The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in Science. The lowest is 19% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on New Lima
New Lima is a small, rural school district in Seminole County, Oklahoma, serving students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. It has a single elementary school and a single high school, and the district itself is the only administrative layer above those buildings. The academic picture that emerges from state testing is worth a close look, because it is one that many families will want to explore further with the schools themselves.
On the Oklahoma School Testing Program for the most recent year, proficiency rates across math, English language arts, and science were low in an absolute sense. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above ranged from roughly one in ten in grades five and six to just over a third in grades three and eight. In reading and writing, the pattern was similar: third grade had about a third proficient, but fourth and seventh grades had roughly one in ten or slightly more. Science results for fifth grade showed a bit more than a quarter of students proficient; the eighth-grade science result was not reported due to small numbers. These are sobering figures, and they suggest that a parent moving into the area should ask what academic supports and interventions are in place, and how the district is working to raise performance. The gap between the district’s own numbers and state averages could not be determined from the data provided, but the district’s overall proficiency index places it in the top quarter of districts within Seminole County, meaning that while the rates are low, they are not as low as many of its immediate neighbors. That relative position is worth noting, though it does not change the absolute picture.
The district is small, with an enrollment that is roughly evenly spread across elementary and secondary grades, though the senior class is notably smaller than earlier grades, a pattern that can reflect anything from enrollment changes to retention differences. No graduation rate data were available in the source material, so a parent should ask the district directly about how many students complete high school and what pathways they take afterward. Student demographics show a notable share of students who are American Indian or Alaska Native, along with a substantial group identifying as two or more races; White students make up the largest single group, while Black, Hispanic, and Asian students each form much smaller shares. The district did not report free-or-reduced-price lunch figures, so the level of economic need is not visible from this data. Information about students with disabilities and English learners was also absent, which limits a full understanding of student support needs.
Compared with other districts in Seminole County, New Lima’s per-pupil current spending falls in the lower range. That could mean a lean administrative structure or fewer resources per student, depending on how the budget is allocated. Chronic absenteeism, however, is relatively low by county standards, placing in the top quarter for low absenteeism, which is a positive signal about student engagement and family routines.
The housing context for the district draws on ZIP codes that include Maud, Seminole, and Wewoka. Home values in the district’s coverage area are modest, well below both the Oklahoma state average and the national median, making this a more affordable setting for families buying a home. The weighted average value is around a hundred thousand dollars, with a small year-over-year increase. Rent data were not available. The national economic context shows a thirty-year fixed mortgage rate just above six percent, and the unemployment rate near four percent, figures that are relevant for any family weighing a move.
There is no information in the source material about course offerings, Advanced Placement or dual-credit programs, career-technical pathways, arts, athletics, or any special programs. The district’s own website was not referenced. A parent should inquire directly about what academic and extracurricular opportunities exist, especially at the high school level, where the small enrollment may mean fewer course options than in larger districts. Likewise, no data on discipline or school climate was provided.
In sum, New Lima is a small rural district with academic achievement levels that are low compared to broader state expectations but are among the stronger in Seminole County. Its chronic absenteeism is commendably low, and housing is affordable. But significant gaps in the data—no graduation rate, no program descriptions, no information on student support populations—mean that a family considering this district will need to do their own legwork to get a complete picture. The raw numbers on testing are a starting point, not a final judgment, and they warrant a direct conversation with district leadership about what the district is doing to improve outcomes.
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