The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in Science. The lowest is 21% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Cushing
Cushing is a public school district in Payne County serving students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district encompasses the town of Cushing and the surrounding area, drawing its student body from a community that has historically been tied to the oil and gas industry. The district operates five schools: a pre-kindergarten center, a lower elementary school, an upper elementary school, a middle school, and a high school.
The student population is predominantly white, with a notable share of students who identify as two or more races and a smaller share of American Indian or Alaska Native students. Hispanic students and Black or Asian students each make up a smaller portion of the enrollment. The district does not report the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, nor does it provide data on the share of students with individualized education programs or English learner status, so a family looking into economic need or specialized support would need to ask the district directly.
On state assessments, performance across tested subjects and grade levels is mixed. In math, proficiency rates vary by grade, with some grades showing a higher share of students scoring at or above the proficient level and others falling notably lower. In English language arts, the pattern is similar, with one grade level having its results suppressed for privacy reasons. In science, the share of students reaching proficiency is higher at the eighth-grade level than at the fifth-grade level. Overall, the district's composite proficiency across all tested subjects and grades places it below the midpoint when compared with other districts in Payne County.
The district provides a full range of grades and high school students graduate. The graduation rate was not available in the data. Chronic absenteeism, a measure of students missing a substantial portion of the school year, is higher than most other districts in the county, landing in the bottom quartile among Payne County's districts. A parent may want to ask the school what supports are in place to improve attendance and whether this pattern affects classroom continuity.
Recent investments in the district's facilities and programs have been driven by two bond measures passed by voters. A bond issued in early 2022 funded a new elementary school classroom wing, as well as HVAC replacements, roofing, and technology upgrades; the new wing opened in the fall of 2024. A second bond, passed in early 2023, funded a new safe room and storm shelter at the middle school, completed in early 2025, along with security upgrades, technology improvements, and new buses. Both bonds were structured to replace retiring debt and did not increase the overall property tax rate, according to publicly reported information. The district has also expanded its high school course offerings in recent years, adding classes such as AP Computer Science Principles, Robotics and Automation, and Introduction to Engineering Design through a partnership with Project Lead The Way. A new teacher compensation schedule was implemented starting in the 2023-2024 school year, with an increase in starting salaries and retention bonuses for hard-to-fill positions in STEM and special education.
Housing in the district's area is moderately priced. The weighted home value across the district's zip codes is below the state average and sits well below the national average. The largest share of the district's housing stock is in the Cushing zip code, where values have seen a modest year-over-year decline, while the smaller Agra zip code has seen an increase. The estimated monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home, assuming a standard down payment, is moderate relative to the national median household income.
For a family weighing this district, the picture is one of a mid-sized rural system that has made tangible facility improvements and expanded academic pathways in recent years. The student body is not highly diverse along racial or ethnic lines, and the district does not publicly share data on poverty or special education enrollment, so families with specific needs should seek that information directly. Academic proficiency on state tests is below the county midpoint, and chronic absenteeism is a notable concern. The district has invested in new buildings, storm safety, and STEM programming, and the tax impact of those bonds was neutral for local property owners. A family that values recent infrastructure investment and a broadening of course options at the high school may find a fit here, while those focused on top-tier test results or lower absenteeism may want to look into how the district addresses those areas.
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