Average
#601 of 1,226 schools in OR
Top 49% in state
Kelso Elementary School
Elementary School · Oregon Trail SD 46
PO Box 547, Sandy, OR 97055
Enrollment
363
Student-Teacher
19.1:1
Score
6.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
363
Student-Teacher
19.1:1
Score
6.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Sandy
#7 of 10
public schools
Oregon elementary schools
#409 of 689
In district
#7 of 10
Oregon Trail SD 46
Academic performance
7.9 / 10
Very strong
About Kelso Elementary School
Kelso Elementary School serves 363 students in kindergarten through fifth grade in Sandy, Oregon. This regular public school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 19.1 to 1 with 19 full-time equivalent teachers, creating manageable classroom sizes for elementary learners. The school demonstrates strong academic performance, earning a MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranking 166th out of 1,231 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 87th percentile.
With an impressive academic score of 9.1 out of 10, Kelso Elementary shows particularly solid results in core subjects, with 62% of students achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts and reading, and 57% meeting proficiency standards in mathematics. The school draws families from the 97055 ZIP code area, where the median household income reaches $102,199 and the median home value is $456,400. The community maintains a low poverty rate of just 5%, while 24% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher.
With a ZIP code population of 19,621, the area provides a stable base for the school community. Kelso Elementary School is situated in a rural setting near the town of Sandy, offering students the benefits of small-town community life while maintaining access to quality educational resources.
What Parents Should Know
Located in a rural area, Kelso Elementary School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.
Score Breakdown
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Kelso Elementary School — Students at Kelso Elementary School score 45% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 41%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
39.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores OR OSAS (2024-25)
Based on 6 test records from OR state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.5/10.
How Kelso Elementary School Compares
See how Kelso Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 52% (2019) to 44.1% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 57% (2019) to 46.6% (2025).
Location
PO Box 547, Sandy, OR 97055
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Kelso Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Naas Elementary School (rated 8.1/10, 3.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Sandy Grade School (rated 8.0/10, 2.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Firwood Elementary School (rated 7.0/10, 5.2 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Sandy, see our Sandy schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 6.7 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sandy High School Sandy | 1.7 mi | 2.5 |
| Oregon Trail Academy Sandy | 2.5 mi | 6.9 |
| Cedar Ridge Middle School Sandy | 2.3 mi | 4.5 |
| Sandy Grade School Sandy | 2.6 mi | 8.0 |
| GOOD SHEPHERD SCHOOL Boring | 3.2 mi | 4.1 |
| East Orient Elementary School Gresham | 4.0 mi | 5.7 |
| West Orient Middle School Gresham | 4.1 mi | 3.9 |
| Boring Middle School Sandy | 3.5 mi | 6.3 |
| Naas Elementary School Sandy | 3.6 mi | 8.1 |
| Summit Learning Charter Eagle Creek | 4.6 mi | 5.5 |
| Sam Barlow High School Gresham | 5.0 mi | 5.2 |
| Firwood Elementary School Sandy | 5.2 mi | 7.0 |
| Kelly Creek Elementary School Gresham | 5.6 mi | 3.7 |
| Powell Valley Elementary School Gresham | 6.1 mi | 5.0 |
| Corbett School Corbett | 7.6 mi | 6.0 |
| OPEN DOOR CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Troutdale | 6.9 mi | 4.9 |
| Gordon Russell Middle School Gresham | 6.6 mi | 3.2 |
| Deep Creek - Damascus K-8 School Damascus | 5.7 mi | 6.6 |
| Hogan Cedars Elementary School Gresham | 6.6 mi | 5.3 |
| Springwater Trail High School Gresham | 6.7 mi | 7.1 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 97055 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$105,696
Median Home Value
$472,900
Median Rent
$1,573/mo
Population
20,131
College Educated
26.4%
Homeownership
82.9%
Avg Commute
33.5 min
Poverty Rate
6.3%
Median Age
39.9
Community Profile
The community surrounding Kelso Elementary School has a median household income of $105,696. It is an area where 26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $472,900, with a median rent of $1,573/month. The local poverty rate of 6.3% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 34 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Bohemia Elementary School Cottage Grove, OR | 6.5 |
| Bush Elementary School Salem, OR | 6.5 |
| CEDARWOOD WALDORF SCHOOL Portland, OR | 6.5 |
| CHRIST THE KING CATHOLIC SCHOOL Milwaukie, OR | 6.5 |
| Candalaria Elementary School Salem, OR | 6.5 |
| Harrison Elementary School Cottage Grove, OR | 6.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Kelso Elementary School
What grades does Kelso Elementary School serve?
Kelso Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Kelso Elementary School?
Kelso Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 363 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Kelso Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Kelso Elementary School is 19.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Kelso Elementary School rank in OR?
Kelso Elementary School is ranked #601 out of 1,226 schools in OR.
What is Kelso Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Kelso Elementary School has a composite rating of 6.5 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Kelso Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Kelso Elementary School has 51.0% math proficiency and 55.2% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Kelso Elementary School a charter school?
No, Kelso Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Kelso Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Kelso Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Kelso Elementary School?
39.1% of students at Kelso Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (1,580/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Sandy). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 363
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 19.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 19
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 39.1%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Clackamas County
- Phone
- (503) 668-8020
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Oregon Trail SD 46- District Enrollment
- 4,316
- Schools in District
- 10
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,105
- District Rank
- #7 of 10
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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