Published 6:00 pm Monday, September 28, 2026
By HermistonHerald.com
HERMISTON — Hermiston School District students showed improvements over last year in math and science, while scores decreased in English Language Arts, according to results from the 2025-26 Oregon Statewide Assessment.
The Oregon Statewide Assessment, administered each year in ELA, mathematics and science, provides an important snapshot of student learning across the state.
Students in grades three through eight and 11 take the ELA and mathematics assessments, while grades five, eight and 11 also are assessed in science.
In Hermiston, compared to last year, student proficiency in ELA decreased by 2.7%, while mathematics increased by 0.3% and science by 1.4%.
Statewide, compared to last year, results showed a minimal increase of 0.8 percentage points in ELA, larger increase of 4.31 percentage points in mathematics, and an increase of 0.7 percentage points in science proficiency across all tested grades.
• Grade 3: HSD — ELA 37.5%, math 37.8% | state — ELA 41.5%, math 41.3%
• Grade four: HSD — ELA 45.3%, math 39.6% | state — ELA 43.5%, math 38.9%; HSD ELA growth from grade three to four: +7.8% (state: +2%).
• Grade 5: HSD — ELA 50.7%, math 37.1%, science 27.2% | state — ELA 47.1%, math 32.4%, science 30.8% HSD ELA growth from grade three to five: +13.2% (state: +5.6%).
• English Language Learners: Proficiency growth of 19.8% since 2021–22 (52.9% to 72.7%).
Hermiston fourth and fifth graders outperformed state proficiency rates in ELA by 1.8 and 3.6 percentage points, respectively, and in math by 0.7 and 4.7 percentage points.
• Grade 6: HSD — ELA 35.9%, math 38.1% | state — ELA 41.8%, math 29.7%
• Grade 7: HSD — ELA 42.1%, math 28.7% | state — ELA 45.3%, math 33.3%
• Grade 8: HSD — ELA 40.3%, math 28%, science 24.6% | state — ELA 41.5%, math 30%, science 27.7%
Hermiston sixth grade math scores exceeded the state average by 8.4 percentage points.
• Grade 11: HSD — ELA 45.6%, math 16.5%, science 25.8% | state — ELA 46%, math 22.9%, science 33.8%
State assessment results reflect both areas of progress and opportunities for continued growth. At the elementary level, fourth and fifth grade students outperformed the state in ELA and math, and ELA growth from third grade to fifth grade outpaced the state average more than twofold (+13.2% versus +5.6%).
At the middle school level, sixth grade math results exceeded the state average by 8.4 percentage points, while several other tested areas remained near state performance. At the high school level, 11th grade results declined across ELA, math, and science, with ELA remaining close to the state average.
The district is reviewing these results alongside student growth, attendance, and engagement to better understand the trends and identify opportunities for continued improvement.
“Our vision is for every Hermiston graduate to leave high school prepared for career and life,” Superintendent Tricia Mooney said in a press release. “The progress we are seeing is possible because of the dedicated educators who show up every day for students.”
This fall, families of current fourth through ninth graders and 12th graders will receive individual score reports. These reports will provide results in ELA and math, highlighting each student’s strengths and opportunities for growth.