Pros/Cons Of North Salem and Parrish Middle School? (Keizer: best neighborhood, crime)

[Nikidann]

So I lived in Salem around 7 years ago briefly in what is known as South Salem....went back to Florida to help with a family illness and have since moved back.

Family bought a really cool 100 year old house that we are re-doing and it is located in North Salem by the industrial park.

A few people have said this isn't the best neighborhood and others have said that there's nothing wrong with it.

My daughter is supposed to be going to Parrish Middle School....keep in mind that the elementary school she went to since preschool is a small country folk kind of feel.....once again a few people have said that its not a good school, their kids refused to go , that its 60% Mexican and there's problems for non-Hispanics (keep in mind that we do have a bit of Hispanic blood in us so its not a prejudice on our part).....then again a couple people said there's nothing wrong with it and there's good and bad at all schools.

Any comments, feelings, info on the North Salem area or Parrish Middle School?????

[Silverfall]

It is because Parrish was on the unsafe schools list for three years. It got off the list in 2007 and have made improvements since then. Still not a stellar school academically.

You can see their report card here.

North Salem covers a broad area. If you are by the industrial park, then you are likely in Northgate or Highland. Northgate is a designated rejuvenation district by Salem or at least it used to be. That is a designation the city gives when they want to encourage improvements in an area not doing well. They used to offer grants and loans to investors to go and fix up properties, but I think those got cut during the recession.

They are some of the higher crime areas in Salem. You can go to www.crimereports.com and type in your address. Salem PD puts crimes up there on a monthly basis. Despite that, I don't feel unsafe in either of those neighborhoods.

[Steve Pickering]

There is a wannabe Gang problem still. Little middle schoolers stealing lunch money, and selling drugs. If you are latino they intimidate the youngsters into joining their playhouse gangs.

[Priscilla Martin]

True story. Back in the Paleozoic Era when I was a green, wet behind the ears nineteen year old college student at the then OCE, now WOSC....no WOU, I was sent over to Parrish Middle School as part of sophomore classroom observation. The school secretary escorted me to the assigned classroom. She knocked and when there was no reply she opened the door. To her surprise and my shock the male teacher was standing atop his desk yelling at the top of his lungs. The students were running about like banshees paying him no heed. Catching sight of us, completely undaunted, he jumped off the desk and introduced himself.

Later, while on break in the teacher's lounge with him, as he was polishing off his third cigarette, he turned to me and said something to the effect, "Why in hell do you want to teach these little ***holes." There were chuckles from the other faculty members present.

I would imagine those kids had kids and their kids had kids and now they all go to Parrish Middle School carrying on the generational tradition.

[Steve Pickering]

Originally Posted by Priscilla Martin

... ...
I would imagine those kids had kids and their kids had kids and now they all go to Parrish Middle School carrying on the generational tradition.

Oh it's much worse now. Even the good schools have a hard time with anything that even smells like discipline. This school is not known as one of the good schools.

[Priscilla Martin]

Originally Posted by Steve Pickering

Oh it's much worse now. Even the good schools have a hard time with anything that even smells like discipline. This school is not known as one of the good schools.

That experience soured me from wanting anything to do with Salem-Keizer School District. I know there are several great schools, however I was never sent to any.

I worked in public education my entire career and sent my three kids to private school. There were many reasons, some of which where we lived.

The teachers being turned out today is what I find interesting.

[Steve Pickering]

It's not just Salem/Keizer. As far as schools go Salem and Kieser stand head and shoulders above many schools in the state. I just wouldn't call Parrish a good school. I would call it Improved. But the wannabe gangs and special language programs are choking any progress the district makes.

[Priscilla Martin]

Originally Posted by Steve Pickering

It's not just Salem/Keizer. As far as schools go Salem and Kieser stand head and shoulders above many schools in the state. I just wouldn't call Parrish a good school. I would call it Improved. But the wannabe gangs and special language programs are choking any progress the district makes.

Just before I retired we started research on the dramatic shift in school districts. Many of the smaller rural school districts that once struggled to recruit qualified teachers now find themselves on top. The larger school districts are lagging.

[Steve Pickering]

Just ask Powers. The only school in the state to have 100% of their students pass the state achivement tests.