Ponca City, OK - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Ponca City

Ponca City is a comprehensive public school district serving students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade in northern Oklahoma. It draws from the city of Ponca City and the surrounding area of Kay County. The district is one of several in the county, and it serves a moderately sized student body that reflects a diverse racial and ethnic composition. More than half of students are White, with substantial shares of American Indian or Alaska Native, Hispanic, and multiracial students, along with smaller populations of Black, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. Data on economic disadvantage and special education enrollment was not available in the profile, so a parent may want to ask the district directly about the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals or receive specialized services.

On state assessments, Ponca City's results show a pattern of generally low proficiency across tested subjects and grades. In elementary math, the share of students meeting proficiency standards was below a third in third grade, then dropped to about a quarter by fifth grade, and continued to fall in middle school, reaching roughly one in ten by eighth grade. The English language arts results followed a similar trajectory, with proficiency rates hovering around a quarter or lower in most grades, and dipping below a fifth in fifth, seventh, and eighth grades. Science results were also low at the tested grades. Compared across all subjects and grades combined, the district's overall proficiency index placed it below the midpoint among Kay County's districts. It is worth noting that Oklahoma changed its cut scores for these assessments in recent years, which makes direct comparison with prior years uncertain. A family may want to discuss with school administrators how these scores align with classroom expectations.

Chronic absenteeism is a notable concern. The rate of chronic absence was nearly three in ten students, which placed Ponca City in the bottom quartile among the county's districts. This is the highest absenteeism rate in the comparison set and may be a point for parents to explore further with the district regarding attendance supports and root causes. Per-pupil current spending was in the lower range compared to other districts in the county.

Housing in the district area is relatively affordable. Home values are well below both the national and state benchmarks, and the median estimated rent is also modest. The area has seen modest home value growth in recent years. A family moving to the area would likely find housing costs manageable relative to many other parts of the country.

The district operates a network of elementary schools, two middle schools, a high school, and an early childhood center. No information was available about course offerings, advanced placement, career and technical education pathways, or other program options. Similarly, data on discipline, staffing, and graduation rate were absent from the profile. The district's high school serves grades nine through twelve, so the lack of a reported graduation rate is a gap; a parent may want to ask the high school directly for its four-year completion figures. The district brief searched for recent changes of parent relevance but found little of lasting impact, so there is no major reform or facility update to report.

Ponca City is a mid-sized district in a county with several other districts, characterized by a diverse student body, modest housing costs, and academic results that are generally low compared to its county peers. A family considering this district would benefit from inquiring about the programs and supports its schools offer, especially given the elevated chronic absenteeism and the missing data on key metrics like graduation and course access.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

4,580

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 13%

Black 3%

White 54%

Asian 1%

Two+ 13%

Am. Indian / AK Native 14%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 3%

Schools in this District

11 schools are officially reported under this district.

WASHINGTON PRE KG CENTER

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

35%

Grade 3

44%

Grade 4

24%

Grade 5

19%

Grade 6

19%

Grade 7

12%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

26%

Grade 3

30%

Grade 4

19%

Grade 5

26%

Grade 6

23%

Grade 7

20%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

24%

Grade 5

23%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$148,280

Year-over-year change+3.8%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$89K to $219K

vs. state typical0.67x

vs. national typical0.40x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
74601	Ponca City	$89K	+3.4%	53.3%
74604	Ponca City	$219K	+4.3%	45.1%
74653	Tonkawa	$102K	-6.7%	0.1%
74650		$133K	-0.6%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$748/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
74601	Ponca City	$748	—	53.3%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$748/mo

Home price / national median income1.8x

Annual rent / national median income10.7%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$0/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$221,765 (+2.2% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.