The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in English language arts. The lowest is 33% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Straub Middle School
Straub Middle School serves grades six through eight in Salem, Oregon, as a regular public school within the Salem-Keizer School District. Located on the west side of Salem in Polk County, the school draws much of its student body from the surrounding West Salem neighborhoods. The school sits in a city that functions as Oregon's state capital, a hub for government employment, agricultural food processing, and a growing regional population, with a mix of historic downtown and suburban residential areas.
On state assessments, Straub Middle School’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile when compared with other districts in Polk County. That relative strength, however, plays out differently by subject. In English language arts, the school posts a moderate proficiency rate that is stronger than its math results. Across sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, just under half of students met the proficiency benchmark in reading and writing, with the seventh-grade cohort performing slightly better than the other two. Math proficiency trails noticeably: roughly a third of students across all three grade levels reached the state standard. Science, tested only in eighth grade, follows a similar pattern to math. The gap between math and English arts is notable, and a parent considering Straub would want to ask how the school supports math learning and whether intervention programs are in place.
Students at Straub come from a range of backgrounds. The school enrolls several hundred students, with each grade roughly the same size. The student body is majority white, with a substantial Hispanic population and smaller shares of multiracial, Asian, Black, and Indigenous students. A large majority of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which points to significant economic need across the school community. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source materials, so a parent interested in those support systems would need to contact the school directly.
The Salem housing market reflects the area's steady growth. Home values in the school’s zip code sit near the statewide average, and typical rents are at a level that makes renting a more accessible option than buying for many households. The city’s unemployment rate is moderate, and median household income nationally has been stable. For a family moving to Salem, the West Salem area offers a mix of older residential streets and newer development, with the Willamette River forming a natural boundary between this side of town and downtown.
The district context matters for Straub families. Salem-Keizer voters recently approved a large construction bond that funds safety upgrades and classroom improvements across all district schools, which means Straub may benefit from facility investments in the coming years. At the same time, the district has faced budget shortfalls that led to the closure of several elementary schools, with school board votes in two consecutive years to consolidate buildings. Those closures may shift attendance boundaries and affect which elementary schools feed into Straub. A new district strategic plan focused on academic excellence, belonging, and workforce readiness will shape priorities through the end of this decade.
Straub Middle School fits a family looking for a mid-sized middle school in a growing state capital, where the community is economically diverse and the district is navigating both new investment and budget pressures. Academically, the school’s reading results are solid for the region while math outcomes are an area the school is still working to strengthen.
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