The top reported proficiency rate is 22% in Math. The lowest is 12% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Phoenix Elementary School
Phoenix Elementary School is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in the small Rogue Valley city of Phoenix, Oregon. It is one of five schools in the Phoenix-Talent School District, and its building sits within the residential and commercial fabric of the city itself.
The school enrolls a moderate number of students for a K–5 building, and the student body is diverse. More than half of students identify as Hispanic, and a substantial share are white, with smaller representation from American Indian or Alaska Native, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and multiracial students. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a population with significant economic need. Data on the share of students receiving special education services or classified as English learners was not available in the records examined.
Academically, state assessment results from the most recent testing year show that proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science are low at every tested grade level. For example, the share of students meeting standards in math falls well below half of students in third, fourth, and fifth grades. In English language arts, the pattern is similar, with rates that are also low. On the fifth-grade science assessment, proficiency is similarly low. When compared with other school systems in Jackson County, Phoenix Elementary School’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile among districts in the county. Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate, and chronic absenteeism data was not reported.
The city of Phoenix is a compact town that historically grew around pear orchards and agriculture, and it retains a rural Oregon character despite being a short drive from Medford and Ashland. The community was severely affected by the Almeda Drive Fire in 2020, which destroyed many homes and commercial buildings; the city is now in a rebuilding phase, with population estimated to have grown modestly since the 2020 census. The Bear Creek Greenway, a multi-use trail connecting several Rogue Valley communities, passes through town. Street life is concentrated along the Highway 99 commercial corridor.
Housing values in the Phoenix area, as of recent data, are somewhat below the statewide benchmark, though the numbers themselves are not named here. The estimated monthly mortgage payment on a typical home is higher than the estimated rent, making renting more affordable than buying in the current market—a dynamic that families considering a move may want to weigh.
The school is not a charter or magnet school. Information on Title I status, course access, staffing ratios, discipline rates, and attendance was not available. The district’s publicly reported recent changes or strategic priorities were minimal in the records reviewed.
For a parent or resident, Phoenix Elementary School presents as a neighborhood school serving a community in recovery from a major disaster, with a student population that is economically diverse and predominantly Hispanic and white. The academic proficiency numbers are a clear soft spot, and a parent may want to discuss the school’s approach to raising achievement with the principal or visit to understand what supports are in place. The school’s small size and local setting may appeal to families seeking an elementary experience within walking distance of home in a town that is rebuilding with a sense of purpose.
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