The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in English language arts. The lowest is 18% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Sue Buel Elementary
Sue Buel Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in McMinnville, a mid-sized Willamette Valley city that functions as the Yamhill County seat and sits at the confluence of the North and South forks of the Yamhill River. The school operates as a regular public elementary within the McMinnville School District, which serves roughly the K-12 population of the city and surrounding area. No magnet or charter designation applies here, nor is there indication of Title I status.
State testing data from the most recent school year gives a clear picture of where student performance stands. In third-grade math, a share of students met proficiency that places the school in a modest position, though the figure is well below a majority. Fourth-grade math shows a notably lower share, and by fifth grade the proficiency rate drops further. English language arts follows a similar pattern: third grade shows a share of students meeting the bar, fourth grade a lower share, and fifth grade a share that is also low. In fifth-grade science, the proficiency rate is a small share. When combined across all tested grades and subjects into a single proficiency index, the school sits below the midpoint among the seven school districts in Yamhill County. These are the only testing data points available; because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, which is typical for a K-5 building.
The student body is diverse. The enrollment is roughly split between students who are white and students who are Hispanic, with a small share identifying as two or more races and tiny numbers identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native, Black, or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a population with significant economic need. Data on students receiving special education services or English learner supports were not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those programs and staffing levels.
McMinnville itself has a varied economic base. The economy blends agriculture, particularly wine production from the surrounding Willamette Valley vineyards, with industrial employers such as Cascade Steel Rolling Mills and service businesses anchored by the Willamette Valley Medical Center, Linfield University, and the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. The downtown Third Street corridor provides a traditional commercial district with tasting rooms and local retail. The city has experienced steady population growth and demographic diversification over recent decades. Housing values in the area are near the state benchmark for Oregon and slightly above the national median; rents are similarly positioned relative to income. The broader economic context shows a national unemployment rate in a modest range and median household income that has risen over the past several years.
The school environment data was limited. No information on discipline rates, course access, staffing ratios, or attendance figures was available, so parents may want to request those details from the school or district office. The district brief turned up no recent bond measures, curriculum changes, or property tax shifts of note.
Overall, Sue Buel Elementary reflects the economic and demographic composition of its community. The proficiency data across math, reading, and science show that a large majority of students are not reaching the state bar, and the school ranks in the lower half of its county in combined performance. Families moving into the area should consider how the school's academic support structures and targeted interventions align with their child's needs, and may wish to discuss these directly with school staff.
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