Middle Schools in Medford School District 549C

The Medford School District 549C in Oregon is home to three middle schools: Hedrick Middle School, McLoughlin Middle School, and The Valley School of Southern Oregon. These schools serve students in grades 6-8 and provide a range of educational opportunities within the district.

Among the three middle schools, The Valley School of Southern Oregon stands out as a high-performing institution. The school has consistently ranked among the top 45 middle schools in Oregon over the past three years and maintains a 4-5 star rating from SchoolDigger. In the 2023-2024 school year, The Valley School had significantly higher proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science compared to the district and state averages. For example, 75% of 8th-grade students at The Valley School were proficient in ELA, compared to 40.1% in the district and 40.6% statewide. Interestingly, The Valley School achieves these strong academic outcomes while spending significantly less per student ($7,459) than the other two middle schools ($16,522 for Hedrick and $17,301 for McLoughlin).

In contrast, McLoughlin Middle School appears to be the lowest-performing of the three, with consistently lower proficiency rates across grade levels and subject areas compared to the district and state. The school has the lowest SchoolDigger rating of 1-2 stars. These disparities in academic performance between the schools raise questions about equity within the Medford School District, and further investigation may be warranted to understand the root causes and address any systemic issues.