Summary:
The Pendleton School District 16 in Oregon is home to 4 elementary schools, serving students from pre-kindergarten through 5th grade. While the district as a whole has room for improvement, with a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger, one school stands out as a clear standout - McKay Creek Elementary School.
McKay Creek Elementary is the highest-performing school in the district, ranking 251 out of 710 Oregon elementary schools and earning a 3-star rating. The school significantly outperforms the district and state averages on standardized test scores across all grade levels and subjects. For example, in 2023-2024, 51.9% of 3rd graders at McKay Creek were proficient or better in math, compared to 35.1% for the district and 39.9% statewide. In contrast, the other schools in the district, such as Sherwood Heights Elementary, lag behind in academic performance.
While the schools in the Pendleton School District 16 vary in their spending per student, from $14,279 at Sherwood Heights to $17,857 at Pendleton Early Learning Center, the data suggests that simply increasing funding may not be the sole solution to improving outcomes. The district should focus on understanding the factors that contribute to McKay Creek's success and applying those practices across the other schools to elevate the overall performance of the district.
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