The top reported proficiency rate is 22% in Science. The lowest is 12% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Epic Charter School
EPIC Charter School is a virtual charter school district serving students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade across Oklahoma. Unlike a traditional district tied to a single attendance zone, EPIC’s enrollment draws from the entire state, and its two campuses in Oklahoma County are administrative hubs rather than neighborhood school buildings. The district is among the largest in the state by enrollment, with a student body that is majority white and includes a substantial share of students who identify as two or more races. Hispanic students make up the next largest group, followed by Black and American Indian students. Data on economic disadvantage, special education, and English learner status were not available in the information provided.
On state assessments, EPIC’s proficiency rates in math and English language arts for grades three through eight fell well below typical levels. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above ranged from under ten percent in the fifth and eighth grades to about fifteen percent in seventh grade. English language arts proficiency rates were similarly low, clustering in the mid-teens across most grade levels. Science results were somewhat higher but still low, with roughly one in five fifth graders and one in four eighth graders reaching proficiency. When measured against other districts in Oklahoma County, EPIC’s overall proficiency index landed below the midpoint of the county’s districts, placing the district among those with weaker average performance. The district’s chronic absenteeism rate was also below the midpoint for the county, meaning a larger share of students were missing substantial amounts of school relative to peer districts. Graduation rate data was not available for this analysis, so a reader may want to ask the district directly about its high school completion outcomes.
EPIC’s model is fully online, offering families a virtual alternative to brick-and-mortar schooling. That flexibility comes with trade-offs, and the academic data suggests that the majority of enrolled students are not reaching state proficiency benchmarks in core subjects. A parent considering this district would want to investigate how the school supports students who are behind grade level, what tools or interventions are available, and how closely progress is monitored in a remote setting.
The district has undergone significant changes in recent years. In 2021, EPIC cut ties with Epic Youth Services, the private management company owned by the district’s co-founders, and forced several board members to resign in order to retain its state virtual charter certification. The co-founders were subsequently fired and later criminally charged on counts including racketeering and embezzlement. The district has since expanded its enrollment eligibility to include Oklahomans up to age thirty, moving beyond the traditional K-12 age range. It also paid off a large line of credit early, a step that publicly reported sources described as saving the district money and signaling improved financial stability after years of audit findings.
No information was available about the district’s program offerings, such as advanced coursework, career and technical education, or extracurricular activities. A family interested in those options would need to contact EPIC directly. Similarly, no locale brief was provided to describe any surrounding community, which makes sense given that EPIC serves students across the state rather than a single town or city.
EPIC Charter School is a large, statewide virtual district that provides an alternative to traditional public schools, but its academic results are low enough that families should examine the school’s day-to-day support structures and track record with student progress before enrolling. The governance turbulence of recent years appears to have settled into a new operational footing, though the academic challenges remain a central consideration.
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