Three public school districts received the lowest overall grades on Niche’s 2027 Umatilla County listing, with grades ranging from C− to C+.
The two districts that earned a C+ look different up close. One received an A− for Sports and a C+ for Administration. The other earned an A− for Administration and a B for Sports.
Under Niche’s 2027 methodology, Academics accounts for half of a district’s overall grade and draws on state test results, college enrollment data and feedback from students and parents. Niche also weighs factors such as its Teachers grade and surveys about families’ overall experience. Oregon publishes its own school and district data separately.
Pendleton School District 16R — Overall Niche Grade C+
Pendleton’s Niche report card gives the district an A− for Sports and a C for Academics. Niche lists 2,929 students in prekindergarten through 12th grade. The district serves Pendleton and nearby communities, with school bus routes that extend to Mission and Meacham.
| Niche category | Grade |
|---|---|
| Academics | C |
| Diversity | A− |
| Teachers | B− |
| College Prep | B− |
| Clubs & Activities | B |
| Administration | C+ |
| Sports | A− |
| Food | B |
| Resources & Facilities | B− |
Pendleton posted the highest proficiency rates of the three
Niche reports that 36% of tested students reached proficiency in reading and 23% did so in math on Oregon’s 2024–25 assessments. Both rates were the highest among the three districts featured here. Oregon tests English language arts and math in grades 3 through 8 and grade 11.
Niche displays a student-teacher ratio of 18 to 1. The National Center for Education Statistics puts Pendleton’s 2024–25 ratio at 17.66 to 1, which rounds to the figure Niche shows. That is above the 2023–24 national public-school benchmark of 15.2 to 1. The ratio describes staffing across the district. Class sizes vary by school, grade and course.
Ninth graders can start learning to weld
Pendleton High School’s 2026–27 course guide lists a yearlong introductory metal fabrication class open to students in grades 9 through 12. Students learn welding and shop safety, and the school sets aside about three-quarters of the course for hands-on lab work.
Students in grades 10 through 12 who complete the introductory class can move into a second course, where they plan and build a metal project. The guide lists a dual-credit option for students who complete both full-year courses, giving families a reason to look at the sequence when choosing next year’s classes.
Umatilla School District 6R — Overall Niche Grade C+
Umatilla’s Niche report card shows an A− for both Administration and Food alongside a C− for Academics. Niche lists 1,454 students in prekindergarten through 12th grade in the district, which serves Umatilla and the McNary area.
| Niche category | Grade |
|---|---|
| Academics | C− |
| Diversity | B |
| Teachers | B+ |
| College Prep | B− |
| Clubs & Activities | B+ |
| Administration | A− |
| Sports | B |
| Food | A− |
| Resources & Facilities | B+ |
About one in nine tested students reached math proficiency
Niche reports that 21% of tested students were proficient in reading and 11% were proficient in math on Oregon’s 2024–25 assessments. Both rates were the lowest of the three districts featured, even though Umatilla shared Pendleton’s overall grade.
Niche shows a student-teacher ratio of 18 to 1, above the 15.2 to 1 national public-school benchmark from 2023–24. Niche’s profile identifies the year of the test scores. It leaves the reporting year of the staffing figure unspecified, so the national figure serves as a benchmark across reporting periods.
After-school projects come with supper and a ride home
The district’s STEAM Academy of Umatilla offers hands-on after-school classes and competitive robotics opportunities for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. It runs at McNary Heights Elementary, Columbia Vista Intermediate, Clara Brownell Middle School and Umatilla High School.
The academy is free for Umatilla district students and provides a snack, supper and transportation home. Families register for individual sessions on a first-come, first-served basis. The district says forms are available through the schools and district office.
Milton-Freewater Unified School District 7 — Overall Niche Grade C−
Milton-Freewater’s Niche report card shows a B for Sports and a D for Administration, its highest and lowest category grades. Niche lists 1,570 students in prekindergarten through 12th grade. The district serves Milton-Freewater and the surrounding area, including Ferndale.
| Niche category | Grade |
|---|---|
| Academics | C− |
| Diversity | B− |
| Teachers | C |
| College Prep | C− |
| Clubs & Activities | C |
| Administration | D |
| Sports | B |
| Food | C |
| Resources & Facilities | C− |
Proficiency fell between the two C+ districts
Niche reports 27% proficiency in reading and 20% in math among tested students on Oregon’s 2024–25 assessments. Both figures fell between Pendleton’s and Umatilla’s, even though Milton-Freewater received a lower overall grade than either district.
Its reported student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1 was the lowest of the three and closest to the 15.2 to 1 national public-school benchmark from 2023–24. Niche leaves the reporting year of Milton-Freewater’s ratio unspecified.
McLoughlin students can earn college credit in high school
McLoughlin High School says students can take dual-credit classes in person or online through options involving Blue Mountain Community College and the district’s virtual learning academy. The school says students can work toward an associate degree while still in high school.
Blue Mountain Community College’s early college program explains how eligible students can apply credits toward a certificate or degree. Families weighing that option can ask a McLoughlin counselor which classes count toward the student’s intended program and when to register.
The C+ Cutoff and What the Grades Leave Open
The cutoff fell at C+. Two of the other four districts on Niche’s county list earned a B−, the next grade up, while the other two earned a B and a B+. The comparison covers the seven districts on that list. The county’s school district map also shows districts such as Echo, Helix and Ukiah, which did not appear in Niche’s county results.
The category grades reveal differences that the overall grades compress. Umatilla earned a B+ for Teachers and Resources & Facilities, compared with B− in both categories for Pendleton. Milton-Freewater matched Umatilla’s B for Sports despite finishing below it overall.
Families can use the Oregon Department of Education’s school and district profiles to look up the school their child would attend. For a closer look at academics, check the results for the grade their child is entering. For an offering such as after-school robotics or dual credit, ask the school which students can enroll and what the schedule requires.