Obsidian Middle School, Redmond OR

Original Research by School Decision on Obsidian Middle School

Obsidian Middle School serves sixth through eighth graders in Redmond, Oregon, as part of the Redmond SD 2J. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. The school is sized for its grade band. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic enrollment and smaller shares of students who identify with two or more races or other racial groups. A notable share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

On state assessments from the most recent testing year, English language arts proficiency sat roughly in the middle range across grades, while math proficiency was lower. In science, which is tested at the eighth-grade level, proficiency was also lower. When placed against other districts in Deschutes County, Obsidian Middle School’s overall proficiency index lands in the bottom quartile. Only one year of data was available for trend comparison, so it is not possible to say whether performance is improving or declining. A parent reviewing these results may want to ask the school how it supports students who are not yet meeting benchmarks, particularly in math and science.

Redmond itself is a fast-growing city in Central Oregon with a diversified economy anchored by services, tourism, and manufacturing, including building products and aviation. Major employers include the Redmond Air Center, Eagle Crest Resort, and Consumer Cellular. The city’s growth has been strong, fueled by employment and a lower cost of living compared to nearby Bend. The built environment is auto-oriented, with U.S. Route 97 running through town as an expressway. Redmond has a historic downtown commercial core and civic anchors such as the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center and Roberts Field, the only commercial passenger airport in Central Oregon. The school district recently saw voters approve a bond measure for facility improvements across the district, including safety upgrades, HVAC and roofing replacements, classroom additions, and career and technical education expansions, with no projected tax rate increase. The district also refinanced bond debt in a move projected to save taxpayers money in future interest costs.

Obsidian Middle School does not publish data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, or course access in the available materials, so it is not possible to assess those dimensions here. A parent may want to ask the school directly about student support systems, class sizes, and the elective or enrichment offerings available to middle schoolers.

For a family considering this school, the picture is of a midsized middle school in a rapidly growing Central Oregon city. The academic proficiency numbers are below the county median, so a parent whose child is already strong in reading and math may find the school a fit, while a parent concerned about below-proficient performance may want to investigate what interventions and advanced coursework the school provides. The district is investing in its physical plant, which signals a longer-term commitment to facilities. Redmond’s growth means the community is dynamic, but it also means the school system may be absorbing new families and students at a steady pace.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 623%

School 23% · District 28% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Grade 724%

School 24% · District 27% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Grade 836%

School 36% · District 26% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▲ 9 pts above state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 646%

School 46% · District 44% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 5 pts above state median · even with county median

Grade 746%

School 46% · District 42% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 846%

School 46% · District 36% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

Science

Grade 825%

School 25% · District 22% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

This schoolRedmond SD 2J, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.