The top reported proficiency rate is 59% in English language arts. The lowest is 36% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Nehalem Elementary School
Nehalem Elementary School is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the small, rustic coastal town of Nehalem, Oregon. It is part of the Neah-Kah-Nie School District. The school sits on the north side of town near the Nehalem River, within walking distance of a compact one-block business district along the highway. The town itself is a working coastal community, with an economy driven by accommodation, food services, health care, and construction, along with a tourism presence drawn to Nehalem Bay and nearby state park. The school's enrollment is small for an elementary school serving that grade band. Its student body is predominantly white, with the next largest group identifying as Hispanic, and a smaller share identifying as two or more races. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a mixed-income community where many families work in the service and construction sectors. State assessment data is available for grades three through five in English language arts, math, and science. On overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades, Nehalem Elementary placed in the top quartile relative to districts in Tillamook County. That means its combined performance was above the other districts in the county, a three-district set. Looking subject by subject, reading and writing proficiency was stronger in third grade than in later grades, while math proficiency followed a similar pattern. By fifth grade, math proficiency was lower than in third grade, and science proficiency was the softest area. A parent may want to ask the school about how it supports students as they move through the upper elementary grades, particularly in math and science. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, and staffing was not available for this school, so those areas cannot be addressed directly. The district brief was searched but yielded little publicly reported information about recent changes or strategic priorities, so that context is absent. Nehalem Elementary does not serve high school grades, so no graduation rate is reported. The school building itself is integrated into the town's fabric; the old elementary school that closed years ago now houses the North County Recreation District, a major community center with a fitness center, gymnasium, pool, and performing arts space. The area's housing market reflects demand on the Oregon coast: home values in the zip code are above the statewide median, which may be a consideration for families moving into the district. Nehalem Elementary is a small, locally anchored school serving a community where tourism and working-class industries overlap. Its academic performance leads the county at the elementary level, though the later elementary grades show some softening that families may wish to explore further.
See more original research from School Decision →