The top reported proficiency rate is 26% in English language arts. The lowest is 18% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Willamina Elementary School
Willamina Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in the small town of Willamina, Oregon, a community straddling Polk and Yamhill Counties in the foothills of the Oregon Coast Range. The town retains its rural, small-town character, with a compact downtown, local shops, and a history rooted in timber and brick-making. The school is part of the Willamina School District 30J.
The student body is predominantly white, with a notable share of students who identify as American Indian or Alaska Native, as well as smaller but present populations of Hispanic students and students of two or more races. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic need within the school community.
Academically, the most recent state assessment results show that proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science are below the midpoint for the county. In math, proficiency rates decline across the tested grades, with the highest share of students meeting the bar in third grade and the lowest in fifth grade. In English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient is relatively consistent across grades three through five, hovering just above one-quarter of students. In science, which is tested in fifth grade only, the proficiency rate is lower. The overall proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades places the school below the midpoint among districts in Yamhill County. A parent may want to ask the school what academic interventions and supports are in place for students who are not yet scoring proficient, and how the school works to accelerate progress from year to year.
Because Willamina Elementary serves only through fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, class sizes, and staffing ratios were not available. Information on programs such as art, music, physical education, or gifted and talented offerings was also not found in the data provided.
The school's setting in a small, rural town means it serves a close-knit community where the school is likely a central institution. The town itself is compact and car-dependent for regional travel, with a handful of parks, a public library, and community events. The local housing market shows home values that are below the state average. The district's publicly reported presence did not indicate any major recent changes, such as boundary adjustments, new construction, or program overhauls, that would be of immediate concern to a prospective family.
For a family considering Willamina Elementary, the primary takeaway is a school with a high-need student population and academic achievement levels that warrant attention. The school is likely a supportive, familiar environment in a small-town setting, but families should inquire directly about how the school addresses the academic gaps reflected in the assessment data, what enrichment and intervention programs are available, and what the transition looks like to the district's middle and high school.
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