The top reported proficiency rate is 12% in English language arts. The lowest is 10% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Eyre Elementary School
Eyre Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in southeast Salem, part of the Salem-Keizer School District, the state’s second-largest district. The school sits in a residential area near Interstate 5, in a part of the city where the housing market has been under some pressure: home values in the surrounding zip code have dipped slightly in the past year, while rents have edged up. A family considering this attendance zone should weigh those costs against the monthly mortgage or rent payment they would face; the area’s affordability relative to the state median is a meaningful factor.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial share of students from white and other racial backgrounds; the school serves a population in which a large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. That economic profile is in line with a school where many families face financial constraints, and it shapes the resources and supports a parent can expect to see in place.
On state assessments, Eyre’s results are well below the midpoint among elementary schools in Marion County. In English language arts, the share of students meeting proficiency standards in grades three through five is low, with the highest rate in grade five and notably weaker performance in grade four. Math proficiency is also low across all tested grades, again with grade four standing out as the most difficult year. Science results, tested only in grade five, similarly place the school in a range that families will want to investigate further. The district’s newly adopted strategic plan, focused on academic excellence, belonging, and workforce readiness, is too recent for its impact to be visible in these numbers. A parent looking at these outcomes should understand that Eyre is among the lowest-performing elementary schools in the county on these measures, and that raises questions about how the school and district are addressing the academic challenges. It is worth asking the school directly about its improvement strategies and what interventions are available for students who are not yet at grade level.
The school’s context includes district-wide changes that carry implications for families. Salem-Keizer voters approved a construction bond in 2022 that funds safety and classroom upgrades across all schools, a long-term investment that also increased property taxes. At the same time, the district has faced budget shortfalls that led to the closure of four elementary schools between 2023 and 2024; these closures have shifted attendance boundaries for some neighborhoods. The closures and the bond together mean that Eyre’s physical plant and its enrollment zone may have seen recent changes, and a prospective family should confirm current boundary maps and whether the school has received bond-funded improvements that affect its daily operations.
The locale of Salem itself is a state capital with a mix of government employment, food-processing industry, and a public university presence. The city is car-dependent outside the downtown core, and Interstate 5 is a major route through the area. For families who work in or near downtown Salem, the commute from the southeast part of the city is a straightforward one. For those who commute to Portland or Eugene, the highway access could be an advantage or a strain depending on your tolerance for corridor traffic.
Eyre Elementary is a school where the academic performance numbers are low and any family considering it should engage the school directly about how it supports students who are behind state benchmarks. The district’s recent budget stress and closures add an element of uncertainty to the longer-term stability of school assignments. The school serves a diverse, economically challenged student population, and the housing costs in the area, while lower than the state average, have been under mild downward pressure. These are facts to hold in hand while visiting, asking about class size, intervention programs, and how the school uses its Title I resources, if it qualifies for them.
See more original research from School Decision →