The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in English language arts. The lowest is 20% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Kelly Creek Elementary School
Kelly Creek Elementary School is a regular public elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in the Gresham-Barlow School District, one of three school districts that serve the city of Gresham. The school sits on a campus in a residential area of Gresham, a city where schools and civic landmarks are spread across multiple districts rather than clustered in a single center. The downtown area holds City Hall, the Gresham Central MAX station, and the Gresham Branch Library, while Mount Hood Community College occupies a separate campus nearby. Families in the district do not feed into a single high school; Gresham-Barlow operates several high schools across different neighborhoods.
The student body at Kelly Creek is moderate in size for an elementary school. A substantial majority of students come from families with low incomes, as measured by eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. Racially, the school is majority white, with a notable share of Hispanic students and smaller groups of students who identify as Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, or as two or more races. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available in the source records; a parent may wish to ask the school directly about its special education and English language support programs.
State assessment results from the most recent testing year show that a minority of students scored at the proficient level in math, reading, and science. In reading, the share of proficient students varied by grade, with the highest grade tested reaching a higher level than the lower grades. Math proficiency was lower across all tested grades, and science proficiency for the one grade tested was similar to math in that grade. These figures are low in an absolute sense, but when compared with other elementary schools across Multnomah County, the school’s overall proficiency index placed it slightly above the midpoint of the county’s districts. This suggests that while proficiency rates are modest, the school is not an outlier among its peers; many schools in the county face similar challenges.
No multi-year trend data are available, so it is not possible to say whether performance is improving or declining. The school does not serve high school grades, so no graduation rate applies. Other measures commonly used to understand school climate, such as chronic absenteeism and disciplinary data, were not reported in the available sources.
The housing market in the area around Kelly Creek reflects a suburban setting with home values that have been relatively stable. Rents are notably lower than monthly mortgage payments for a median-priced home, making renting a more immediately affordable option than buying for many households.
Because the district brief for Gresham-Barlow turned up little in the way of recent high-profile changes, parents should rely on the school’s own communications for updates on programming, staffing, or facility investments. No information was available about specific program offerings such as art, music, or after-school activities at Kelly Creek.
In sum, Kelly Creek Elementary is a neighborhood school serving a largely low-income student population in a city where families have multiple public school options across three districts. Academic proficiency rates are low, but the school performs in line with or slightly above the middle of other Multnomah County elementary schools when measured by an overall index. A family considering this school will want to explore the specific supports available for students who are behind grade level, as well as any enrichment programs that may be offered. The school’s setting in Gresham means access to the broader amenities of the city, including a community college and a public library, though the campus itself is not downtown.
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