Salem-Keizer School District
Encyclopedia
Salem-Keizer School District is a school district
in the U.S. state
of Oregon
that serves the cities of Salem
and Keizer
. It is the second-largest school district in the state with more than 40,000 students and nearly 4,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. It serves more than 172 square miles (445.5 km²) of Marion
and Polk
counties.
In 2008, Salem-Keizer high school students scored above the national average on the SATs. In 2009, 65 percent of high school students graduated with a high school diploma.
Salem-Keizer is a growing district with a 6% enrollment growth in the last six years (37,877 in 2003-04 to 40,282 in 2008-09). The district's facilities include 73 schools and programs in 69 locations. The average age of schools is 45 years for elementary, 32 years for middle, and 32 years for high schools.
Though the district is broken up into zones for which one board member serves a constituency, the entire city votes on every zone. Both the chairperson and the vice chairperson are nominated and elected by the Board. The current chairperson is Steve Chambers, a retired high school teacher who was elected to Zone 2 in 1999. Ron Jones, a former manager in traffic safety and enforcement for the State of Oregon, was elected for Zone 7 in 2005 and serves as vice chairperson. Executive director of the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation Krina Lemons has served Zone 4 since 2003. Rick Kimball, director of technical services for Truitt Brothers, Inc., was elected to serve Zone 5 in 2005. President of Blanchet Catholic School Chuck Lee was elected in Zone 6 in 2007. In 2009, retired principal Chris Brantley and the co-owner of Salem Nurse-Midwives Nancy MacMorris-Adix were elected to Zones 1 and 3 respectively.
, or 2.0% of students in the district.
There are also several alternative secondary school programs known collectively as Roberts High School
, which includes SK Online.
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
that serves the cities of Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
and Keizer
Keizer, Oregon
Keizer is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States, along the 45th parallel. It was named for Thomas Dove and John Brooks Keizer, two pioneers who arrived in the Wagon Train of 1843, and later filed donation land claims. The population was 36,278 at the 2010 census...
. It is the second-largest school district in the state with more than 40,000 students and nearly 4,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. It serves more than 172 square miles (445.5 km²) of Marion
Marion County, Oregon
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg, a meeting place on the Willamette River. On September 3, 1849, the territorial legislature renamed it in honor of Francis Marion, a Continental Army general of the...
and Polk
Polk County, Oregon
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for James Knox Polk, the 11th president of the United States. In 2010, its population was 75,403. The seat of the county is Dallas....
counties.
Overview
Currently, the district has just over 17% of its students receiving English Language Learner services, 13% receiving Special Education, 10% in the Talented and Gifted Program, and 52% in the Free and Reduced Meal Program - meaning a high percentage of students are living in poverty.In 2008, Salem-Keizer high school students scored above the national average on the SATs. In 2009, 65 percent of high school students graduated with a high school diploma.
Salem-Keizer is a growing district with a 6% enrollment growth in the last six years (37,877 in 2003-04 to 40,282 in 2008-09). The district's facilities include 73 schools and programs in 69 locations. The average age of schools is 45 years for elementary, 32 years for middle, and 32 years for high schools.
School board
The Salem-Keizer School Board is responsible for hiring the superintendent, adopting the annual budget, and negotiating collective bargaining agreements with District staff. The seven-person board serves as an advocate on behalf of the Salem-Keizer School District, students and its constituency. All board meetings, except for executive sessions, are open to the public, and time is set aside for public comments. School board elections are held in May as members’ four-year terms expire.Though the district is broken up into zones for which one board member serves a constituency, the entire city votes on every zone. Both the chairperson and the vice chairperson are nominated and elected by the Board. The current chairperson is Steve Chambers, a retired high school teacher who was elected to Zone 2 in 1999. Ron Jones, a former manager in traffic safety and enforcement for the State of Oregon, was elected for Zone 7 in 2005 and serves as vice chairperson. Executive director of the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation Krina Lemons has served Zone 4 since 2003. Rick Kimball, director of technical services for Truitt Brothers, Inc., was elected to serve Zone 5 in 2005. President of Blanchet Catholic School Chuck Lee was elected in Zone 6 in 2007. In 2009, retired principal Chris Brantley and the co-owner of Salem Nurse-Midwives Nancy MacMorris-Adix were elected to Zones 1 and 3 respectively.
Demographics
In the 2009 school year, the district had 815 students classified as homeless by the Department of EducationOregon Department of Education
The Department of Education of the U.S. state of Oregon is responsible for implementation of state policies with respect to public education at the kindergarten through community college level, including academic standards and testing, credentials, and other matters not reserved to the local...
, or 2.0% of students in the district.
Schools
High schools
- McKay High SchoolDouglas McKay High SchoolDouglas McKay High School, known as McKay, is a public high school located in the North Lancaster neighborhood of Salem, Oregon, United States. Built in 1979, the school was named after Douglas McKay, former Governor of Oregon and United States Secretary of the Interior...
- McNary High SchoolMcNary High SchoolMcNary High School is a public high school located in Keizer, Oregon, United States. It is named for Charles L. McNary, a U.S. Senator who was from the Keizer area.-Academics:...
- North Salem High School
- South Salem High SchoolSouth Salem High SchoolSouth Salem High School was the second public high school built in Salem, Oregon, in 1954, at which time the former Salem High School was renamed North Salem High School.-History:...
- Sprague High SchoolSprague High SchoolCharles A. Sprague High School, known as Sprague High School, is a high school in the Sunnyslope neighborhood of Salem, Oregon, United States. The school is named after Charles A. Sprague, who served as Oregon's governor from 1939 to 1943.-Academics:...
- West Salem High SchoolWest Salem High School (Oregon)West Salem High School is a public high school located in Salem, Oregon, United States.-Academics:In 2008, 82% of the school's seniors received their high school diploma...
There are also several alternative secondary school programs known collectively as Roberts High School
Roberts High School
Roberts High School provides non-traditional educational programs in the Salem-Keizer Public School District. Rather than a centralized campus, Roberts High School consists of departments at different sites in Salem and Keizer, Oregon. These branch sites include the Downtown Learning Center,...
, which includes SK Online.
Middle schools
- Claggett Creek Middle School
- Crossler Middle School
- Houck Middle School
- Judson Middle School
- Leslie Middle SchoolLeslie Middle SchoolLeslie Middle School is a middle school in Salem, Oregon, United States named for Reverend David Leslie, one of the founders of Salem and of Willamette University....
- Parrish Middle School
- Stephens Middle School
- Straub Middle School
- Straub, in West Salem, opened in 2011 and is named after Oregon Governor Bob StraubRobert W. StraubRobert William "Bob" Straub , was an American politician and businessman in the state of Oregon. A native of California, he settled in Eugene, Oregon, where he entered politics. A Democratic politician, he served in the Oregon State Senate, as the Oregon State Treasurer, and one term as the 31st...
.- Waldo Middle School
- Walker Middle School
- Walker was the only middle schoolMiddle schoolMiddle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
in West SalemWest Salem, Salem, OregonWest Salem is a neighborhood in Salem, Oregon, United States, located in the far northwest part of the city. West Salem is the only part of the city that is located in Polk County. The neighborhood is separated from the rest of Salem by the Willamette River, which serves as West Salem's southeast...
until Straub Middle School opened in 2011. Walker serves students in grades 6–8. Average enrollment is 1,100 students. The school was established as Walker Junior High in 1962, and was named for Major Walter M. WalkerWalter M. WalkerMajor Walter M. Walker was a pioneer of the U.S. state of Oregon. He had risen to the rank of major during the Indian Wars, and crossed the plains in 1848 with a train of 55 wagons. He settled in the area now known as Polk County, Oregon, on the west bank of the Willamette River, not far from the...
. Actor Jon HederJon HederJonathan Joseph "Jon" Heder is an American screenwriter, actor, and filmmaker. His feature film debut came in 2004 as the title character of the comedy film Napoleon Dynamite...
attended Walker. The school's motto is "Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Learn," its school colors are green and black, and its mascot is the wildcat.- Whiteaker Middle School
Charter schools
- Valley Inquiry Charter School
- Early College High SchoolEarly College High School (Salem, Oregon)Early College High School is a charter school in Salem, Oregon, United States. It allows high school students to pursue college education early, similar to dual enrollment programs. It is located on the campus of Chemeketa Community College.-Academics:...
- Howard Street Charter School
- Jane Goodall Environmental Middle SchoolJane Goodall Environmental Middle SchoolThe Jane Goodall Environmental Middle School is an American charter school serving grades six through eight that focuses on environmental science and community service. It is housed at Waldo Middle School in Salem, Oregon, and is named after English primatologist Jane Goodall...
- Optimum Learning Environment Charter School
Elementary schools
- Auburn Elementary School
- Bethel Elementary School, named after the Bethel Church, built in that locale by the DunkardDunkard BrethrenThe Dunkard Brethren are a small group of conservative Schwarzenau Brethren churches that withdrew from the Church of the Brethren.The Church of the Brethren represents the largest body of churches that descended from the original pietist movement began in Germany by Alexander Mack and 7 other...
s - Brush College Elementary School
- Bush Elementary School
- Candalaria Elementary School
- Chapman Hill Elementary School
- Clear Lake Elementary School
- Cummings Elementary School
- Englewood Elementary School
- Eyre Elementary School
- Forest Ridge Elementary School
- Four Corners Elementary School
- Fruitland Elementary School
- Grant Community School
- Gubser Elementary School
- Hallman Elementary School
- Hammond Elementary School
- Harritt Elementary School
- Hayesville Elementary School
- Hazel Green Elementary School
- Highland Elementary School
- Hoover Elementary School
- Keizer Elementary School
- Kennedy Elementary School
- Lake Labish Elementary School
- Lamb Elementary School
- Lee Elementary School
- Liberty Elementary School
- McKinley Elementary School
- Middle Grove Elementary School
- Miller Elementary School
- Morningside Elementary School
- Myers Elementary School
- Pringle Elementary School
- Richmond Elementary School
- Rosedale Elementary School
- Salem Heights Elementary School
- Schirle Elementary School
- Scott Elementary School
- Sumpter Elementary School
- Swegle Elementary School
- Washington Elementary School
- Weddle Elementary School
- Faye Wright Elementary School
- Yoshikai Elementary School