The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in Math. The lowest is 43% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Mccord
McCord Public School District is a small, rural district in Osage County, Oklahoma, that serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in a single school. Because the district does not operate a high school, there is no graduation rate to report, and the available measures of academic performance focus entirely on its elementary and middle school grades.
The district’s enrollment is relatively small and predominantly white, with a notable share of students who identify as two or more races and a smaller but present Native American population. The district did not report the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and data on students with disabilities and English learners were also absent, which means a parent would want to ask the school directly about these supports.
On the 2024-25 Oklahoma state assessments, McCord’s results show a mixed picture. In third-grade math, about half of students scored proficient or above, a similar share did so in fourth-grade math, and by fifth grade the rate dipped below half. Sixth-grade math results were suppressed, meaning the data was not released, often because the group was too small to report reliably. In English language arts, the only grade for which a clear rate was available was fifth grade, where just over two in five students met the proficiency bar; results for third, fourth, and sixth grade were all suppressed. Fifth-grade science results were also suppressed. When viewed across all tested subjects and grades where data is available, the district’s overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among Osage County’s districts, a position that reflects stronger performance than many of its county neighbors despite the gaps in reported data.
The district’s chronic absenteeism rate is low and sits among the best in the county, a signal that student attendance is generally consistent. Per-pupil spending, however, falls in the lower range compared to other districts in Osage County, which may be consistent with the district’s small size and limited grade span. A parent curious about how the district allocates resources might ask about class sizes, specialist positions, and enrichment programs.
Housing context for the area is shaped by the Ponca City zip code that serves McCord. Home values in that area are roughly in line with the statewide benchmark and well below the national average. Monthly mortgage costs on a typical home, assuming a standard down payment and the current interest rate, would absorb a substantial portion of a median household income, though the district’s affordability looks more attainable than in many parts of the country. The national unemployment rate has been steady, and the cost of rent continues to climb gradually, national trends that affect local housing decisions.
Publicly reported financial records show that the district issued bonds and spent on facilities acquisition and construction services in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, a significant capital investment for a small system. This suggests the district has recently put money into its physical plant, something a resident or prospective parent might want to see for themselves.
Because the district serves only through sixth grade, families must plan for what comes next. Students who live in the McCord district will need to transfer or enroll in a neighboring district for secondary school, and the quality and fit of that next school will matter as much as what happens at McCord. The district’s academic profile relative to other Osage County districts is encouraging for its current grade span, but the missing data on several state test results and key student populations makes it hard to get a full picture without talking directly to the school.
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