The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in English language arts. The lowest is 21% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Claggett Creek Middle School
Claggett Creek Middle School serves grades six through eight in Keizer, part of the Salem-Keizer School District. Keizer is a primarily residential suburb of Salem, with a suburban built environment of neighborhoods separated by auto-oriented commercial corridors along River Road and Chemawa Road. The city lacks a traditional downtown core; its civic life is dispersed, with the Keizer Heritage Community Center (a restored former school building) functioning as a de facto civic hub alongside parks and Volcanoes Stadium. Interstate 5 runs along Keizer’s northeastern border, and the Willamette River forms its southwestern edge. The school is located at 1810 Alder Drive NE, within this dispersed suburban layout.
The school’s student body is diverse. Hispanic or Latino students make up close to half of the enrollment, while White students account for roughly a third, and students identifying as two or more races are a substantial presence. Smaller shares of students are Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Black, Asian, and American Indian or Alaska Native. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a lower-income context relative to many other middle schools in the region. Data on the share of students with individualized education plans (IEPs) or who are English learners was not available in the records reviewed.
State assessment results paint a clear picture. In English language arts, proficiency rates across all three grade levels hovered in the low to mid-thirties. In math, proficiency rates were lower, settling in the high teens to low twenties across grades six, seven, and eight. Science, which is tested only in eighth grade, showed a proficiency rate around where math was. When compared to other districts in Marion County, Claggett Creek’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile. This is a soft spot that a parent may want to look into further with the school, understanding the specific supports and instructional approaches in place.
Because the school serves only middle school grades, it has no graduation rate to report. Attendance and chronic absenteeism data were also not available in the records. No information on course access, staffing ratios, or discipline patterns was provided.
The parent district, Salem-Keizer SD 24J, is the second-largest school district in Oregon and has undergone notable recent changes. In 2022, voters approved a construction bond funding safety improvements, classroom upgrades, and projects across all district schools. The bond increases property taxes, a lasting cost for homeowners. The district has also faced budget shortfalls, leading to the closure of multiple elementary schools in 2023 and 2024, which reshaped attendance boundaries for families. In 2025, the school board approved a new three-year strategic plan focused on academic excellence, belonging, and workforce readiness. These district-level shifts set the context for Claggett Creek: a school within a large, budget-conscious system that is investing in facilities while making difficult consolidation decisions.
Keizer’s housing market reflects a suburban area that grew rapidly in the 1990s. Home values in the area are near the state benchmark, with rents slightly more affordable relative to incomes than the national average. The area has seen a slight year-over-year decrease in home values, while rents have risen modestly. For a family considering the school, the housing context offers a mix of stability and modest cost pressures.
Claggett Creek is a regular public school serving a sizable enrollment for a middle school. It is not a charter or magnet school. No Title I status was reported. The school’s academic performance, as measured by state assessments, is well below state averages and sits at the low end among Marion County districts. The student body is economically diverse, with a high share of students from lower-income households. The setting is suburban Keizer, a community that prizes its small-town identity and strong volunteer organizations but lacks a central downtown. For a family, this school is one where the assessment numbers will be a primary concern, and the district’s broader budget picture and strategic direction will be worth understanding in relation to the school’s resources and priorities.
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