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Panoramic view of Pendleton, Oregon - June 2024Photo: SounderBruce · CC BY-SA 4.0
C+
Schools in Pendleton · Pendleton School District 16

Pendleton’s public schools score below 57% of Oregon districts on tests and graduation

Math proficiency in Pendleton’s districts is 25%, below the Oregon average (31%). The grade covers the public school district serving Pendleton, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Oregon, not nationally.

#87of 142 Oregon townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Oregon state tests taken in spring 2022, when 88% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
41%
▼ 3 pts vs OR 44%
2021–22
Math proficiency
25%
▼ 6 pts vs OR 31%
2021–22
Graduate on time
77%
▼ 4 pts vs OR 81%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.7K
▼ 12% vs OR $17.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
17.9
OR 17.9
Schools in town
7
2,756 students on the public path
In brief

Pendleton’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 180 Oregon towns with household incomes within a quarter of Pendleton’s, its schools beat 48%, higher than their 43% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 41% of tested students were proficient in reading and 25% in math, against 44% and 31% statewide; 88% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

77% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 81% across Oregon. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,684 per student, against $17,749 across Oregon (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Four elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Sunridge Middle School, then Pendleton High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

InterMountain Virtual Learning Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Pendleton’s grade

B− Test scoresC Graduation

C+: better than 43% of Oregon school districts, #87 of 142 Oregon towns. Both inputs trail the Oregon average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Oregon school districts we grade (178)Better than 43%
Lower resultsHigher results
Oregon towns with similar household incomes (180)Better than 48%
CBA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,394 test results and a graduating class of 257 could put Pendleton anywhere from C to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 88% of Pendleton’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,388 in math, 1,400 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Pendleton, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–54 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC− to A−
6–8Sunridge Middle SchoolPendleton School District 16B−
9–12Pendleton High SchoolPendleton School District 16B

Pendleton’s public schools are run by Pendleton School District 16, which also serves Adams. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Pendleton School District 16Grades PK–12 · 8 schools · 2,901 students · 17.9 per teacher (OR 17.9)
$15,684OR $17,749 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading41%
State average 44% · 1400 students tested
Math25%
State average 30.6% · 1388 students tested

Pendleton vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Oregon towns that share Pendleton’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
PendletonC+Pendleton School District 16

Every school in Pendleton

8 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Oregon’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Pendletonby address
Pendleton Early Learning Center
Elementary · Grades PK–K
197 students14:1Rate it →
Sherwood Heights Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C+
439 students16:1Rate it →
Washington Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C−
420 students16:1Rate it →
McKay Creek Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
A−
265 students18:1Rate it →
Sunridge Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B−
672 students20:1Rate it →
Pendleton High School
High · Grades 9–12
B
763 students20:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Hawthorne Alternative High School
High · Grades 9–12
C−
Alternative Education
56 students31:1Rate it →
Online schools based in Pendletonnot counted as local schools
InterMountain Virtual Learning Academy
Grades K–12
Online
107 students10:1Rate it →

Questions about Pendleton’s schools

Are Pendleton’s schools good?

On Oregon’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Pendleton children attend score below 57% of Oregon’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #87 of 142 Oregon towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 48%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Pendleton in?

Pendleton School District 16, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,901 students in 8 schools (2024–25).

Where do Pendleton kids go to high school?

Pendleton High School, with 763 students; its own test results earn a B.

What is Pendleton’s graduation rate?

77% of the class of 2023 in Pendleton School District 16 graduated in four years, against 81% across Oregon.

How much does Pendleton spend per student?

$15,684 in Pendleton School District 16 (FY2024), against $17,749 across Oregon. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Pendleton families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Pendleton → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Oregon. Stars are from neighbors.