The top reported proficiency rate is 47% in English language arts. The lowest is 41% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Schirle Elementary School
Schirle Elementary School is a regular public school in Salem, Oregon, serving kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Salem-Keizer School District 24J. A parent or resident looking at this school will find a neighborhood elementary school where state test results place it on solid ground relative to other schools across Marion County, though the picture inside the building is more varied when you look grade by grade.
The school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades lands in the top quartile among all districts in Marion County. That is a meaningful signal for a family comparing elementary options in the Salem area. But the details matter. In math, third graders posted proficiency at a level that puts about half of students on track, while fourth grade math was a noticeably softer spot, with a smaller share of students meeting the state standard. Fifth grade math and fifth grade science each showed a higher share of students proficient. In English language arts, the pattern repeated: third grade and fifth grade were stronger, with fifth grade showing a clear majority of students meeting the bar, while fourth grade ELA was lower. A parent looking at these results might want to ask the school how it supports students in the grades where fewer students are meeting the standard, particularly in fourth grade, and whether those patterns have been consistent over time. The data available shows only one year of testing results (2024-2025), so there is no multi-year trend to judge whether the school is improving or holding steady.
Enrollment is modest for an elementary school. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic presence and a smaller share of students who identify as two or more races. A notable share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a marker of economic need and an important context for the school’s overall proficiency picture. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the available information, so a parent with a child in those categories will want to reach out to the school directly about special education services and English language support.
The school is located in Salem, Oregon’s capital and second-largest city, a place that blends state government operations, a major hospital, and agricultural food processing industries. The surrounding housing market reflects a typical cost of living for the region, with home values and rents rising modestly in the recent period. A 2022 voter-approved bond program is funding safety and security upgrades and classroom improvements across all schools in the Salem-Keizer district, a factor that will affect the school building and facilities in the coming years. At the same time, the district has faced budget pressures and closed several elementary schools in the past few years, so school attendance boundaries and building assignments are something to verify. A new three-year strategic plan adopted in 2025 focuses on academic excellence, a sense of belonging, and workforce readiness, which will shape priorities district-wide.
Schirle Elementary does not have published data on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, or staffing ratios, so it is difficult to assess the school climate or adult-to-student ratios from the available records. A family considering this school would benefit from visiting, talking to the principal about how the school addresses the variation in grade-level performance, and asking about class sizes and enrichment programs. The school’s standing in the county comparison is a positive starting point, but the grade-level detail suggests that the experience a child has may depend heavily on which year they are in and how the school addresses those pockets of lower proficiency.
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