About Bethel
Bethel School District
4640 Barger Drive
Eugene, OR 97402
Phone: 541-689-3280
Fax: 541-689-0719
Directions to the Bethel School District Office
Welcome to Bethel School District, the third largest school district in Lane County. Bethel is a growing school district in northwest Eugene that is home to approximately 5,700 students. The district encompasses 31.7 square miles, and features bike trails, wetlands, public parks, streams and a portion of Fern Ridge Reservoir.
Bethel School District is proud of one of the most up-to-date high school facilities in the state. Willamette High School, with its labs, shops, three gymnasiums and performing arts auditorium, serves a student population of about 1,550 students in grades 9-12.
Kalapuya High School, built specifically as an alternative high school in 2002, is home to 150 students in grades 10-12. Kalapuya’s program has served as a model for other alternative high schools across the country.
The District's two traditional middle schools, Cascade and Shasta, offer a multitude of academic choices specially designed to meet the needs of students in grades 6-8. Meadow View School, a state-of-the-art K-8 facility, opened in 1998. Prairie Mountain School, another new K-8 school, opened in September 2002. The two schools welcome approximately 1,400 students.
The District's five elementary schools include gymnasiums, media centers, computer labs and music rooms. Clear Lake, Danebo, Fairfield, Irving and Malabon are home to about 1,900 students each day in grades K-5.
The Bethel School District TAG program is designed to meet the educational needs of academically talented and intellectually gifted students in grades K-12 who are capable of performing at advanced levels and accelerated rates of learning. Classroom teachers provide enrichment opportunities for TAG students in regular classrooms. The program supports the active partnership of teachers, parents and students working together to increase student achievement. Parents who are interested or have questions about the program may call the school and ask to talk with someone on the building TAG team.
Bethel schools provide free and appropriate educational programs in accordance with state and federal guidelines for children with disabilities who reside within district boundaries. A variety of programs exist to meet the educational needs of disabled students. Special education instructors, psychologists, speech specialists, school nurses and others work in cooperation with parents to provide services for disabled students. For more information, contact the Special Services Department at 689-3280.
All Bethel students are offered free nutritional breakfasts each school day. Students may buy lunches at elementary schools for $1.50, middle school lunches are $1.75, and high school lunches are $2.00. For more information about free and reduced-price meals, call Bethel Food Services, 461-6301.
The school district contracts with Student First Education Services for student transportation service. Bethel’s policy is to provide transportation to elementary students living more than one mile from school, and to middle and high school students living more than one-and-a-half miles from school. Bus stops are established each fall.
Parents registering their children in Oregon schools for the first time must present a valid immunization record. Oregon immunization law requires immunizations for diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella. If you do not have a valid immunization record, forms are available from the schools.
Children entering kindergarten must be five years old by September 1. First graders must be six by September 1. To register contact your local school.
When parents and other citizens are involved, schools can do a better job of providing education to students. Bethel has advisory committees, from the district Budget Committee to parent advisory committees at each school, where citizens can have an active voice in educational recommendations. People are encouraged to volunteer and should contact their neighborhood school principal or the District office.
Bethel publishes a 'School Events Calendar' each summer. In addition, the district and individual schools provide handbooks, newsletters, and other helpful materials.
Bethel schools are equipped with computer labs for class instruction and for use by individual students. Each classroom also has at least one computer. Computers are integrated into a wide array of activities in nearly all subjects. Bethel has a district-wide network that serves every classroom, providing students with hands-on training and access to educational resources beyond school walls.
Bethel schools and students earn distinction each year. Some 08-09 honors include:
* Irving Elementary's Suzanne Light was named the Oregon Elementary Music Teacher of the Year.
* Bethel students outperformed the state average at nearly every grade level in the state exams.
* The Willamette Girls Basketball Team went undefeated in winning the state 5A championship for the second time in the last three years
* The nationally-recognized Bethel Reading Project is one of a handful of federally-designated model K-3 reading programs in the United States. 70% of Bethel first graders are now reading 40 words per minute or better.
* Willamette’s Kaila Lee won two state championships in swimming for the second consecutive year
* The Shasta Middle School Jazz Band remains one of the top middle school bands in the Pacific Northwest, having won dozens of competitions, including some major festivals against high school jazz bands
* More than a dozen WHS students won state titles at the Oregon DECA (student marketing) and HOSA (health occupations) competitions
* The Wil-Hi Chess Team won its first-ever state championship
* Close to 300 Willamette High School students participate in academically rigorous International Baccalaureate classes