Cascade Opportunity Center

As an one-room-style secondary school in Aumsville, Oregon, Cascade Opportunity Center educates 83 students from grades 9 through 12, run under Cascade SD 5. Compared to the state average of about 630 students per school, that is 87% smaller than typical.

Across the 6 schools in Cascade SD 5 (2,731 students total), Cascade Opportunity Center accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Looking at the student body, Cascade Opportunity Center reports that White students make up the majority at 75%; the rest consists of 14% Hispanic, 5% multiracial, 4% Native American. By comparison, Marion County as a whole is about 66% White, so the school skews visibly more White than its surroundings.

In terms of school funding signals, The school currently runs with 3 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 32.2:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 19.8:1, putting Cascade Opportunity Center higher than the state norm the norm. About 64% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal. That share is noticeably below Marion County's rate of about 83%.

In the surrounding community, Marion County reports that median household income runs about $77,351, 26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 9%. In all, Marion County runs 111 public schools (combined enrollment of about 53,799 students), of which Cascade Opportunity Center is one.

The closest other public school is Cascade Senior High School, roughly 2.4 miles away. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius.

The school occupies a small-town site.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Cascade Opportunity Center has rose 77%, going from 47 students in 2018 to 83 in 2025. White enrollment moved from 81% to 75% across the same window. Class-load math has loosened: from 23.5:1 in 2018 to 32.2:1 in 2025.

On this page, recent activity here tends to focus on science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.