The top reported proficiency rate is 12% in English language arts. The lowest is 10% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Nellie Muir Elementary School
Nellie Muir Elementary School is a regular public school in Woodburn, Oregon, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of four elementary schools in the Woodburn School District, a district that also operates two middle schools and a high school. The school sits in a city that has grown quickly in recent years, with a mix of residential neighborhoods, agricultural land, and commercial development along the Interstate 5 corridor. Woodburn’s population is predominantly Hispanic or Latino, reflecting generations of Mexican immigration tied to the region’s berry farming and nursery industry, and the school’s student body mirrors that composition closely. The share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals is high, indicating that a large portion of families face significant economic challenges.
Academically, the most recent state assessment results from the 2024-2025 school year show that proficiency rates in math and English language arts are low across the tested grades of third, fourth, and fifth. The same pattern holds for science in fifth grade. The proficiency index, which combines results across all tested subjects and grades, places Nellie Muir in the bottom quartile when compared with other elementary contexts within the Marion County district set. A parent considering the school may want to discuss with staff what academic support and intervention strategies are in place, how the school identifies students who need extra help, and what progress the school has seen over time. Since only one year of data was available for trend analysis, it is not possible to say whether these results represent a stable pattern or a recent change.
The student body is large for an elementary school, with enrollment spread fairly evenly across the grade levels. The vast majority of students identify as Hispanic or Latino, with small numbers of White, Asian, and multiracial students. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the available records, so it is unclear what share of the student population receives special education or language support services. Given the community context and the school’s location in a district with many English learner students, a parent would want to ask directly about the school’s English language development programming and special education resources.
Beyond the classroom, the school sits in a community that is growing rapidly. Woodburn’s population has increased markedly since the 2020 census, driven by its location between Salem and Portland and available industrial and commercial land. The median home value in the area is moderate relative to state and national benchmarks, and rents are affordable compared with the Portland metro area. For families who commute, travel times to work tend to be moderate, and the city’s position along I-5 provides straightforward access to the broader Willamette Valley job market.
No information was available on the school’s disciplinary practices, chronic absenteeism rate, staffing ratios, course access, or facilities condition. A parent would want to visit the school, talk to the principal, and ask about class sizes, teacher retention, enrichment offerings such as art, music, or physical education, and how the school fosters a sense of belonging among families. The district’s strategic priorities or recent changes were not found in publicly reported material, so the district-level context for Nellie Muir’s operations remains a gap worth exploring.
Nellie Muir Elementary School serves a community with deep agricultural roots and rapid demographic change. The school’s core challenge, reflected in the state assessment data, is raising math and reading proficiency from very low levels for a large, high-poverty student population. For a family weighing this school, the most important conversations will center on the specific instructional supports provided, how the school measures progress beyond the annual state test, and how it engages families in a community where many parents may themselves have limited formal education or English fluency. The school sits in a district that is actively managing growth, and the broader city context offers both economic opportunity and the strains of fast-paced development. A parent interested in Nellie Muir should seek direct, current information from the school about its academic improvement efforts and the full range of services available to students.
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