Oregon Schools

    Oregon ranked 38 out of 50 in the 2005-06 school year in the “Smartest State” rankings, based on Morgan Quinto’s “Education State Rankings 2005-06.” Quinto rated states based on 21 factors including class size, student achievement, and personal attention from teachers. In the 2006-07 school year, Oregon had and average of 20 students per classroom, which is well above the national average.

However, as part of No Child Left Behind, Oregon is ahead of the curve. For years, Oregon law has stated that to receive a teaching certificate, a prospective teacher needs to have a Masters degree in any subject. This was years before the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act of 2001 required competent, highly-trained teachers for core subjects.

Over 40% of Oregon students are eligible for free or reduced price school lunches as part of federal NCLB requirements, and 38% of students attend schools that have been designated by the government as low-income schooling. These schools and programs will receive a total of $131.9 million from the federal government to help raise test scores and provide lunches, tutoring, and other programs. Schools in this category that have not met minimum requirements two years in a row risk sanctions, including sending students (at the district’s expense) to higher-performing schools.

For information on how your school did in the latest round of testing, visit the Oregon Department of Education website at http://www.ode.state.or.us.