The top reported proficiency rate is 23% in English language arts. The lowest is 13% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Bush Elementary School
Bush Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Salem, Oregon, as a regular public school within the Salem-Keizer School District. It is located at 410 14th Street SE, placing it in a residential area of the city near the southern edge of downtown. Salem itself is the state capital and second-largest city in Oregon, anchored by state government, Willamette University, and a significant food-processing industry. The city stretches across the Willamette Valley and is largely car-dependent outside the downtown core, with Interstate 5 providing the primary north-south corridor.
The student body at Bush Elementary is diverse. A majority of students identify as Hispanic, with a substantial White population and smaller shares of students who are Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, two or more races, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, or Black. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic mix of the surrounding neighborhood. Enrollment is typical for an elementary school serving this grade span, with each grade level from kindergarten through fifth containing a similar number of students.
State assessment results from the 2024-2025 school year show that across math, English language arts, and science, a modest portion of students met proficiency benchmarks. In third grade English language arts, fewer than one in five students scored proficient; fourth grade was slightly higher, and fifth grade reached about one in three. Math proficiency rates were lower across all grades, and science proficiency in fifth grade was also low. When combined into an overall proficiency index, Bush Elementary places in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Marion County. Because this is an elementary school serving only through fifth grade, no graduation rate data applies, and data on chronic absenteeism and discipline were not available for this report. A parent may want to ask the school about academic support programs and interventions in place.
The Salem-Keizer district has been navigating financial pressures in recent years. Voters approved a bond in 2022 that funds safety and security improvements, classroom upgrades, and construction projects across all schools, which comes with a property tax increase. In response to budget shortfalls, the school board voted to close several elementary schools in 2023 and 2024, affecting attendance boundaries for families in certain neighborhoods. In 2025, the board adopted a new three-year strategic plan centered on academic excellence, belonging, and workforce readiness.
Housing in the area around Bush Elementary is priced somewhat below the statewide median for Oregon, though home values have seen a slight year-over-year decline. Rents have increased modestly. The national economic context shows a stable mortgage rate near the midpoint of recent years, a low unemployment rate nationally, and a median household income that has risen gradually. The broader Salem economy is anchored by state government, Salem Health, and a mix of retail and food-processing employers.
For a family considering Bush Elementary, the school offers a typical elementary experience in a mid-sized city with state capital amenities. The academic performance data indicates that the school faces challenges in helping students reach state proficiency standards, and the district context includes both a recent bond-funded investment in facilities and the ongoing financial constraints that led to school closures. Families may want to explore what enrichment programs, class sizes, and supports for English learners or special education look like at this particular building, as those details were not available in the data reviewed.
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