Middle schools
in Salem, Oregon, fall under the Salem-Keizer School District (24J). The district enrolls about 40,000 students each year in elementary, middle and high schools. There are 10 middle schools in the district, which covers the cities of Salem and Keizer, making it the second-largest district in the state. Salem's middle schools handle grades six through eight.
Rankings
Of the 367 middle schools in Oregon, Salem-Keizer's middle schools -- grades 6, 7 and 8 -- rank from number 20 to 277 based on 7th grade OAKS reading and math scores from the 2009-2010 academic year, according to the district's website. The highest scoring were the charter schools. Jane Goddall Environmental Charter Middle School and Howard Street Charter ranked 20 and 35, respectively. At the high end of the scale were Judson, Crossler and Walker middle schools, which all placed in the top 52. Claggett Creek Middle School, once near the bottom of the rankings, jumped 121 places in one year ranking 72. Stephens Middle School was ranked 131, but also made the highest jump of any school int the state by climbing 173 places. Houck, Waldo and Leslie middle schools were in the lower third of the rankings, but no school ranked lower than 277. It should be noted that Jane Goddall is located within Waldo Middle School.
Salem Schools
All schools in the area are managed by the Salem-Keizer School District, but only nine are located within Salem. Jane Goddall, Waldo, Howard Street, Judson, Crossler, Walker, Stephens, Houck and Leslie are within the Salem area.
Charter Schools
Jane Goddall Environmental Middle Charter School and Howard Street Charter are the only two charter middle schools in the Salem-Keizer District. Jane Goddall is located inside Waldo Middle School, and focuses on science and field-related activities. Lotteries are held every each year to determine which students receive placements in the school. A charter school receives public funds, but is freed from some regulations place on traditional public schools. It is organized more by teachers, parents and community leaders than bureaucrats. Any resident within the Salem-Keizer School District can apply for a charter school.
School Registration
All students must register at the school to which they are assigned, determined by the student's home address. A school finder where parents can input their home address to find out which school a student is to attend is available through the the Salem-Keizer website. Parents are encouraged to call, and ask when is the best time to register their children because middle schools are closed most of the summer. Parents should bring immunization records, birth certificate and identification when they register.
Additional Information
Parents with students enrolled, or looking to be enrolled, in one of Salem's middle schools have plenty of resources available. The Salem-Keizer School District provides a list of online documentation for help with everything from bus routes to school supply lists. The district's website also provides information on athletics, schedules, in-school health care, breakfast and lunch programs, dress codes, student responsibilities, teachers and administrators.
Tags: middle schools, Jane Goddall, Middle School, Salem-Keizer School, Salem-Keizer School District, School District, Howard Street