The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in English language arts. The lowest is 17% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Dexter Mccarty Middle School
Dexter McCarty Middle School serves sixth through eighth grade in Gresham, part of the Gresham-Barlow School District. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. The school sits in a city where public schools are spread across three districts, and Gresham itself has a historic downtown anchored by Main City Park and a branch library that began as a Carnegie library. Mount Hood Community College is also in Gresham, on a separate campus.
The student body is diverse. The largest groups are White students and Hispanic students, each making up a substantial share of enrollment, followed by students who identify as two or more races, and smaller shares of Black, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native students. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic need in the community. Data on the share of students with an individualized education program or who are English learners was not available.
State assessment results from the most recent testing year show that in English language arts, about two out of every five students met proficiency standards across the school. The rate varied by grade level, with eighth graders scoring highest and seventh graders lowest. In mathematics, fewer than one in five students scored proficient overall, with each grade level posting similar results. Science results, which are assessed only in eighth grade, were close to the math figure.
These proficiency numbers place Dexter McCarty above the midpoint among districts in Multnomah County on an overall index that averages all tested subjects and grades. That comparison is based on the full county set. Readers should note that the available data covers only a single year of results, so it is not yet possible to see a trend. A parent may want to ask the school about specific efforts to raise math and science achievement, given the low proficiency rates in those subjects.
The school is a regular middle school, which means it does not have the specialized focus of a magnet or alternative program. No information was provided on course offerings, staffing ratios, or chronic absenteeism. A parent looking for details on electives, advanced coursework, or support services would need to contact the school directly.
The housing market in the area shows home values above the national average, and rents have been rising modestly. For a family considering a move, the cost of owning a home is higher than the cost of renting, which is a common dynamic in many Portland-area communities. The national unemployment rate has been steady, and median household income has inched up in recent years.
The school is in a city that contains multiple high school options within the Gresham-Barlow district as well as the other two districts that serve parts of Gresham. A family living within Dexter McCarty’s attendance boundaries would feed into a specific high school, but the data does not specify which one. The district’s publicly reported recent changes were minimal, so there were no major initiatives or restructuring to describe.
For a parent, the core takeaway is that Dexter McCarty is a high-needs middle school where most students are economically disadvantaged, and where the majority are not yet meeting state proficiency benchmarks, particularly in math and science. The countywide comparison suggests the school’s overall academic performance is toward the middle of the pack relative to other districts, but the absolute numbers point to real challenges. A family considering this school would want to understand what academic interventions, enrichment programs, and student supports are in place.
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