The top reported proficiency rate is 15% in English language arts. The lowest is 6% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Roberts High School
Roberts High School is an alternative school within the Salem-Keizer School District, serving grades seven through twelve in Salem, Oregon. Salem is the state capital and second-largest city in Oregon, blending state government functions, agricultural food-processing industries, and a public university campus. The city sits in the center of the Willamette Valley and is the hub for surrounding farming communities. The Salem-Keizer district is the city’s major school system, and it has navigated recent budget pressures. In 2022, voters approved a construction bond to fund safety upgrades and building projects across all schools. The district has also closed several elementary schools in recent years to address budget shortfalls, and in 2025 the board approved a new three-year strategic plan centered on academic excellence, belonging, and workforce readiness.
Roberts High School is designated as an alternative school. Its enrollment is relatively small for the grades it serves. The student body is diverse: the two largest racial or ethnic groups are Hispanic students and White students, with a smaller share of students identifying with two or more races, and very small numbers of students identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black, or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learner status was not available; a parent may want to ask the school about the support it offers for those populations, given that alternative schools often serve a high proportion of such students.
The academic performance picture is challenging. On state assessments, the school reported a modest proficiency rate in seventh-grade English language arts, with a lower rate in eighth-grade ELA. In math, the proficiency rate for seventh graders was below that, and the eighth-grade math proficiency rate fell in the lowest range reported. Eighth-grade science proficiency was similarly low. When compared to other districts in Marion County, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades lands in the bottom quartile. Only one year of assessment data was available for review, so there is no trend to evaluate. A parent should understand that this is an alternative school setting, and the assessment results likely reflect a student population that has faced significant academic challenges before arriving here; the school’s purpose may be to re-engage and support students who have not succeeded in a traditional environment, rather than to achieve top proficiency scores.
Because this is an alternative school serving grades seven through twelve, a graduation rate was not available for this comparison. Many alternative schools prioritize credit recovery and a path to a diploma for students who are behind, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about its graduation outcomes and the proportion of students who earn diplomas or go on to postsecondary education or training.
Program offerings, course access, staffing ratios, discipline data, and attendance information were all absent from the available records. For a school with this profile, these are essential details for a family to understand what the day-to-day experience looks like. A parent should contact the school to learn about what courses are offered, what support services exist, and how the school handles behavioral challenges.
The school sits in Salem, a city that is largely car-dependent outside of the downtown core. The downtown area near the State Capitol and Willamette River has a historic character and is the site of the Oregon State Fairgrounds, the Vern Miller Civic Center, and the main public library. Housing values in the area place it below the state average but in line with many mid-sized Oregon cities. The area’s jobs are anchored by state government, Salem Health, and food-processing industries.
Roberts High School is a specialized placement, not a neighborhood school. It is designed for students who need an alternative to the traditional comprehensive high school setting. The test scores are low, but they likely reflect where students are when they enter, not necessarily the value the school adds. A family considering this school should investigate its credits program, wraparound supports, and post-graduation track record to see if its approach matches what a particular student needs.
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