The top reported proficiency rate is 62% in English language arts. The lowest is 49% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Candalaria Elementary School
Candalaria Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school within the Salem-Keizer School District, the largest school system in Oregon’s capital region. The school is located on Hansen Avenue in a residential area of Salem, a city that blends state government functions, a public university campus, and agricultural food processing industries. Salem is Oregon’s second-largest city and sits in the central Willamette Valley, and the school’s surrounding neighborhood is an established part of the community.
The enrollment at Candalaria is on the smaller side for an elementary school, and a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is predominantly white, with a Hispanic population making up about one-fifth of the school. Small numbers of students who are Asian, Black, multiracial, or Native American round out the demographic composition. Data on the share of students with individualized education programs or English learner status was not available in the information used here.
On the Oregon Statewide Assessment System for the most recent testing year, Candalaria’s results show a mixed picture. In English language arts, proficiency rates across grades three through five indicate that a majority of students met the bar, with the strongest performance in fifth grade. In math, the rates were lower, with roughly half of students in grades three and five reaching the proficiency threshold, while fourth-grade math was weaker. In science, which is tested only in fifth grade, a little more than half of students scored proficient. When the school’s overall proficiency index is compared to the broader set of districts in Marion County, Candalaria lands in the top quartile, meaning it performs well relative to the county as a whole. Still, a parent may want to look into the math results further with the school, particularly the notable drop in fourth grade, to understand what classroom supports look like.
Because Candalaria is an elementary school that does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report. The data we examined included only a single year of test results, so no trend information was available to show whether performance is improving or declining over time.
The Salem-Keizer district has been in flux in recent years. In 2022, voters approved a significant construction bond that funds safety improvements, classroom upgrades, and building projects across all district schools, though it also raised property taxes. The district has also faced budget shortfalls, leading to the closure of several elementary schools in 2023 and 2024. In 2025, the school board approved a new three-year strategic plan focused on academic excellence, belonging, and workforce readiness. For a family at Candalaria, these district-level decisions may affect long-term resource allocation, school boundaries, and commuting patterns, though the bond money could also mean facility improvements at the school over time.
Housing in the school’s ZIP code area carries a value that is roughly in line with statewide benchmarks, and rents are moderate relative to national medians. The area is largely car-dependent outside of downtown, with Interstate 5 and state highways providing the main routes. Major employers in the city include state government, Salem Health, the school district itself, and food processing companies, giving the local economy a public-sector and industrial base.
Overall, Candalaria Elementary offers a small, community-oriented setting in a stable residential neighborhood of Oregon’s capital city. Its students are performing well in English language arts by most measures, and the school’s county-comparative standing is strong, but math results are more uneven, and the district’s recent budget challenges are worth noting. Families moving into the area should consider both the school’s academic profile and the broader financial and operational context of the Salem-Keizer district.
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