The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in English language arts. The lowest is 30% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Tom Mccall Elementary School
Tom McCall Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Redmond, a city in Deschutes County that has been among Oregon’s fastest-growing industrial and residential communities. The school is a regular public school within the Redmond School District 2J and is located on Upas Avenue in a residential area of the city.
State assessment results from the 2024–2025 school year are the only testing data currently available, so no multi-year trend can be drawn. In English language arts, proficiency rates varied by grade, with fourth graders reaching a level that was the strongest of the three tested grades. Third and fifth graders posted somewhat lower rates. In mathematics, the pattern was uneven: third and fourth graders showed proficiency at similar levels, while fifth graders’ rate was notably lower. Science is tested only in fifth grade, and the proficiency rate there was well below half. When all tested subjects and grades are combined into a single index, Tom McCall’s overall proficiency falls below the midpoint among districts in Deschutes County.
The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly white, with a Hispanic or Latino share that is sizable and smaller shares of students identifying as two or more races, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, Black, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. About half of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Enrollment counts by grade show a fairly even distribution, with slightly larger numbers in the upper grades than in kindergarten and first grade. Data on students receiving special education services or English learner support was not available.
Redmond’s character shapes the context families encounter. The city historically developed as a service and shipping center for agriculture and lumber, and its economy now includes manufacturing, tourism, aviation and aerospace, and a prominent Forest Service smokejumper base at the local airport. A major call center and a large resort are also significant employers. The built environment is auto-oriented, with U.S. Route 97 running through town as an expressway. The population has grown rapidly in recent decades, fueled by employment and a lower cost of living relative to nearby Bend. Housing values in the area are roughly aligned with the Oregon statewide median and sit above the national figure, while rents have been climbing. For homeowners, the estimated monthly mortgage payment exceeds typical rent by a recognizable margin, reflecting the area’s affordability pressures.
The district has recently taken steps that affect school facilities. In 2023, voters approved a substantial bond measure to fund safety upgrades, HVAC and roof replacements, classroom additions, career and technical education expansions, and athletic improvements, all with the stated aim of no increase in the tax rate. The district formed a citizen oversight committee and has been designing those projects. In 2024, the school board approved bond rate stabilization and refinancing that, according to publicly reported projections, will save taxpayers a meaningful amount in future interest costs.
Tom McCall Elementary sits in a district that is investing in its buildings and infrastructure as the surrounding community continues to grow. The school’s academic results, based on a single year of testing, place it below the middle of the pack when compared across Deschutes County districts. With no trend data yet, a parent may want to ask the school about progress over time and about how the school supports students who are not yet meeting proficiency benchmarks. The student body is economically diverse, with a notable share of families qualifying for meal assistance, which can shape the resources and programs a school offers. For families looking at an elementary school in a fast-growing Central Oregon city, Tom McCall provides a setting where the district is actively updating its facilities and where the community continues to evolve around it.
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