The top reported proficiency rate is 13% in English language arts. The lowest is 10% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Mason
MASON is a tiny, rural Oklahoma public school district serving grades PK through 12. It is one of four districts in Okfuskee County, and it is the smallest among them. For a family considering this area, the district offers a very small-scale setting where every student is known, but the academic performance data tells a story that demands attention.
The district is situated in a part of rural Oklahoma where home values are well below national and state medians, and housing costs are relatively low compared to incomes. Homes in the surrounding areas, which include the small towns of Okemah, Boley, and Castle, range in value, with the district's overall housing market seeing prices climb in recent years. The economic context is modest, and the district serves a student body that is predominantly white and American Indian or Alaska Native, with a significant share of students identifying as two or more races.
On state assessments, proficiency rates are low. Across the tested grades in math, the share of students scoring at or above the proficient level was in the single digits for grades six and seven, and only slightly higher for grades three and five. Results for fourth and eighth grade math were suppressed by the state due to small group sizes, which is common in a district this small. In English language arts, the pattern is similar: third and fourth grade had about one in five students proficient, while fifth, seventh, and eighth grades were around one in ten. Sixth grade results were also suppressed. Science results for fifth and eighth grade were suppressed entirely. When compared to other districts in Okfuskee County, Mason's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile. This is a clear weakness, and any parent considering this district should ask the school directly about what academic interventions or supports are in place and what the district's own data shows about student growth from year to year.
On the positive side, the chronic absenteeism rate is the lowest among the county's districts, placing it in the top quartile. This suggests strong attendance habits among the student body, which is a vital foundation for learning. The district's per-pupil spending falls in the middle range, though in the lower half of the county cohort, meaning the district is not notably under-resourced by local standards.
The district's enrollment is small, with a total student body that gives each grade level a class size where individual attention is possible. The high school serves students in grades nine through twelve, but no graduation rate data was available, so a parent would need to ask about on-time graduation outcomes directly.
A brief search for recent strategic changes or parent-relevant developments at the district turned up little. The available public sources provide only basic information about enrollment, finances, and school board operations, with no evidence of major new programs, bond projects, or policy shifts. This is a rural district that largely operates under the radar, and families seeking a lot of public information about the district's direction may find it lacking.
For whom does this fit? A family that values a very small, tight-knit rural school environment, where class sizes are tiny and the student body is stable, may find Mason appealing. The low chronic absenteeism points to a student body that shows up, and the small setting can allow for strong relationships between teachers and students. However, the academic results are a significant concern. A parent whose child needs robust academic support, advanced coursework, or a wide range of electives should look into what Mason actually offers at the high school level, as the data here does not include information on course access or program offerings. This is a district where a proactive parent will want to have direct conversations with the principal and teachers to understand the full picture of academics, college readiness, and career pathways.
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