The top reported proficiency rate is 30% in English language arts. The lowest is 24% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Grant Community School
Grant Community School is a regular public elementary school in the Salem-Keizer School District, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. The school is located in Salem, Oregon’s state capital and second-largest city, a place that blends state government functions, agricultural food-processing industries, and residential neighborhoods. Salem sits in the center of the Willamette Valley along the Willamette River, and the school’s address on Market Street NE places it in the eastern part of the city.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial share of students who are white, and smaller numbers of students who identify with two or more races, as well as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Asian, Black, and American Indian or Alaska Native backgrounds. A very large proportion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a community with significant economic need. Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate.
State assessment results from the most recent testing year show that overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits below the midpoint when compared with other districts in Marion County. In English language arts, third-grade and fourth-grade proficiency rates were modest, while the fifth-grade rate was markedly higher. In math, the pattern was similar, with third-grade and fourth-grade proficiency rates that were low, and a fifth-grade rate that was substantially stronger. Fifth-grade science proficiency was modest. A parent may want to discuss these patterns with the school to understand how instruction and support vary by grade level and subject, and what schoolwide strategies are in place.
The school has a standard elementary program, and there is no indication that it offers specialized themes or magnet programs. Information on course access, staffing ratios, discipline, and attendance was not available. For families who want a fuller picture of the school’s day-to-day environment, the school’s main office or website would be the place to start.
Housing in the area around the school has a median value that is below the state benchmark and roughly even with the national benchmark. Rents are moderate relative to incomes. The national unemployment rate has been steady at a modest level, and mortgage rates are at a level that is neither extremely high nor extremely low by recent standards. These conditions make the neighborhood a relatively affordable entry point into the Salem housing market.
The Salem-Keizer district has been going through a period of financial adjustment. A substantial construction bond approved by voters in 2022 is funding safety and security upgrades, classroom improvements, and construction projects across all district schools, though it also raised property taxes. More recently, to address budget shortfalls, the school board voted to close several elementary schools, which has affected attendance boundaries and commute patterns for families in those neighborhoods. In 2025, the board approved a new three-year strategic plan focused on academic excellence, belonging, and workforce readiness, which will guide district priorities into the next few years. These district-level changes may be relevant for families considering Grant Community School, as they affect the broader operating context and future resource allocation.
For a parent or resident, Grant Community School presents a mixed profile. The school is in a stable, established Salem neighborhood with moderately priced homes, and it serves a diverse student population that is economically diverse as well. Academic proficiency is below the county average overall, though the fifth-grade results offer a counterpoint and could reflect an area of relative strength. A family considering this school will want to visit, speak with the principal about instructional supports and the school’s improvement efforts, and weigh how the school’s academic profile fits their child’s needs.
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