The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in English language arts. The lowest is 8% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Myrtle Creek Elementary School
Myrtle Creek Elementary School serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in the South Umpqua School District, a small district that covers Myrtle Creek, the nearby unincorporated community of Tri City, and the surrounding rural area of Douglas County. The school sits on a separated campus on 2nd Avenue, away from the downtown business district along Main Street, which is typical of how the district's schools are arranged. The high school is located outside Myrtle Creek entirely, in Tri City.
Myrtle Creek itself is a small city along Interstate 5, roughly halfway between Eugene and Medford. Its historical identity was tied to lumber milling, and the former mill site is now Millsite Park, the town's primary civic anchor. The built environment is car-dependent, with a traditional downtown core along Main Street and residential streets radiating outward. The population has been stable, with very slow growth over recent decades. The largest employer is a firearm manufacturing company, and the school district is another significant employer. Housing values in the area are well below the state median, and the estimated monthly mortgage cost is lower than the national median household income would suggest, making the area relatively affordable.
Myrtle Creek Elementary is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source materials.
State assessment results are available for the most recent school year. In English language arts, the share of students meeting proficiency benchmarks declined across the grades, with third graders at a moderate level, fourth graders slightly lower, and fifth graders at a lower level. In math, the pattern was similar: third graders at a moderate level, fourth graders slightly lower, and fifth graders at a very low level. In science, only fifth graders are tested, and the proficiency rate was low. The school's overall proficiency index, which averages results across all tested subjects and grades, places it below the midpoint among districts in Douglas County. Because this is the first year of data available for this assessment, there is no trend to compare against.
The school serves only elementary grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism was not available. Information on special education and English learner populations was also missing from the source materials. The school does not appear to have a Title I status listed in the data, and no program offerings were reported.
For a family considering Myrtle Creek Elementary, the picture is straightforward. The school serves a small, rural community with a high rate of economic need. Academic proficiency rates, particularly in math and science, are low relative to other districts in Douglas County. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what academic supports and interventions are in place. The district did not have any recent major changes reported in available sources, so the school's programming and leadership appear stable. The surrounding area offers a low cost of living, outdoor recreation access, and a quiet small-town setting, but the academic outcomes suggest that families who prioritize strong test performance may want to investigate what supplemental supports are available.
See more original research from School Decision →