood Elementary School
Redwood Elementary School is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Grants Pass, the Josephine County seat located along the Rogue River in southern Oregon. The city functions as a regional commercial and civic hub for the county, with a historic downtown core anchored by the Caveman Bridge and Riverside Park hosting seasonal events like the annual Boatnik hydroplane race. The population skews older, with a notable retiree presence alongside working families, and the city has seen modest growth in recent years. Housing values in the area sit below the state average, and a recent capital improvement bond passed by the district funds safety upgrades, roofing, HVAC, and classroom improvements across its schools, directly affecting property taxes for residents while delivering long-term facility upgrades. The district has also adopted new elementary reading materials aligned with Oregon’s Early Literacy Framework, signaling a curriculum shift aimed at improving early literacy outcomes.
The school enrolls a modest number of students, typical for an elementary building of this grade band, and a substantial share of those students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is majority white, with a notable Hispanic presence and a smaller share of students identifying as two or more races; other racial groups each represent a very small number of students. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, and the school’s Title I status was also not reported in the data provided.
State assessment results from the most recent testing year show a mixed picture. In English language arts, proficiency rates across grades three, four, and five cluster in the range that a parent might want to investigate further with the school. Math proficiency rates vary more noticeably by grade, with one grade above the others and another grade lower, while fifth-grade science proficiency is below the grade-level performance in the other subjects. Because only a single year of results is available, no trend can be examined. The school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it above the midpoint relative to the two school districts in Josephine County, though with only two districts in the comparison set that distinction carries limited breadth.
As an elementary school, Redwood does not have a graduation rate to report, and no data on chronic absenteeism or other access metrics were available. The district’s recent bond work and curriculum adoption may affect the school’s facilities and instructional approach in coming years, but specific information about programs such as art, music, or extracurricular offerings at Redwood was not provided. A parent looking into this school will likely want to discuss academic supports and enrichment opportunities directly with the school, as well as inquire about the specific services available for students who qualify for special education or English language support, given the gaps in the data. The school’s location on Leonard Road in Grants Pass places it within a community that blends small-city amenities with access to outdoor recreation along the Rogue River and surrounding trails, and the district’s capital bond suggests a commitment to improving the physical learning environment over the next several years.
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