The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in English language arts. The lowest is 17% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Greenwood Elementary School
Greenwood Elementary School sits in La Grande, a regional hub for northeast Oregon that has shifted from a logging and agriculture past to a college town centered on Eastern Oregon University. The school serves kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school within the La Grande School District, and its enrollment is on the smaller side for an elementary. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The student body is predominantly white, with small shares identifying as two or more races, Hispanic, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; counts for other groups are minimal.
The school's location in La Grande places it in a city with a compact historic downtown along Adams Avenue, a working rail line, and a mix of older homes, university facilities, and commercial strips. Interstate 84 runs past the town, and the surrounding Grande Ronde Valley offers outdoor recreation in the Blue and Wallowa Mountains. Housing in La Grande's zip code is notably more affordable than Oregon's statewide typical home value, though rents and mortgages still represent a meaningful share of income.
On state assessments, Greenwood's proficiency rates are well below what is typical in Oregon for all three tested grades and subjects. In math, the share of students meeting proficiency is consistently low from third through fifth grade. In English language arts, performance is higher but still limited, with a modest increase in fifth grade. Fifth grade science proficiency is also low. Looking across all tested grades and subjects, the school sits in the bottom quartile among the six districts in Union County. The data represents only a single year, so no trend over time is available. Parents moving into the area should be aware that academic attainment at Greenwood is a clear soft spot, and it may be worth discussing with school staff how the school supports students who are below grade-level benchmarks, as well as what interventions or curriculum approaches are in place.
Because Greenwood serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, which is expected for a school of this grade band. Information on chronic absenteeism, special education enrollment, English learner counts, discipline, course access, and staffing was not available in the data, so a complete picture of student supports and school climate is missing. The district brief turned up no recent major changes or initiatives publicly reported, which may mean that families should inquire directly about any upcoming program shifts or facility plans.
This is a school that fits families who value a small elementary setting in a moderate-sized town with a university presence, lower housing costs relative to much of Oregon, and proximity to outdoor recreation. The academic proficiency results, however, are a significant concern, and any parent considering the school would want to understand how Greenwood identifies and addresses students who are not meeting benchmarks in reading, math, and science. Conversations with teachers and the principal about academic intervention strategies, class sizes, and parent involvement are advisable before making a decision.
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