The top reported proficiency rate is 25% in English language arts. The lowest is 7% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Bearden
Bearden is a small, rural Oklahoma school district serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. It operates a single school, Bearden Public School, and does not offer high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. The district sits in Okfuskee County, a rural area in east-central Oklahoma. Housing values in the district's coverage area are well below the state median, and the weighted home value across the two main zip codes has risen at a pace notably faster than the state average in the most recent year measured. The district's per-pupil spending falls in the lower range among Okfuskee County's districts, a fact a parent may want to look into further with the school to understand how resources are allocated.
The student body is small, with enrollment spread across pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The racial and ethnic composition is roughly split between American Indian or Alaska Native students and white students, with a small share identifying as two or more races and very few Black or Hispanic students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the district directly about these supports.
State testing results for the 2024-25 school year are limited. Oklahoma changed its cut scores for math and English language arts that year, which makes comparisons to prior years unreliable. For the grades where results were not suppressed due to small group sizes, the proficiency rates were low. In fifth-grade math, a small share of students scored at the proficient level or above, and in eighth-grade math the share was similarly low. In fifth-grade English language arts, a modest share of students met the proficiency bar. Results for most other tested grades were suppressed because the number of students tested was too small to report publicly, which is common in a district this size. Science results for both fifth and eighth grades were also suppressed. The district's overall proficiency index, which averages across all tested subjects and grades, places it below the midpoint among Okfuskee County's districts. The county's four districts all cluster in a narrow range, so the differences are small in absolute terms.
On the positive side, the district's chronic absenteeism rate falls in the top quartile among the county's districts, meaning a smaller share of students are missing substantial school time compared to peers in the area. That is a meaningful strength for a small rural district where attendance can be a challenge.
Because Bearden serves only through eighth grade, families will need to plan for high school elsewhere. The district does not report a graduation rate, and there is no data on advanced coursework, career pathways, or dual-credit programs, as those typically apply to high school grades. The single school in the district, Bearden Public School, is listed as open. No recent parent-relevant changes, such as bond elections, curriculum shifts, or property tax changes, were found in publicly available sources, so the district appears to have been operating without major disruption in the near term.
For a family considering this area, the housing market is notably more affordable than the state as a whole, with home values well below the Oklahoma median. The weighted home value across the district's zip codes has risen at a pace well above the state average in the most recent year measured, which may reflect growing demand in a low-cost rural market. The district is small, rural, and serves only elementary and middle grades. A parent looking at Bearden should expect a close-knit school environment with very small class sizes, limited publicly available testing data due to the small student population, and the need to arrange for high school education through another district or option.
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