The top reported proficiency rate is 20% in English language arts. The lowest is 8% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Auburn Elementary School
Auburn Elementary School, a regular public school in the Salem-Keizer School District, serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade. The school has a substantial enrollment for its grade band, drawing from a residential area near the northeastern edge of Salem.
Academically, the state testing results place the school in a challenging position. On the most recent assessments, the share of fourth graders meeting the state’s proficiency standard in English language arts was below one-fifth, while in math it was lower. By fifth grade, the proportion of students reaching proficiency in English language arts was about one in five, and in math it was about one in ten. In fifth-grade science, the rate of proficiency was under one in ten. When combined across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile among districts in Marion County. A parent looking at these figures will want to talk with the school about how it supports core academic growth.
The school community is notably diverse. Students of Hispanic background make up the large majority of the student body, with white students the next largest group. Among the remaining students, a small share identifies as Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, two or more races, American Indian or Alaska Native, or Black. A substantial majority of students at Auburn qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of many of the families served. In a setting like this, the mix of life experiences and home languages a child encounters each day is a plain characteristic of the environment. Data on students with individualized education plans and English learner status was not available in the reporting, so a parent with a child in either category should check directly with the school about how those programs are delivered.
Salem itself is Oregon’s state capital and second-largest city, centered in the Willamette Valley. The city’s identity blends state government, food-processing industries, and the presence of Willamette University and Chemeketa Community College. Auburn Elementary sits in a part of Salem where residential neighborhoods are the norm, and the school building serves as a local anchor for its immediate area. The broader Salem-Keizer district has experienced significant changes recently. In 2022, voters approved a large construction bond for safety and security projects and classroom upgrades across the district’s schools. The district has also faced budget shortfalls, leading to the closure of several elementary schools in 2023 and 2024, which have affected school attendance boundaries and commuting patterns for some neighborhoods. In 2025, the district approved a new three-year strategic plan centered on academic excellence, belonging, and workforce readiness.
For families, the academic proficiency data is the central consideration at Auburn. The school’s test results suggest that a child will encounter many peers who are still developing foundational reading and math skills. A parent who values high academic floor and wants a school with a track record of strong proficiency will want to understand the school’s specific instructional supports and intervention strategies. For families whose priority is a diverse, economically mixed school community within a district that is investing in facility improvements and has a newly stated strategic direction, Auburn offers that setting, with the academic picture being the factor that requires the most follow-up.
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